Match 5/26/2433 - Tuesday, 21st July 2026 - Pre-Season Friendly
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Graham 14 Tanga 74
Sittingbourne (1) 2 Smith 39 Trialist 69
Estimated Attendance: 200
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/226
PRESEASON BEGINNING TO DRAG
We’ve reached the halfway point in preseason, about the time when it becomes a bit tiresome. The new season fixtures are out, the preliminary round draws of the FA Cup, Vase and Trophy have been made, giving something to look forward too but also the wish to get the next three weeks out of the way and on to competitive games.
As football supporters we know what preseason is about from the outset. We pitch up, pay our fiver and stare at our team not knowing who half of them are, whether that be a new signing or one of many trialists who have the thankless task of trying to fit into a team’s pattern of play whilst also, on a personal level, needing to impress the manager sufficiently to earn a contract. It is what it is, but it rarely makes for a good watch.
With due respect to Sittingbourne, a couple of steps below Tonbridge Angels, they came to the Yeomans and played a bit of football, found themselves 2-1 up before conceding in a relatively entertaining game. There was some old faces in their line-up with 2019 play-off final goalscorer D’Sean Theobalds, Joe Boachie and, the unmistakeable figure of Jordan Greenidge.
Some of the trialists are now on their fourth game and some have looked technically quite good players, but as with any preseason, most will fall by the wayside in the search for the gem that the bigger fish have missed.
On an evening cool enough to warrant a jumper, the trialist goalkeeper that has had time in each game, got a full 90 minutes. Who he is, perhaps we will never know. There was a first appearance on home territory for Lamar Reynolds that only lasted 45 minutes whilst the giant Lexus Beeden had his first start at the back.
The visitors made a bright start but it was Tonbridge who took the lead with a great strike from 20 yards by Harry Graham into the top corner. Graham has been, by far, my stand-out in preseason and looks a great acquisition from Hampton and Richmond with his box-to-box energy and, hopefully, this strike shows there is also a goal in him.
Tonbridge dominated for a period, but towards the back end of the half, Sittingbourne came back into the game and equalised on 39 minutes when a cross from the left found Harvey Smith at the far post to bury a header.
Into the second period, Tonbridge had a goal disallowed before Sittingbourne took the lead when a throw-in was poorly defended with the ball falling at the feet of a Sittingbourne trialist to poke home.
Stung a little, the Angels mustered a fightback and after Bunmi Babajide fed a short pass into Jephte Tanga, the midfielder turned outside of a defender before scoring from around 10 yards.
So other step towards opening day at Braintree Town is completed, I’m sure manager Alan Dunne is learning a lot, I’m not sure I am!
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Saturday, 18 July 2026
Cray Wanderers 1 Tonbridge Angels 0
Match 4/26/2432 - Saturday, 18th July 2026 - Pre-Season Friendly
Cray Wanderers (1) 1 Strachan 6
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Estimated Attendance: 150
Admission: £5
Mileage: 77/188
DEFEAT IN THE MIDDAY SUN
Seeing the tears of young children in the crowd in Atlanta was heartbreaking but for those kids there is time on their side. For what you ask, never ending disappointment or will it be that a future, from the ever-lengthening list of golden generations, be exactly that and carry England over the line?
It was the legendary Bill Shankly that coined the phrase “football isn’t life or death, it’s more important than that.” I’m not saying Shanks was wrong but the experience of older age has taught me that it is only true for a fleeting moment. Kids are resilient and many would have learnt a lesson on Wednesday, don’t believe the hype, there are two sides on a pitch and in a World Cup Semi-Final, one wins, one loses and losing is one of life’s best lessons.
So, in older age I no longer dwell on defeats. I listen to so-called expert pundits, I think about what I have seen, come to a conclusion and move on. Gone are the days, when I would sulk, seemingly for days and to that my wife would say, hallelujah!
And so it is back to grassroots, admission for a fiver, cup of tea for a couple of quid tops and no VAR with the expert analysis coming from proper experts on the sidelines with no psycho-babble.
Cray Wanderers were our hosts with a strange 12 noon kick-off time for a second visit to their new home of Flamingo Park that has seen some improvement since our 2024 FA Cup visit but with the construction machinery surrounding the stadium my guess is that by the time we make our return the site will be vastly different.
