Tonbridge Angels F.C.
| File:TAngels.jpg | |||
| Full name | Tonbridge Angels Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Angels | ||
| Founded | 1947 | ||
| Ground | Longmead Stadium, Tonbridge | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 (202 Seats) | ||
| Chairman | Nick Sullivan | ||
| Manager | Tony Dolby | ||
| League | Isthmian League Premier Division | ||
| 2006–07 | Isthmian League Premier Division, 11th | ||
|
| |||
Tonbridge Angels are a football club in Tonbridge, Kent, England. They play at the Longmead Stadium, in Tonbridge and have done so since 1980, after moving from the Angel Ground.
The Angels gained promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division after winning the 2005-06 promotion playoffs, winning the playoff final match 3-2 over local rivals Dover Athletic.
Notable ex-players include the England international and Geordie legend Malcolm Macdonald and Aston Villa's league championship winning manager Ron Saunders.
History
Tonbridge Football Club was formed in October 1947 at the suggestion of local businessman Herbert Portch and elected to the Southern Football League for the 1948-49 season. The club initially played at the Angel Ground, a former cricket ground named after a nearby pub.
Throughout the 1950s the Angels (as they were nicknamed at the time, although it was not yet formally part of the club's name) struggled to make any progress in the Southern League and were eventually relegated from the Premier Division in 1961-62, but were promoted back two years later only to be relegated back to Division One once again in 1965-66.
In 1972-73 the Angels won promotion back to the Premier Division, but after struggling to stay in the top flight the club suffered financial troubles and went into voluntary liquidation in early 1976. A new club was then formed and allowed to complete the club's remaining fixtures on the understanding that relegation would automatically result at the end of the season. Around the same time the club's landlords, the local council, announced that they wanted the Angel Ground for development. A lengthy legal battle ensued before the club was eventually offered a new ground at Longmead, its present home, where they moved in 1980.
In 1989, after a disastrous season, the Angels were relegated to the Kent League where they spent four seasons before winning the title and with it promotion in 1992-93. Around this time they also formally adopted "Angels" as part of the club’s official name.
The Angels briefly led the Southern Division on their return to the Southern League in the 1993-94 season but settled for a mid-table finish, which is where they were to generally stay until 2004 when a lengthy unbeaten run saw them finish in 3rd place in what had by then become the Eastern Division.
The 2004 re-organisation of the English football league system saw the Angels placed in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They were relegated in their very first season but bounced back at the first attempt, winning the promotion play-offs to return to the Premier Division for the 2006-07 season.
The Angels finished the 2006-07 season in mid-table of Ryman League Premier Division with striker Jon Main scoring 44 goals in all competitions.
Honours
- Kent League champions 1992-93
- Kent League Cup 1989-90 & 1991-92
- Kent League Charity Shield 1993-94
- Kent Senior Cup 1964-65 & 1974-75
- Kent Floodlit Cup 1963-64 & 1966-67
- Kent Senior Shield 1951-52, 1955-56, 1957-58, 1958-59 & 1963-64
- Metropolitan League champions 1952-53
- Metropolitan League Cup 1951-52, 1952-53 & 1956-57
- Isthmian League Division One Playoff Winners 2005-06
Players
Current Squad
As of 19 February, 2007: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Notable former players
- Neil Emblen (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
- Paul Emblen (Charlton Athletic & Wycome Wanderers)
- Malcolm Macdonald (Luton Town, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Fulham and England)
- Ron Saunders (Charlton Athletic & Watford)
- Marcel Gaillard (Crystal Palace & Portsmouth)
Sources
- Tonbridge Angels at the Football Club History Database