Tunbridge Wells F.C.

Last updated

Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells logo.png
Full nameTunbridge Wells Football Club
Nickname(s)The Wells, The Royals
Founded1886
Ground Culverden Stadium, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Capacity3,750 (250 seated)
ChairmanScott Bartlett / Michael Boyle
ManagerSteve Ives [1]
League Southern Counties East League Premier Division
2023–24 Southern Counties East League Premier Division, 13th of 20
Website Club website

Tunbridge Wells Football Club is a football club based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. They are currently members of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. They play their home games at Culverden Stadium. The club is affiliated to the Kent County Football Association. [2]

Contents

History

Tunbridge Wells FC was originally formed in 1886, and played as an amateur side until the 1st World War when they folded. After many seasons of playing friendlies, they joined the South Eastern League in 1905 followed by the Southern Amateur, Isthmian and Spartan Leagues. [3] [4] Tunbridge Wells Rangers were a separate club founded as a professional team in 1903 when they joined the Kent League. [3] [5] They stayed there for three seasons before joining the Southern Football League in Division Two for the start of the 1906–07 season. [5] However, after two seasons they rejoined the Kent League and the South Eastern League. They were to stay in the Kent League until they [5] [6] [7] rejoined the Southern League as members of the Eastern Section for the 1931–32 season, after winning the Kent League the season before. [5] [8] Two seasons after joining the Eastern section the club started playing in the Central section as well. [5] In the 1936–37 season the club then played in the Southern section but also competed in the Southern League Midweek Section, becoming champions of this competition in the 1938–39 season. [5] During their time in the Southern league the club managed to get to the second round of the FA Cup twice. [5]

In the 1930s Tunbridge Wells Rangers were a significant force in non-league football. This is evident in an article published in The FA News in November 2006, in which they looked at all clubs that had played more than 100 FA Cup matches. The FA News then produced a list of each club's percentage success rate. In terms of winning FA Cup ties, Tunbridge Wells Rangers were the most successful club in the country. Their results were played 105, won 62. The record shows that the percentage of pre-war cup ties won was 59.05%.

After the war, the Wells briefly returned to the amateur leagues as Tunbridge Wells before re-joining the Kent League for the 1950-51 campaign as Tunbridge Wells United and then the Southern League for the 1959–60 season. [9] 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. [9] In 1961 they fared slightly better, edged out 3–1 by Aldershot – their last appearance to date in the Cup proper. [7] [9]

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. [10] The supporters formed a new club, once again called simply Tunbridge Wells FC, and re-joined the Kent League. [3] 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 31 August 2005, Tunbridge Wells made football history by winning the longest penalty shoot-out ever in a senior cup match. [11] No less than 40 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. [12]

This appointment turned out to be a masterstroke as Martin Larkin coached Tunbridge Wells to the Final of the FA Vase, and they played Spennymoor Town of the Northern League on 4 May 2013 at Wembley. Tunbridge Wells lost 2–1 in the Final, despite a Josh Stanford goal 12 minutes from the end. Spennymoor Town took an early lead in the match, scoring after 18 minutes. Stanford briefly equalised before the County Durham team sealed their victory with the winning goal just 90 seconds later.

In 2011 the club formed a partnership with Junior Club Tunbridge Wells Ridgewaye FC who changed their name to Tunbridge Wells Youth Football Club and they became the only official Junior football club for Tunbridge Wells FC. With the united goal of developing the young players of the Town.

In the 201314 season the Kent League became the Southern Counties East League and Tunbridge Wells transferred to the new Premier Division where they have remained ever since.

Martin Larkin resigned in 2015. During the period he was manager Tunbridge Wells had won silverware for the first time in 25 years, and were runners up in three further cup finals. In terms of where Tunbridge Wells finished in the leagues between 2009 and 2015, the club showed year on year improvement under Larkin.