One alteration Cray Wanderers cannot make is the access onto the A20 and the distance involved to get back to Flamingo Park but on the other side of the road, 20 minutes spent in heavy traffic to get nowhere on the homeward journey.
The midday sun was only pleasantly warm that wouldn’t threaten either mad dogs or Englishmen and the hydration break thankfully was unused. Tonbridge Angels' injured players were unable to return although Lamar Reynolds was able to make a first appearance from the bench for half-an-hour.
An early chance for one of the two starting trialists went begging before the hosts went ahead on six minutes when a corner was met at the near post with a well placed header from Rob Strachan.
For a few minutes following the goal, Tonbridge’s defence was all at sea and only a wasteful finish from Alex Hernandez saved them from going further behind.
Once they had recovered a bit of composure, chances were created for Jephte Tanga and Ethan Sutcliffe and, on 18 minutes, Cray goalkeeper Henry Molyneux had a heart stopping moment when a shot from Harry Gardner slipped from his grasp but he was able to turn and claw the ball back from his line.
The hour mark brought a raft of substitutes for both sides with the best chance seeing Reynolds effort cleared from the line.
The appearance of Reynolds has to be considered the game’s positive for the Angels given that just a single goal, from a trialist, has been scored in the three games so far.
Cray Wanderers (1) 1 Strachan 6
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Estimated Attendance: 150
Admission: £5
Mileage: 77/188
DEFEAT IN THE MIDDAY SUN
Seeing the tears of young children in the crowd in Atlanta was heartbreaking but for those kids there is time on their side. For what you ask, never ending disappointment or will it be that a future, from the ever-lengthening list of golden generations, be exactly that and carry England over the line?
It was the legendary Bill Shankly that coined the phrase “football isn’t life or death, it’s more important than that.” I’m not saying Shanks was wrong but the experience of older age has taught me that it is only true for a fleeting moment. Kids are resilient and many would have learnt a lesson on Wednesday, don’t believe the hype, there are two sides on a pitch and in a World Cup Semi-Final, one wins, one loses and losing is one of life’s best lessons.
So, in older age I no longer dwell on defeats. I listen to so-called expert pundits, I think about what I have seen, come to a conclusion and move on. Gone are the days, when I would sulk, seemingly for days and to that my wife would say, hallelujah!
And so it is back to grassroots, admission for a fiver, cup of tea for a couple of quid tops and no VAR with the expert analysis coming from proper experts on the sidelines with no psycho-babble.
Cray Wanderers were our hosts with a strange 12 noon kick-off time for a second visit to their new home of Flamingo Park that has seen some improvement since our 2024 FA Cup visit but with the construction machinery surrounding the stadium my guess is that by the time we make our return the site will be vastly different.
One alteration Cray Wanderers cannot make is the access onto the A20 and the distance involved to get back to Flamingo Park but on the other side of the road, 20 minutes spent in heavy traffic to get nowhere on the homeward journey.
The midday sun was only pleasantly warm that wouldn’t threaten either mad dogs or Englishmen and the hydration break thankfully was unused. Tonbridge Angels' injured players were unable to return although Lamar Reynolds was able to make a first appearance from the bench for half-an-hour.
An early chance for one of the two starting trialists went begging before the hosts went ahead on six minutes when a corner was met at the near post with a well placed header from Rob Strachan.
For a few minutes following the goal, Tonbridge’s defence was all at sea and only a wasteful finish from Alex Hernandez saved them from going further behind.
Once they had recovered a bit of composure, chances were created for Jephte Tanga and Ethan Sutcliffe and, on 18 minutes, Cray goalkeeper Henry Molyneux had a heart stopping moment when a shot from Harry Gardner slipped from his grasp but he was able to turn and claw the ball back from his line.
The hour mark brought a raft of substitutes for both sides with the best chance seeing Reynolds effort cleared from the line.
The appearance of Reynolds has to be considered the game’s positive for the Angels given that just a single goal, from a trialist, has been scored in the three games so far.
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Tonbridge Angels 0 Sutton United 2
Match 3/26/2431 - Tuesday, 14th July 2026 - Pre-Season Friendly
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Sutton United (1) 2
Estimated Attendance: 200
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/111
FAR FROM DISGRACED
The World Cup produced a dilemma, stay at home for the France v Spain semi-final or stay loyal to Tonbridge Angels and their pre-season friendly with Sutton United. Tonbridge won the argument, lost the game, but overall, I didn’t regret my choice.
