Culverden Stadium

Culverden Stadium

Culverden Stadium
Location Culverden Stadium, Culverden Park Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Owner Tunbridge Wells F.C
Operator Tunbridge Wells F.C
Capacity 3,750 (250 seated)

Culverden Stadium is an association football stadium in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It is the home ground of Tunbridge Wells F.C. It has a capacity of 3,750, with 250 seats. It is located in Culverden Park Road, Tunbridge Wells.

History

The Culverden Stadium was opened in 1962 as a permanent home for Tunbridge Wells.[1] The occasion was commemorated with a charity football match between Tunbridge Wells and a TV All Stars team which included Jess Conrad and Bernard Bresslaw.[2] On 31 August 2005, during an FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay, the Culverden Stadium was the location of a record set for the most penalty kicks taken in a penalty shoot-out. The match was won by Tunbridge Wells against Littlehampton Town 16-15 after 40 penalty kicks.[3] This was recognized as an FA and European record.[4] In September 2006, the Culverden Stadium was subject to a series of vandalism attacks. The clubhouse was broken into and equipment was stolen. A later attempt was thwarted after Tunbridge Wells officials boarded the windows of the clubhouse.[5] The record crowd at the Culverden Stadium was 1,810 set in March 2013 for an FA Vase quarter final between Tunbridge Wells and Hadleigh United.[6]

Pitch

The Culverden Stadium was recognized in non-league football for having a poor surface. It also has a sloped pitch.[7] To address this in 2012, Tunbridge Wells set up a pitch fund to gain funds to improve it.[8]

Usage

The Culverden Stadium hosts the annual Courier Cup in August.[9] The Culverden is also used for non-football purposes with it being used as a location for bingo.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "STADIUM ANNIVERSARY: Tunbridge Wells FC has big grounds for optimism". Kent and Sussex Courier (archived at HighBeam). Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  2. ↑ "Keep off the pitch". Kent and Sussex Courier. 1962-11-09. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  3. ↑ "Wells' shoot-out record". The FA. September 2005. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  4. ↑ Champions League. "How to take the perfect penalty". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  5. ↑ "Wells blast "mindless morons" after attack causes £10k of damage". Kentish Football. 2006-09-18. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  6. ↑ "Brilliant Tunbridge Wells book spot in FA Vase semi-finals". This is Kent. 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  7. ↑ "Saints off to Kent - but Goddy are going nowhere". Hunts Post. 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  8. ↑ "Tunbridge Well FC's Culverden Stadium to get boost". This is Kent. 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  9. ↑ "Get down to the Culverden Stadium in Tunbridge Wells this weekend for a feast of local football.". This is Sussex. 2010-07-21. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  10. ↑ cladougie (2012-02-15). "Bingo At Culverden Stadium". This is Kent. Retrieved 2013-03-04.

Coordinates: 51°08′40″N 0°15′03″E / 51.14432°N 0.25087°E