Tunbridge Wells FC - Supporters
'Looking back' articles kindly provided by long term Tunbridge Wells fan Roger Bassett
Cup Runs
I think that all football supporters welcome a cup run, be it in the FA Cup or the Vase, and no one will forget the run which ended at Wembley in 2013.
For an exceptional run in the FA Cup we have to go back to season 1930-31, this is the season that the Rangers were also to win the Kent League. The season started so much later in those days and the Preliminary round was not played until September 20th. A home draw to Maidstone United ensured a good crowd and 2,733 saw the Rangers win 3-1. The draw saw the Rangers visiting Chatham Town in the next round where they were to win 2-0. Interest in the Cup was obviously already great within the town. The Courier newspaper reported that over 1,000 supporters travelled to Chatham and were part of a crowd of 3,500.
The 2nd Qualifying round was away again at Canterbury Waverley where a crowd of 2,747 saw in the words of the Courier “The Mighty Rangers trounce Canterbury 4-0”. The next round was to be remembered for other reasons as the Rangers beat Bromley away 10-2. This result brought comments in the national press with the Morning Post reporting “Bromley were unfortunate in meeting a professional eleven who if they keep up their present brilliant form must gain admittance to the Football League” the Rangers were also still unbeaten in the league. The final qualifying round brought Margate to Down Farm and was played in front of the record home gate of 5,788, the Rangers winning a tight match 3-2.
The 1st round proper was awaited with great interest - would we draw a Football League side and would we be at home. We got the home draw but the opponents were Kingstonian, again a big crowd 4,676 lower than expected because of the bad weather. A 3-0 victory saw us into the 2nd round proper for the first time and this has only been repeated once again since then in 1936-37.
We were now only one step away from the “Big Boys” sadly the draw went against us not only were we away, but we were as far away as we could get at Carlisle United. The enthusiasm was high in the town with a special train being laid on, 227 made the journey at a guinea a time. The train was due to leave the Central Station at 10.40am on the Friday evening and before it arrived, the station approaches were lined with supporters and everywhere were the blue and gold colours of the Rangers, rosettes, rattles, decorated hand bells and hats of all shapes and sizes.
The team having travelled up on Thursday and after training at Penrith, on the Friday, travelled onto Carlisle. 11,500 watched the match which the Rangers lost 4-2. That was the end of the Rangers 18 match unbeaten record. To cater for those who could not travel, the Courier received regular telegrams from the game which were relayed through loudspeakers to the crowd of about 1,000 outside their offices.
What a run with the Rangers having a goal difference of 27-9. Carlisle went on to play Bolton Wanderers in the next round. The Rangers then found themselves exempt to the 4th Qualifying round for the next season which resulted in the first and only time a Football League club played an FA Cup match in the Wells.
First Team Managers 1903-67
For the first four seasons the Rangers were run by the Secretary and it wasn't until season 1907/08 that a manager was appointed.
(1903-07) Messrs Wenban, Wood and Langden
(1907-14) James Bellingham was appointed player/manager
Bellingham came to the club in 1906 and became the first player to play over 300 matches for the Rangers. He was also the first player to join who had had Football League experience; QPR 17 matches, Grimsby 4 and Brentford 42.
(1919-26) Harry Livesey appointed player/manager
Harry was very much a club man having been with the Rangers from the start and played right up to 1920 making nearly 350 appearances
(1926-28) Arthur Bowen was elected manager
A number of the committee wanted one of the senior players to be the next manager but were overruled. From the close of the 27-28 season major changes were made to the running of the club - a smaller committee and a professional player/manager. These changes were the start of the most successful period for the Rangers.
(1928-30) George H Douglas was chosen from a number of applicants.
George had a career of some 16 seasons in the Football League and was 35 years old when he arrived at the Rangers. The clubs he played for were Leicester City 133/11, Burnley 6/0, Oldham 141/9, Bristol Rovers 49/6. Whilst at Burnley he appeared in the Charity Shield in 1921. In his two seasons with the Rangers he played in 70 matches and as a winger scored some 31 goals.
(1930-32) Charles William Spencer was secured from Manchester United.
