Tonbridge Angels Football Club: Reserve Team History
The Angels have run a Reserve team for various spells in their history since being formed in 1948. The original Reserve side entered the Kent League in the Club’s first year, switching to the London League in 1950 and then the Metropolitan League a year later. The 1950s side proved to be arguably the most successful ‘B’ team run by the Club, more often than not outdoing the achievements of the First Team.
The Metropolitan League was a prestigious competition in its day, featuring reserve teams from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Despite the strength of the league, the Angels would regularly compete for honours, finishing as runners-up in the first season and going on to win the competition in 1952/53. The Angels continued in the Metropolitan League for just over a decade with varying success, most of which arrived via the League’s cup competition, the Professional Cup. The trophy was won on three occasions, in 1952, 1953 and 1957.
During the 1950s the lure of Football League players turning out for their clubs’ B-sides contributed to the big crowds that were a common feature of Reserve games on the Angel Ground. In the title-winning season 1952/53 Tottenham Hotspur were the visitors to the Angel where Tonbridge’s record crowd for a Reserve match was created, a colossal 3,458 attended – unheard of in these modern days.
The side switched to the Thames & Medway League for season 1964/65 and in their first season won the League Cup. Success continued into the following season with the League and Cup double being won. By 1967/68 the Angels had again switched leagues, now contesting the Kent Premier League. From 1971 to 1976 the Reserves competed in the Kent League, finishing 3rd in 1971/72 under the management of Dennis Way, and Terry Egan took over as Manager in 1972. Another change of competition saw the side in the Southern Counties Combination for the 1976/77 season.
For some years the Club was without a Reserve side, but the formation of a Youth side at Under-18 level in 1990 was the precursor to a new team being created. As players from the Youth set-up became too old to play at their level it became apparent that a ‘bridge’ between the Youth and First Team needed to be built. In 1991/92 such players were used for the First Team’s endeavours in the midweek “Hurst Electrical Cup”, and a Reserve Team was finally formed for the 1992/93 season.
Mac McKeown was appointed manager of the new Tonbridge Reserves, who took their place in Division Two of the Kent League. The first season was to be a successful one, with the Ressies settling into a mid-table finish of 8th place and winning the Division Two Cup. The side went on to become a reasonably strong member of the division, and went on to win the Division Two title in the 1996/97 season and finishing runners-up the following year. The Kent Intermediate Cup was also won in 1996/97, Whitstable Town being defeated at Chatham’s Maidstone Road ground.
After the success of the previous two years it was felt a new challenge was required for the Club’s second-string side, and an application to join the Suburban League for 1998/99 was duly accepted. McKeown departed from the side in November 1998 to take over the first team at Tunbridge Wells, and John Marchant replaced him. Del Moore then took over for four seasons from 2000 before being replaced by Alan Burns for the 2004/05 season. A further reshuffle in the summer of 2005 has seen Julian Leigh take up the reins. Since joining the Suburban League the Ressies have generally finished in the middle to upper reaches of the Southern Division, 6th position being the highest achieved in 2004/05. In that same season the Reserves reached the final of the Kent Intermediate Cup. With the departure of several players from the Reserves this year, a transitional season is expected in 2005/06.
* Please note the above is a potted history, and there may be several gaps or inaccuracies. If you have any further information on the Reserve Team that will be of note, please contact the author here.