Mobile phone charged in full, match alerts on, I was able to view the key moments in Dallas quickly after they had happened as tournament favourites France deservedly fell to defeat against the best side of the last month. The highlights reel emphasised that I had set aside a good game rather than a classic.
National League Sutton United paid Tonbridge the compliment of bringing a strong squad to the Yeomans with Charlie Carter, last season of Dorking Wanderers and David Ogbonna, previously of Slough Town, old adversaries.
Angels manager, Alan Dunne, chose to go with much the same format as Saturday’s opening friendly with only two trialists starting, but plenty to be seen in the second half as the starting XI this time made it to the hour mark.
On a cooler evening, with a nice breeze, the much maligned hydration breaks were ditched.
Sutton showed their quality from the outset and were ahead within four minutes when a pass down the left from Adam Reeves found the visitors only first half trialist who rounded Nathan Harness, who had left his line to advance to the edge of the box. With the goalkeeper absent, the ball was played back to Charlie Bell who unselfishly moved it on to Carter to slot home.
Credit to the Angels who recovered from the setback and were the equal of their step one opposition with efforts from Harry Gardner and a trialist testing goalkeeper Chris Haigh, whilst Sutton rattled the woodwork on 37 minutes.
Sutton doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half when a inch perfect cross following a dribble across the face of the Angels goal from Jermaine Francis found Sam Folarin who headed home.
As the changes rang on both sides, the Angels might have folded but they took the game to Sutton and in the closing moments, a trialist produced a mazy run into the box that was ended when he was brought down. He picked himself up to take the spot kick himself, but his shot was too close to the keeper who saved with relative ease.
Another solid run-out that leaves the impression that things are moving in the right direction.
Picture: David Couldridge
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Sutton United (1) 2
Estimated Attendance: 200
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/111
FAR FROM DISGRACED
The World Cup produced a dilemma, stay at home for the France v Spain semi-final or stay loyal to Tonbridge Angels and their pre-season friendly with Sutton United. Tonbridge won the argument, lost the game, but overall, I didn’t regret my choice.
Mobile phone charged in full, match alerts on, I was able to view the key moments in Dallas quickly after they had happened as tournament favourites France deservedly fell to defeat against the best side of the last month. The highlights reel emphasised that I had set aside a good game rather than a classic.
National League Sutton United paid Tonbridge the compliment of bringing a strong squad to the Yeomans with Charlie Carter, last season of Dorking Wanderers and David Ogbonna, previously of Slough Town, old adversaries.
Angels manager, Alan Dunne, chose to go with much the same format as Saturday’s opening friendly with only two trialists starting, but plenty to be seen in the second half as the starting XI this time made it to the hour mark.
On a cooler evening, with a nice breeze, the much maligned hydration breaks were ditched.
Sutton showed their quality from the outset and were ahead within four minutes when a pass down the left from Adam Reeves found the visitors only first half trialist who rounded Nathan Harness, who had left his line to advance to the edge of the box. With the goalkeeper absent, the ball was played back to Charlie Bell who unselfishly moved it on to Carter to slot home.
Credit to the Angels who recovered from the setback and were the equal of their step one opposition with efforts from Harry Gardner and a trialist testing goalkeeper Chris Haigh, whilst Sutton rattled the woodwork on 37 minutes.
Sutton doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half when a inch perfect cross following a dribble across the face of the Angels goal from Jermaine Francis found Sam Folarin who headed home.
As the changes rang on both sides, the Angels might have folded but they took the game to Sutton and in the closing moments, a trialist produced a mazy run into the box that was ended when he was brought down. He picked himself up to take the spot kick himself, but his shot was too close to the keeper who saved with relative ease.
Another solid run-out that leaves the impression that things are moving in the right direction.
Picture: David Couldridge
Sunday, 12 July 2026
Tonbridge Angels 1 Biggleswade 0
Match 2/26/2430 - Saturday, 11th July 2026 - Pre-Season Friendly
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Trialist 40
Biggleswade (0) 0
Attendance: 352
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/73
GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME (ALMOST)
On the face of it the summer has been very productive for Alan Dunne and Tonbridge Angels. The signing of Maidstone United’s captain Sam Corne opened the door and the players that have followed have dropped a few jaws and heightened expectations.