This was a great capture by the Rangers, he was not only an English International, but until the middle of the previous season had been captain of United for whom he played 148 times, previous to this he played 48 times for Newcastle United. He played at centre-half for England against Scotland at Wembley and Wales at Swansea. He was an immediate success at Down Farm winning the Kent League and taking the Rangers to the 2nd round proper of the FA Cup. He played 73 matches scoring 6 times before he moved on from the Rangers to Wigan Athletic.
(1932) Richard Hendrie came to the Rangers from Gillingham...
...until January, his stay at the Rangers was rather short as on January 6th 1933 he was sacked and was later to appear at the Kent assizes charged with fraud. Although he was found not guilty he was subsequently banned from football and football management for life, two committee were suspended for a year and four amateur players who received expenses in excess of FA rules to become professionals. The club were fined £25. To his credit in his short stay, he brought in a number of very good Scottish players to the club including Bill Shankley's brother Bob.
(1932-33) Tommy Armstrong promoted from trainer
He had some success getting the Rangers to the final of the Kent Senior Cup
(1933-34) George Beel was chosen from a number of applicants
George was 33 when he came from Burnley where he had been leading goalscorer for six of the last nine years and still to this day holds the record for the number of goals scored in a season 35. he played for the following Football League clubs; Lincoln C 30/12, Chesterfield 39/26, Burnley 337/187, Rochdale 20/8. Almost all of the previous seasons the squad left at the end of the last season as the club could not afford to pay the wages during the summer.
(1934) Sam Eaton was appointed manager
Sam was 52 when he came to the Rangers from Derby County where he was Chief Scout. Having previously played for; Leicester Fosse, Stockport County, Luton Town and Watford. He was appointed in April 1934 and left in the August, no reason given.
(1934-35) Peter Farmer promoted to trainer/coach
Although appointed in a rush, Peter had the advantage that most of last seasons squad remained at the club. It was proposed that Tonbridge FC should become the ‘nursery club’ to the Rangers.
(1935-37) Fred Keenor appointed player/manager
At the age of 41 Fred's best years were passed but he did play just 18 games in his first season and then just became manager. Fred had 19 seasons at Cardiff City playing 411 matches including the famous Cup Final when he captained the winning Cardiff City side against Arsenal, add to this his 32 International caps for Wales. Leaving Cardiff he went to Crewe Alexandra.
(1937-38) Jock Denoon was appointed trainer/manager
Jock in fact was appointed trainer/manager in the February of 1937 following Fred Keenor’s resignation because of bad health. Jock made 173 appearances as goalkeeper for Swansea Town. At the end of the 37-38 season Jock gave up as manager and stayed on as trainer.
(1938-40) Ernie Hart was the new player/manager
At the age of 36 this was his first managerial appointment following a 16-season career at Leeds United for whom he played in 472 matches moving to Mansfield Town where he played another 31 games. In this time, he played 8 times for England. He was to play 34 times for the Rangers all at centre half. He stayed until January 1940 when the Rangers folded.
This saw the end of Rangers and no more football at the Wells until 1947 when the newly reformed club started as an amateur side.
(1947-51) Robert Dowling took on the role of Secretary/Manager
Bob was the driving force behind the Wells for four seasons before he resigned
(1951-54) Tommy Wren was elected to become Manager/Coach
Tommy was very much a club man he joined the Rangers in 1933 having played just 7 matches in the Football League. Over the next 8 seasons he was to play 273 times for the Rangers mostly at full back and found the back of the net just 6 times. In 1952 the club turned professional and tommy managed the first two seasons taking the club to the final of the Kent Senior Cup.
(1954-58) Jim Taylor was chosen to become the next player/manager
Jim was 32 when he arrived having had a long and successful career at Fulham (278 apps) followed by another 44 games for QPR. On top of this he played 2 full Internationals for England. His career was very much affected by the 2nd World War. He was to play 128 matches for what was now the United. In 1954-55 won all three Senior Kent trophies.
