Tonbridge Angels FC Longmead stadium
Angels 4-3 Lowestoft Angels promoted 07/05/11
The Angels were formed in October 1947, following the suggestion of local businessman and founder chairman Mr. Herbert Pouch and were one of four teams elected to the southern premier league in the 1948-49 season. They gained a lease on the Angel Ground, former home of Kent CCC, and gained the name Tonbridge Angels due to the nearby Angel hotel. Their opening game at this ground vs Hastings attracted 5,000 people. Their highest ever attendance however came in an F.A cup first round tie vs Aldershot in the 1951-52 season when 8,236 attended.
In 1980 they moved to their current ground, Longmead, with the opening game in the Southern League cup vs Crawley attracting 701 spectators. Their record attendance at Longmead, until todays game, was 2,281 against AFC wimbledon in the FA Trophy first round. The ground itself is a strange one. On one side, that houses the turnstiles, is hard standing and a directors/press box that is about 10 metres long and is elevated. Also on this side is the club house and shop. At either end there is hard standing with terraces that are set back and cover the width of the penalty box. At the south end are the changing rooms. The opposite side to the turnstiles is the main stand which holds 780 and has a few supporting pillars.
The game itself was an exciting end-to-end ordeal. Angels opened the scoring in the 12th minute lashing home from close range. This caused a bit of trouble between the two sets of fans which ended with them having to be segregated. The home side were able to double their lead when Danny Walder's free kick took a large deflection to fly into the visitors net in the 22nd minute. The visitors pulled one back with a headed effort into an open net in the 31st minute, only for the home team to regain their two goal advantage through a penalty converted by Walder for his second goal in the 42nd minute. The home side went in at the half 3-1 up.
The teams returned to the pitch with a good atmosphere around the ground with lots of noise being made. Four minutes into the second half the visitors pulled a goal back to make it 3-2. GAME ON!. The visitors found confidence and started to press for the equaliser which they got through Guentchev with a fabulous curling shot into the top corner which was worth the admission money on it's own. This goal coming on the 78th minute. The away team continued to press but were dealt with a harsh blow in the 81st minute when lewis Taylor slotted home to sent the home fans mental.
The crowd was a record at Longmead with 2,411 turning up including 5 coaches from Lowestoft. I'm glad we made the effort and look forward to see the Angels progress in the conference south next year,
In 1980 they moved to their current ground, Longmead, with the opening game in the Southern League cup vs Crawley attracting 701 spectators. Their record attendance at Longmead, until todays game, was 2,281 against AFC wimbledon in the FA Trophy first round. The ground itself is a strange one. On one side, that houses the turnstiles, is hard standing and a directors/press box that is about 10 metres long and is elevated. Also on this side is the club house and shop. At either end there is hard standing with terraces that are set back and cover the width of the penalty box. At the south end are the changing rooms. The opposite side to the turnstiles is the main stand which holds 780 and has a few supporting pillars.
The game itself was an exciting end-to-end ordeal. Angels opened the scoring in the 12th minute lashing home from close range. This caused a bit of trouble between the two sets of fans which ended with them having to be segregated. The home side were able to double their lead when Danny Walder's free kick took a large deflection to fly into the visitors net in the 22nd minute. The visitors pulled one back with a headed effort into an open net in the 31st minute, only for the home team to regain their two goal advantage through a penalty converted by Walder for his second goal in the 42nd minute. The home side went in at the half 3-1 up.
The teams returned to the pitch with a good atmosphere around the ground with lots of noise being made. Four minutes into the second half the visitors pulled a goal back to make it 3-2. GAME ON!. The visitors found confidence and started to press for the equaliser which they got through Guentchev with a fabulous curling shot into the top corner which was worth the admission money on it's own. This goal coming on the 78th minute. The away team continued to press but were dealt with a harsh blow in the 81st minute when lewis Taylor slotted home to sent the home fans mental.
The crowd was a record at Longmead with 2,411 turning up including 5 coaches from Lowestoft. I'm glad we made the effort and look forward to see the Angels progress in the conference south next year,