The first pre-season game brought a cooling breeze that took the edge off the stifling heat of the third heatwave of the summer. Thoughts drift to a freezing Tuesday evening in December at the Yeomans and it almost sounds appealing.
The newly-installed tannoy boomed out the team line-ups in crystal clear clarity, lottery tickets at the ready boys and girls, you will now hear the winning number!
On the pitch, Alan Dunne chose to field a strong first half team whilst his second half troops were made up of nine trialists. alongside Bradley Williams and Lexus Beeden, the latest recruit from the A26 neighbours against Biggleswade of the Southern League Division One Central.
Given the heat, the tempo and the pressing was eye-catching with Corne pulling all the strings in the middle of the park. Bunmi Babajide had a shot cleared from the line on eight minutes and a good combination between Corne and Frankie Baker ended with the visiting goalkeeper making a save.
On 38 minutes, Harry Gardner won the ball in midfield, spotted the goalkeeper off his line and was unlucky from 35 yards to see his effort strike the post.
Tonbridge took the lead on 40 minutes when Corne crossed from the right with pinpoint accuracy to find the Angels only first half trialist at the far post to finish well.
The second half with the multiple changes saw much of the momentum taken out of the game and, right at the death, Biggleswade fashioned an opportunity to return home with an honourable draw but the effort narrowly cleared the bar.
A couple of the trialists probably did enough to earn a second or third look, but nine trialists thrown together is a tough ask.
Pre-season for a supporter is about getting back amongst friends, chewing the fat over summer signings, and of course, the World Cup, in the surroundings of the green, green FIFA approved surface of home.
Picture: Dave Couldridge
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Trialist 40
Biggleswade (0) 0
Attendance: 352
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/73
GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME (ALMOST)
On the face of it the summer has been very productive for Alan Dunne and Tonbridge Angels. The signing of Maidstone United’s captain Sam Corne opened the door and the players that have followed have dropped a few jaws and heightened expectations.
The first pre-season game brought a cooling breeze that took the edge off the stifling heat of the third heatwave of the summer. Thoughts drift to a freezing Tuesday evening in December at the Yeomans and it almost sounds appealing.
The newly-installed tannoy boomed out the team line-ups in crystal clear clarity, lottery tickets at the ready boys and girls, you will now hear the winning number!
On the pitch, Alan Dunne chose to field a strong first half team whilst his second half troops were made up of nine trialists. alongside Bradley Williams and Lexus Beeden, the latest recruit from the A26 neighbours against Biggleswade of the Southern League Division One Central.
Given the heat, the tempo and the pressing was eye-catching with Corne pulling all the strings in the middle of the park. Bunmi Babajide had a shot cleared from the line on eight minutes and a good combination between Corne and Frankie Baker ended with the visiting goalkeeper making a save.
On 38 minutes, Harry Gardner won the ball in midfield, spotted the goalkeeper off his line and was unlucky from 35 yards to see his effort strike the post.
Tonbridge took the lead on 40 minutes when Corne crossed from the right with pinpoint accuracy to find the Angels only first half trialist at the far post to finish well.
The second half with the multiple changes saw much of the momentum taken out of the game and, right at the death, Biggleswade fashioned an opportunity to return home with an honourable draw but the effort narrowly cleared the bar.
A couple of the trialists probably did enough to earn a second or third look, but nine trialists thrown together is a tough ask.
Pre-season for a supporter is about getting back amongst friends, chewing the fat over summer signings, and of course, the World Cup, in the surroundings of the green, green FIFA approved surface of home.
Picture: Dave Couldridge
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Tunbridge Wells 2 Eastbourne Town 0
Match 1/26/2429 - Saturday, 4th July 2026 - Pre-Season Friendly
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Corke 9,55
Eastbourne Town (0) 0
Headcount: 60
Admission: Free
Mileage: 35/35
Played at Bennett Memorial School
New Ground: 399
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Having recently celebrated my 75th birthday, season 2026/27 is my 67th since my debut at the long demolished Angel Ground, home to Tonbridge Football Club.
