| Full name | Tunbridge Wells Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Wells | ||
| Founded | 1886 | ||
| Ground | Culverden Stadium, Royal Tunbridge Wells (Capacity: 3,750 (250 seated)) |
||
| Chairman | Joe Croker | ||
| Manager | Martin Larkin | ||
| League | Kent League Premier Division | ||
| 2010–11 | Kent League Premier Division, 6th | ||
|
|||
Tunbridge Wells F.C. is a football club based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. For the 2011-12 season, they are members of the Kent League Premier Division.
Contents |
Tunbridge Wells FC was originally formed in 1886 and played friendlies as an amateur side until 1905 when they joined the South Eastern League for two seasons.In 1907 they left the Football Association and joined the Amateur Football Association playing in the Southern Amateur League.In 1911 they reverted back to the F.A. and played in the Isthmian and Spartan League's They were to have played in the Southern Suburban League in 1914 but with the advent of the First World War they closed down. Tunbridge Wells Rangers were a separate club formed in 1903 as a professional side playing in the Kent League and the South Eastern and Southern League prior to the First World War. The 1930s was arguably the club's heyday with consistent high placings in the Southern League after winning the Kent League in 1930-31 and with several impressive FA Cup runs, including two appearances in the second round proper.They won the Southern League Mid-Week section in 1938-39.
After the war, the Wells briefly returned to the amateur leagues as Tunbridge Wells before re-joining the Kent League in 1950 as Tunbridge Wells United and then the Southern League in 1960. During this period the club once again progressed to the first round proper of the FA Cup but unfortunately endured a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion. In 1961 they fared slightly better, edged out 3-1 by Aldershot - their last appearance to date in the Cup proper.
In the early 1960s Rangers - a name to which they reverted in 1963 - began to struggle in the Southern League and in 1967 the club folded. The supporters formed a new club, once again called simply Tunbridge Wells FC, and re-joined the Kent League where they have remained ever since. The Wells won the Kent League championship in 1985 and have also won the Kent League Cup on four occasions since the reformation of the club as well as reaching the last 32 of the FA Vase on no less than five occasions.
On August 31, 2005, Tunbridge Wells made football history by winning the longest penalty shoot-out ever in a senior cup match. No less than 43 spot kicks were needed before Wells emerged as the victors, 16-15 over Littlehampton Town in the FA Cup preliminary round. After a poor start to the 2007-08 season Mike Robbins, previously of Rye United, was installed as manager. After a promising start, Wells drifted from the top three to tenth after many players left to play at a higher level. Robbins stepped down from his post at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, to be replaced in his position of manager by his assistant, Martin Larkin.
The Culverden Stadium is located on Culverden Down, on the north-eastern edge of the Tunbridge Wells urban area, close to Bennett Memorial Diocesan School. It can hold 3,750 supporters, including 250 seats.[1]
There is concrete terracing behind the goal at the clubhouse end. The original clubhouse (now used as changing rooms) is located on the eastern side of the pitch at the halfway line. Between this and the current clubhouse are two newer, covered stands of brick and wood construction. Combined, these extend virtually the whole length of the touchline. On the western side of the pitch are two metal-clad dug-outs.
Behind one goal is a sheer drop which has seen the demise of many a football and which is restricted in part by the installation of a large net. The ground also has floodlights and a large car park whilst the pitch itself has seen extensive work to improve drainage and condition. The pitch slopes downwards towards the far (north) end.
A clubhouse is situated by the main turnstile, and serves regular supporters and visitors beverages and food. The clubhouse offers views of the car park and many items of paraphernalia connected to the club's history deck the walls. In September 2006, vandals ransacked the clubhouse spraying ketchup, coffee and chocolate powder over the walls, smashing football memorabilia, filling the pool table with washing up liquid and flooding the building by leaving beer taps on. They then made off with expensive electrical, garden equipment and alcohol from the bar.[2]
|
|||||||||||