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: 398
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 to not 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.