(1958-61) Gordon Hurst was chosen from three as the next player/manager
Gordon actually joined in the March of the previous season playing in the same side as Jim on a number of occasions. Gordon was a one club man having played 393 matches for Charlton Athletic and was also a FA Cup winner. He took the United back into the Southern League.
(1961-62) Harold Fletcher was appointed trainer/coach
Harold continued without a contract and as he could not get any satisfaction about his future he quit in the April.
(1962-63) Harry Barratt was appointed Secretary/ Manager
Harry had only recently resigned as manager of Gillingham. The club changed their name from United to the Rangers, moved to the Culverden Stadium and finished bottom of the league. Harry was sacked in the April and Jasper Yeull was put in charge of the team until the end of the season.
(1963-67) John McNichol was announced as the new player/manager in June
John was probably the most experienced player to come to the Rangers, he played over 500 matches in the Football League; Brighton (165), Chelsea (202), Crystal Palace (205). Notwithstanding that he was 37 when he arrived, he went on to play 133 games for the Rangers until on Sept 10th 1966 a broken leg ended his career. He continued with his management duties. John stayed until May 3rd when he resigned, just 12 days later the Rangers closed down for good.
Where did they play?
Having looked at when the two Tunbridge Wells Football Clubs were founded, we now look at where they played:
We start with the Two Blues; 1886-91; Lower Cricket Ground - this was next to the London Road by the Church Road traffic lights. It is very obvious that one of its failings was that it never was an enclosed ground. As the club only played friendlies at that time it did not matter until in 1890 when the Kent Badge cup competition was formed this very quickly was renamed the Kent Senior Cup. The Two Blues took the bold step of entering and were drawn to play Tonbridge, but they needed to have an enclosed ground So the Headmaster of Skinners School the Rev TP Knott allowed the match to be played on the ground behind the school the only condition was that the boys were allowed in free. The result Two Blues 3 Tonbridge 0.
1891-98 & 1906-07; Down Lane - Down Lane was renamed Culverden Down around 1900. The ground was behind the Primary School and near what is now Whitefield Road. In September 1907 the ground was sold for building.
1898-1906; The Nevill - The ground was given to the town by the Marquess Of Abergavenny as an athletics, cricket and football ground. The football pitch was where the tennis courts are now. At the time it was felt the ground was too far out and at the wrong end of the town.. After a fall out with the tennis club in September 1906 as to which club had access to the ground in the month of September. The football club lost and decided to return to Down Lane.
1907-11; Swiss Cottage - Swiss Cottage was a folly built in 1830 and the ground was opposite the White House in Culverden Down approximately where Derwent Drive is now.
1911-14; Ferndale - Charity Farm, Ferndale this was the worst ground in whatever league the Wells played in this was particularily so with the Isthmian League. The ground later became the Hilbert Recreation Ground.
Now we come to the Rangers 1903-06; Swiss Cottage - When the Rangers moved on the Two Blues took over.
1906-09; Combley Park - The ground was at the end of Southfields Road on the site of what is now the Girls Grammar school. The name Combley was the name of the farmer who owned Down Farm. The council required them to move so the school could be built in 1909.
1909-10; Powder Mill Lane - The ground was on the right up behind the Cross Keys which were used as the changing rooms. The ground which was found in a rush was not suitable for senior football as passers-by could watch the game from the road even then it had a record gate of 1200. The ground was only used for one season.
1910-40; Down Farm - The ground lay between Reynolds Lane and the A26 a present map shows it to have been behind where Leighton Close is now the exact position is I believe is where the football pitch is now on the far side of the playing field.
Post War; There have been three grounds used by the club since the 2nd World War;
1947-50 & 1951-52 and part of season 1952-53; Down Farm - Although the ground was still called Down Farm it was a different pitch closer to the town and between the A26 and the artificial hockey pitch. This ground had no covered accommodation and was shared with the Telephones FC
1950-51 & part of 1952-53 until 1961-62; Eridge Road - The ground also known as the Agricultural Ground was where the Showfields Estate is now, to pinpoint the exact position of the pitch the goalmouth closest to the A26 is where the Rowan Tree Road Surgery is now.