Last season saw a series of circumstances that brought my attendance total below 100 for the first time in several years, but with enthusiasm whetted by, albeit from the sofa, the World Cup, hopefully this term will see normal service resumed. Let’s put it this way, one of the circumstances, a house move, is not happening again (ever).
Tonbridge Angels are a week away from opening their pre-season campaign and their prospects for their season can be reviewed in a week’s time, so opening day fell to Tunbridge Wells, not at Culverden Stadium, but next door at Bennet Memorial School which houses a 3G pitch that becomes home for a couple of fixtures whilst pitch preparation continues. One hopes that the preparation resolves some of the issues that has dogged the club for many years.
A reasonable run of form towards the end of the season, especially given their backlog of fixtures, leaves Tunbridge Wells with a sense of optimism, especially as there appears not to be a heavily monied side in the SCEFL Premier Division, although SE Dons and the newly-named Petts Wood and Holmesdale may prove that assertion incorrect.
Eastbourne Town, from the Isthmian League South East Division, provided the opposition on a hot afternoon. The 3G pitch apart, the school obviously lacked the facilities of a stadium, but the tree-lined banking to one side of the pitch at least allowed some welcome shade.
Tunbridge Wells, who have announced that 16 of last season’s squad remain with the club, and looked the more settled side from the outset and although they might have gone behind on eight minutes when an Eastbourne forward placed his shot wide when one-on-one with goalkeeper George Bentley, they opened the scoring a minute later through Regan Corke who seized onto a ball over the top to round the advancing goalkeeper and slot into an unguarded goal.
A mid-half hydration break was greeted with amusing boos to mirror the dissatisfaction of the World Cup audiences, but in 28 degrees of heat, this particular instance was more than justified. A freezing cold Tuesday evening at Culverden though? I don’t think so.
Into the second half, and after 55 minutes, Reece Bartlett broke down the left to cross for Corke to finish for his, and the Wells, second of the game.
A solid start for the Wells, and for me, time to get my eye in and pencil sharpened for the months ahead.
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Corke 9,55
Eastbourne Town (0) 0
Headcount: 60
Admission: Free
Mileage: 35/35
Played at Bennett Memorial School
New Ground: 399
HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Having recently celebrated my 75th birthday, season 2026/27 is my 67th since my debut at the long demolished Angel Ground, home to Tonbridge Football Club.
Last season saw a series of circumstances that brought my attendance total below 100 for the first time in several years, but with enthusiasm whetted by, albeit from the sofa, the World Cup, hopefully this term will see normal service resumed. Let’s put it this way, one of the circumstances, a house move, is not happening again (ever).
Tonbridge Angels are a week away from opening their pre-season campaign and their prospects for their season can be reviewed in a week’s time, so opening day fell to Tunbridge Wells, not at Culverden Stadium, but next door at Bennet Memorial School which houses a 3G pitch that becomes home for a couple of fixtures whilst pitch preparation continues. One hopes that the preparation resolves some of the issues that has dogged the club for many years.
A reasonable run of form towards the end of the season, especially given their backlog of fixtures, leaves Tunbridge Wells with a sense of optimism, especially as there appears not to be a heavily monied side in the SCEFL Premier Division, although SE Dons and the newly-named Petts Wood and Holmesdale may prove that assertion incorrect.
Eastbourne Town, from the Isthmian League South East Division, provided the opposition on a hot afternoon. The 3G pitch apart, the school obviously lacked the facilities of a stadium, but the tree-lined banking to one side of the pitch at least allowed some welcome shade.
Tunbridge Wells, who have announced that 16 of last season’s squad remain with the club, and looked the more settled side from the outset and although they might have gone behind on eight minutes when an Eastbourne forward placed his shot wide when one-on-one with goalkeeper George Bentley, they opened the scoring a minute later through Regan Corke who seized onto a ball over the top to round the advancing goalkeeper and slot into an unguarded goal.
A mid-half hydration break was greeted with amusing boos to mirror the dissatisfaction of the World Cup audiences, but in 28 degrees of heat, this particular instance was more than justified. A freezing cold Tuesday evening at Culverden though? I don’t think so.
Into the second half, and after 55 minutes, Reece Bartlett broke down the left to cross for Corke to finish for his, and the Wells, second of the game.
A solid start for the Wells, and for me, time to get my eye in and pencil sharpened for the months ahead.
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