Tunbridge Wells 5 Greenwich Borough 1

Match 43/12/996 - Saturday, 5 January 2013 - Kent League

Tunbridge Wells (2) 5 Irvine 32, 40,67 Pilbeam 83 Spackman 86
Greenwich Borough (1) 1 Ryan 36
Att. 158

Entrance: £3 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 26/3,486

It was the wife’s upcoming birthday and, like most men, the buying of even a card had been left to the last minute. As my chosen fixture for the day was Tunbridge Wells’ Kent League game against Greenwich Borough, I gave myself enough time to drop into town to pick up the said item. At the entrance of the Royal Victoria Shopping Centre, perhaps waiting for a partner or having a crafty fag, there was a bloke wearing a Brighton & Hove Albion bench coat. On the way from home I had been listening to the commentary of Brighton’s cup tie against Newcastle and my thoughts immediately were, if you are a supporter, why aren’t you there? Of course, this was rather unfair, there could be a thousand reasons why he wasn’t there and he might have been to every other match this season, but somehow I didn’t think so. One of the principle reasons may well have been cost, the cheapest seat at Brighton this season costs £28, the highest in the Championship. So, rather than loitering outside of a shopping centre mate, get yourself down to Culverden Stadium where you can watch four-and-a-half games for the price of one at the Amex and that’s before factoring in travelling costs and as for the person in the Liverpool shirt . . .

One of the reasons for making this point is that thoughts are turning towards Tunbridge Wells’ upcoming FA Vase last 32 tie against the holders of the trophy, Dunston UTS and speculating on just how many people might turn up on 19 January. From a purely footballing point of view this was a wonderful draw that commands the attention of the fans of the non-league game, but from a logistical point of view it takes on a whole different outlook.

Dunston UPS, hailing from Tyne and Wear, face a 625 mile round trip to Kent and a look at the competition rules show that this presents a problem not only for those making the long journey. Rule 23 sets out the criteria and the amount of expense that can be claimed by the travelling club. Their coach travel can be reclaimed at an amount of not more than £3 per mile, which equates to £1,875. Dunston are advertising a supporters’ club coach to the game on their website at a price of £30 per seat dependant on a full coach, presumably 50. So, although a discount might be obtained, it could be estimated that not a lot of change out of £1,500 is to be had.

If the visiting club has to leave its headquarters before 8 a.m. on the day of the match, then they are entitled to claim hotel expenses. As Dunston’s supporters’ club coach is due to leave a 6 a.m., it can be expected that the players’ coach is leaving at much the same time, so 20 people at a maximum of £50 per head can be claimed. A room for two people in the cheap as chips Travelodge is £47 per night, added to the coach travel means that Dunston’s expenses are £2,000 before we get into areas such as match officials expenses.

If we take the supposition that one in four people through the turnstile pay the concessionary price then approximately 375 people need to pay at the gate to pay the visitors’ expenses alone. If Dunston were to claim the full amount to which they are entitled then, using the same premise, the attendance needs to rise to something nearer 450.

Last season to celebrate their 125th anniversary Tunbridge Wells offered free admission to their match against Corinthian and this attracted an attendance of 340, so I would suggest that this is, at the present time, something of a ceiling and if the coach-load from Dunston are added then 390 would represent a figure that is just about, or not quite enough, the amount needed to cover the expenses.

If all this reads rather gloomy, it should be added that any deficit incurred is borne equally by both clubs and Tunbridge Wells at least have the proceeds from the bar and food sales to fall back on.

All this leads me back to the chap stood outside the Victoria Centre, your local club needs you and the game against Dunston would be a great place to start.

On the field, Tunbridge Wells appear ready for the challenge of the FA Vase holders. They brushed aside Greenwich Borough with a hat trick from Andy Irvine taking centre stage. Two powerful headers and the finishing touch to a magnificent team goal made up his trio and late goals from Jon Pilbeam and Perry Spackman made up the nap hand.

Off the pitch, we pray to the weather gods to be kind in the coming fortnight. A pitch inspection allowed a home fixture to go ahead for the first time for almost two months following postponements due to waterlogging and whilst it played better than could be expected, it is not going to take too much of the wet stuff to give the groundsman a real headache and as he’s my mate, let’s pray for some unseasonal dry days.