1961-62 onwards - The Culverden Stadium
Now over 60 years the home of Tunbridge Wells FC by far the longest stay and looking at the pitch now the best they have had. This was not always so as after the visit of Hereford United in 1964 they commented “Tunbridge Wells Rangers having been forced to move grounds only two years previously, the facilities were little better than those of a village green and the rock hard surface caused a number of injuries”
Ten Top Attendances to watch Tunbridge Wells FC
16,751 - May 4th 2013 V Spennymoor – Lost 1-2 FA Vase - Wembley
16,000 - Nov 20th 1954 V Brighton & Hove Albion – Lost 0-5 FA Cup - Goldstone Ground
14,211 - Aug 29th 1936 V Ipswich Town – Lost 1-4 - Southern Portman Road
13,500 - Apr 10th 1939 V Gillingham - Won 4-0 KS Cup – Maidstone
11,500 - Dec 13th 1930 V Carlisle United – Lost 2-4 - FA Cup - Brunton Park
10,462 - Nov 26th 1938 V Walthamstow Ave – Lost 1-4 FA Cup - Green Pond Road
9,801 - Nov 27th 1937 V Brighton & Hove Albion – Lost 1-5 FA Cup - Goldstone Ground
8,869 - Nov 4th 1961 V Aldershot – Lost 1-3 FA Cup - Recreation Ground
8,767 - Apr 2nd 1936 V Margate – Lost 1-2 Kent SC – Maidstone
8,000 - Sep 23rd 1912 V Ajax – Lost 0-2 Friendly – Ajax
Highest home gate
5,788 - Feb 21st 1932 V Margate – Won 4-1 FA Cup - Down Farm
Senior Football in the Wells
When and where did it all start? The first senior side was formed in 1886 at a meeting held in the Mount Ephraim Hotel on October 7th of that year. This club was an amateur club, what must be remembered is that there was a strict distinction between amateur and professional until the 1970’s. Playing only friendlies at first, it wasn’t until 1902 that they played in the FA Cup and 1905 before they played league football. They played under the name of Tunbridge Wells FC and were known as the “Two Blues” this was to distinguish them from the professional team Tunbridge Wells Rangers who were founded in 1903.
Sadly the Two Blues played their last match on April 29th 1914 and were never reformed after the !st World War, although the Wells had two senior sides from 1903 to 1914 it was felt the town could no longer support two clubs.
It was the Kent League that ensured we had a side called Tunbridge Wells Rangers as it was the Vale Rangers who wanted to turn professional and join the Kent League who would only accept them if they used the towns name. The Rangers existed until 1940 when again a World War saw the demise of the club.
After the War the town were very cautious about reforming should it be an amateur or professional side bearing in mind they had already turned down the option of going back to the Southern League. Their answer was to take the easy option and form a club Tunbridge Wells FC to play in the Kent Amateur League. They re-joined the Kent League in 1950 and turned professional in 1952 adding the name United. Having turned down the Southern League after the war they eventually joined in 1959. Having moved to the Culverden in 1962 to complicate things they changed their name again to Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the hope of recreating some of the glories of the 1930’s also changing their colours back to that used before the war.
This change was a total failure as in 1967 the club folded, completely broke, and leaving rather a bad name in local football.
So at last we have the club you now support, but only after much hard work especially by Peter Saunders and Des Hitch, as on August 19th 1967 under the management of Dennis Way the Wells beat Canterbury City Reserves 3.2 in the Kent Premier League. The new club had to drop the name Rangers and the local council again refused to buy the ground which was offered to them for £14,000 (£315,000) in today’s money.
A rather complicated story but we can look more closely at the achievements of the clubs later.
November 28th 1931
F.A.Cup 1st Round Proper
Tunbridge Wells Rangers 1 - 1 Brentford (played at Down Farm)
Attendance 5,660
Goalscorer: Spencer
This match played some 92 years ago was the last time a Football League side played a competitive game in the Wells. The attendance was just a hundred short of the record attendance at Down Farm.
The Rangers goal was scored by player-manager Charlie Spencer ex England, Newcastle and Manchester United centre half. Sadly he was injured during the game so could not play in the replay which the Rangers lost 2-1.