Ground

Culverden Stadium entrance Culverden Stadium entrance - geograph.org.uk - 1607904.jpg
Culverden Stadium entrance

Tunbridge Wells play their home games at the Culverden Stadium in Tunbridge Wells. The ground's capacity is 3,750, of which 250 is seated. [13] The ground is floodlit and has a sloped pitch. [14] The ground also hosts the annual Courier Cup in August. [15]

The Culverden Stadium was opened in 1962 as a permanent home for the club. [16] 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. [17] 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. [18] This was recognized as an FA and European record. [19] 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. [20] A fire on 12 January 2023, started by an electrical fault, heavily damaged the clubhouse and made the venue unusable for the foreseeable future. [21]

Honours

The club has gained the following honours in line with whichever suffix name was being used at the time i.e. Rangers, United, FC.

League honours

Cup honours

Records

Club records

Player records

Notable former players

  1. Players who have played/managed more than 20 times in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league)
  2. Players with full international caps

For a list of all the other players with a Wikipedia profile and have played for Tunbridge Wells:

Former coaches

  1. Managers/Coaches who have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league)
  2. Managers/Coaches with full international caps

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashford United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011, resurrecting the name used by the town's football club between 1891 and 1907. Following the demise of the original Ashford United club in 1907 and through to 1928 Ashford was represented by Ashford Railway Works FC and after that between 1930 and 2010 by Ashford Town F.C. The current club is effectively a 'phoenix club' having risen from the ashes of the financial ruin of its predecessor. Although not a supporter owned club, like most non-league clubs, it relies on contributions of volunteers and supporters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FA Trophy</span> English annual association football competition

The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a men's football knockout cup competition run by and named after the English Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams. The competition was instigated in 1969 to cater to those non-league clubs that paid their players and were therefore not eligible to enter the FA Amateur Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.F.C. Sudbury</span> Association football club in England

Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury is a football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk, England. The club was formed in 1999 by the merger of Sudbury Town and Sudbury Wanderers, the process giving rise to the name Amalgamated Football Club Sudbury. and went on to win the Eastern Counties League Premier Division five seasons in a row as well as reaching the final of the FA Vase in three successive seasons, records for both competitions. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division Central and play at the King's Marsh Stadium in the Ballingdon-Brundon area of Sudbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsgate F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Ramsgate Football Club are a football team based in Ramsgate, Kent, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Southwood Stadium. The main local rivals of the club are Margate who are situated just 4 miles away. When the two teams meet, it is known as the Thanet derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deal Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Deal Town Football Club is a football club based in Deal in Kent, England. FA Vase winners in 2000, they are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at the Charles Sports Ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erith & Belvedere F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Erith & Belvedere Football Club is a football club based in the London Borough of Bexley, England. They are currently members of the Southern Counties East League Premier Division and play at Park View Road, a ground shared with Welling United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erith Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Erith Town Football Club is a football club based in Thamesmead in South East London, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at Bayliss Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wimborne Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Wimborne Town Football Club is a football club based in Wimborne Minster in Dorset, England. They were established in 1878 and won the FA Vase in 1992. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in the 1982–83 season for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southall F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Southall Football Club is a football club representing Southall in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The club is affiliated to the Middlesex County Football Association. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South Central Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheppey United F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sheppey United F.C. is a football club based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. The club are members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at Holm Park. The club is affiliated to the Football Association and is an FA Charter Standard club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poole Town F.C.</span> Football club based in Poole, Dorset, England

