Tunbridge Wells F.C.

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Coordinates: 51°08′39.65″N 0°15′03.21″E / 51.1443472°N 0.2508917°E / 51.1443472; 0.2508917
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Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells FC badge
Full nameTunbridge Wells Football Club
Nickname(s)The Wells
Founded1886
GroundCulverden Stadium, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Capacity3,750 (250 seated)
ManagerJason Bourne
LeagueSouthern Counties
East League
2015–16Southern Counties
East League, 14th
WebsiteClub website

Tunbridge Wells Football Club is a football club based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. For the 2013–14 season, they are members of the Southern Counties East League. They play their home games at Culverden Stadium. The club is affiliated to the Kent County Football Association[1]

History

Tunbridge Wells FC was originally formed in 1886, and were known as several different names in their early years.[2][3] They originally played friendlies as an amateur side until 1903 when they joined the original Kent League, under the name of Tunbridge Wells Rangers.[2][4] They stayed there for three seasons before joining the Southern Football League in Division two for the start of the 1906-07 season.[4] However, after two seasons they rejoined the Kent Football league, however there is also evidence that they may have joined the Southern Amateur Football League as well for three seasons.[4][5] In the 1911-12 season under their present name they joined the Isthmian League for two seasons after which they played in the Spartan League.[6] After the First World War they played in the Kent league, under the name of Tunbridge Wells Rangers again, and rejoined the Southern League as members of the Eastern Section, for the 1931-32 season, after winning the Kent league the season before.[4][7] Two seasons after joining the Eastern section the club started playing in the Central section as well.[4] 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.[4] During their time in the Southern league the club managed to get to the second round of the FA Cup twice.[4]

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.[8] 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.[8] In 1961 they fared slightly better, edged out 3–1 by Aldershot – their last appearance to date in the Cup proper.[6][8]

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.[9] 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.[2] 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.[10] 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.[11] In March 2013, Tunbridge Wells reached the Final of the FA Vase, playing Spennymoor Town on 4 May at Wembley.

Ground

Culverden Stadium entrance

Tunbridge Wells play their home games at the Culverden Stadium in Tunbridge Wells. It ground's capacity is 3,750, of which 250 is seated.[12] The ground is floodlit and has a sloped pitch.[13] The ground also hosts the annual Courier Cup in August.[14]

The Culverden Stadium was opened in 1962 as a permanent home for the club.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] This was recognized as an FA and European record.[18] 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.[19]

Honours

League honours

Cup honours

  • Kent Senior Cup[21]
    • Winners (3): 1907–08 1938–39 1954–55
  • Kent Senior Trophy[22][23][24]
    • Winners (1): 2012-13
    • Runners-up (4): 1985-86; 1991–92; 2005–06; 2010-11
  • Kent Senior Shield[2][21]
    • Winners (2): 1931–32, 1954–55
  • Kent League Cup[2][22]
    • Winners (5): 1954-55, 1974–75; 1977–78; 1985–86; 1987–88
  • FA Vase[21]
    • Runners-up (1): 2013

Records

Club records

Player records

  • Record appearances:[22] 412 - Jason Bourne
  • Record goal scorer:[22] 151 - John Wingate

Notable former players

  1. Players that 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:

See also: Category:Tunbridge Wells F.C. players

Former coaches

  1. Managers/Coaches that 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.

References

  1. ^ "Kent League Official Website". Kentleague.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Tunbridge Wells Football Club - Club History". Tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Tunbridge Wells footbal club based at culverden stadium". Kentishtowns.com. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j TUNBRIDGE WELLS RANGERS at the Football Club History Database
  5. ^ "SAL Archive Site". Salarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f TUNBRIDGE WELLS at the Football Club History Database
  7. ^ a b "Tunbridge Wells Football Club". Activtunbridgewells.com. 31 August 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f TUNBRIDGE WELLS UNITED at the Football Club History Database
  9. ^ "Tunbridge Wells". Pyramidpassion.co.uk. 18 August 1962. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  10. ^ "Cup - Wells' shoot-out record". The FA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  11. ^ "Larkin steps in at Wells as Robbins flies the nest". This is Kent. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  12. ^ "A Guide to the Culverden Stadium". Tunbridge Wells Football Club. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Saints off to Kent - but Goddy are going nowhere". Hunts Post. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Get down to the Culverden Stadium in Tunbridge Wells this weekend for a feast of local football". This is Sussex. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  15. ^ "STADIUM ANNIVERSARY: Tunbridge Wells FC has big grounds for optimism". Kent and Sussex Courier (archived at HighBeam). Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  16. ^ "Keep off the pitch". Kent and Sussex Courier. 9 November 1962. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Wells' shoot-out record". The FA. September 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  18. ^ Champions League. "How to take the perfect penalty". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Wells blast "mindless morons" after attack causes £10k of damage". Kentish Football. 18 September 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  20. ^ "SAL Archive Site". Salarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  21. ^ a b c "Tunbridge Wells Football Club". Activtunbridgewells.com. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Tunbridge Wells Football Club - Club Honours". Tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. 22 August 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  23. ^ "Football Club History Database - Kent County Cups Summary". Fchd.info. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Tony Russell quits Erith Town after leading Dockers to Kent League summit". Kentishfootball.co.uk. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.

External links

51°08′39.65″N 0°15′03.21″E / 51.1443472°N 0.2508917°E / 51.1443472; 0.2508917

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