Poole Town Football Club is a football club based in Poole, Dorset, England. They currently compete in the Southern League Premier Division South. This is Step 3 of non-league therefore the 7th tier of English football. The club was established in 1880 and they affiliated to the Dorset County Football Association and are a Football Association (FA) Charter Standard Community Club. The team spent two seasons in the National League South before relegation in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sholing F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sholing Football Club is an English football club based in Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire. Formerly known as Vosper Thorneycroft FC and later VTFC the club changed its name in 2010 to Sholing FC. In 2013–14 they won both the FA Vase and the Wessex League Premier Division and have three times been runners up in the Wessex Premier, in 2007, 2009 and 2016. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South. The club has twice won the Hampshire League, in 2001 and 2004. Sholing are also 8 times Southampton Senior Cup Winners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thatcham Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Thatcham Town Football Club is a semi-professional English football club based in Thatcham, Berkshire. They are currently members of the Southern League Division One South and play at Waterside Park. The club is affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littlehampton Town F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Littlehampton Town Football Club is a football club based in Littlehampton, England. They were established in 1896 and joined the Sussex County League in 1928. In the 1990–91 season, they reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, and in the 2021–22 season they reached the FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium. They are currently members of the Isthmian League South East Division and play at The Sportsfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Risborough Rangers F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Risborough Rangers Football Club are a football club based in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, England. They are members of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cray Valley Paper Mills F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Cray Valley Paper Mills Football Club is a football club currently based in Eltham, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Badgers Sports Ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury City F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Canterbury City Football Club is a football club based in Canterbury, Kent, England. They are currently members of the Southern Counties East League Division One and currently play at Margate's Hartsdown Park ground. Affiliated to the Kent County Football Association, the club reformed in 2007 and were the first football club to be formed as a community interest company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusthall F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Rusthall FC is an English football club located in Rusthall, near Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. The club plays in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. Rusthall spent most of its history in the Tunbridge Wells League before entering the Kent County Football League in 1983–84. After winning three championships at this level, the club was accepted into the newly formed Kent Invicta Football League for the inaugural 2011–12 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culverden Stadium</span> Football stadium in Kent, England

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.

The 2013 FA Vase Final was the 39th final of the Football Association's cup competition for teams below level 8 of the English football league system. It was the 30th FA Vase Final. It was contested by Northern Football League team Spennymoor Town and Kent League team Tunbridge Wells. The match was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 4 May 2013.

References

  1. Reeves, Thomas (20 May 2022). "Luke Carpenter named Southern Counties East Premier Division outfit Tunbridge Wells' new manager". Kent Online. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. "Kent League Official Website". Kentleague.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tunbridge Wells Football Club – Club History". Tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. "Tunbridge Wells Football Club". Kentishtowns.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TUNBRIDGE WELLS RANGERS at the Football Club History Database
  6. "SAL Archive Site". Salarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 TUNBRIDGE WELLS at the Football Club History Database
  8. 1 2 "Tunbridge Wells Football Club". Activtunbridgewells.com. 31 August 2005. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 TUNBRIDGE WELLS UNITED at the Football Club History Database
  10. "Tunbridge Wells". Pyramidpassion.co.uk. 18 August 1962. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  11. "Cup – Wells' shoot-out record". The FA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  12. "Larkin steps in at Wells as Robbins flies the nest". This is Kent. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  13. "A Guide to the Culverden Stadium". Tunbridge Wells Football Club. 24 April 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  14. "Saints off to Kent – but Goddy are going nowhere". Hunts Post. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  15. "Get down to the Culverden Stadium in Tunbridge Wells this weekend for a feast of local football". This is Sussex. 21 July 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  16. "STADIUM ANNIVERSARY: Tunbridge Wells FC has big grounds for optimism". Kent and Sussex Courier (archived at HighBeam). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  17. "Keep off the pitch". Kent and Sussex Courier. 9 November 1962. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  18. "Wells' shoot-out record". The FA. September 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  19. Champions League (31 July 2009). "How to take the perfect penalty". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  20. "Wells blast "mindless morons" after attack causes £10k of damage". Kentish Football. 18 September 2006. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  21. Harris, Mary (17 January 2023). "'A dark day' for Tunbridge Wells Football Club destroyed by fire". Kent Live. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  22. "SAL Archive Site". Salarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  23. 1 2 3 "Tunbridge Wells Football Club". Activtunbridgewells.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tunbridge Wells Football Club – Club Honours". Tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  25. "Football Club History Database – Kent County Cups Summary". Fchd.info. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  26. "Tony Russell quits Erith Town after leading Dockers to Kent League summit". Kentishfootball.co.uk. 27 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2012.

51°08′39.65″N0°15′03.21″E / 51.1443472°N 0.2508917°E / 51.1443472; 0.2508917