Our fans' behaviour towards Sutton manager was totally unacceptable - says Tonbridge secretary

Monday 21st September 2009

TONBRIDGDE ANGELS secretary Charlie Cole has appealed for calm ahead of their home clash against basement boys Bognor Regis Town tomorrow night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Angels’ seven match unbeaten run came to an end as Sutton United netted a last minute winner to win 2-1 at hostile Longmead Stadium.

A minority of the Tonbridge support verbally attacked Mr Cole, stewards and hurled vitriolic abuse at Sutton’s manager Paul Doswell - the ill-feeling being held over from last season following an incident in the corresponding fixture last season when the former Eastleigh manager lashed out at Tonbridge midfielder Anthony Storey inside the Angels technical area.

Mr Cole was forced to issue a statement on the club’s unofficial fans’ forum ahead of the visit of Bognor Regis and insisted such behaviour at Longmead Stadium is unacceptable.

He said: “The behaviour of certain elements of our fan base was quite frankly ridiculous, and the level of abuse aimed at me, the stewards, and the Sutton management was totally unacceptable.

“I too agree that a certain amount of banter is an acceptable part of football life, but the behaviour was totally unacceptable.

“Perhaps the people responsible will take a long hard look at themselves, and think what harm that they are doing to the club.”

Meanwhile, upset over his side’s performance against Sutton United, which saw his side lose their second game at home, boss Tommy Warrilow, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk expects his side to bounce back.

But he warned that the west Sussex side will be a tough nut to crack.

“I’m surprised how Bognor have started because they’ve always been a very, very good footballing side,” said Warrilow.

“Last year Ashford Town (Middlesex) started really well, unbeaten and flew at the top and then hit a bit of a blip and I think Bognor might be one of those teams that have started the opposite way.

“I’m not taking Bognor lightly because they are bottom of the league. I know with Jack Pearce down there they always produce good footballers and on paper they’ve got some good names down there so something’s not ticking for them at the moment and hopefully that will last until after Tuesday and then they can tick all they want until we play them again.”

Some Tonbridge fans may be thinking that Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Horsham YMCA (who play one division lower in Ryman League Division One South) may be easy.

But Warrilow, who was previously assistant manager at what was neighbouring Horsham (who now groundshare at YMCA’s Gorings Mead ground), insisted that his side have to be on top of their game to win the second qualifying round clash.

“I can’t ask for much more,” he said. “A supposedly lesser side but obviously as the draw came out I had four or five calls from some of their players, there’s a few ex-Horsham boys there who can hold their own in the Ryman Premier League.

“So again, it’s not to be taken for granted. We’ve got to do a professional job on them as they’ve got some good players there.

“I’m not going to moan about the draw because they’re in a lower league than us and we’re at home again so hopefully we can carry on the run and stay in the Cup as long as we can.”

The Tonbridge Angels supporter(s) who verbally abused Mr Cole on Saturday should be man enough to go up to apologise face-to-face to a man who works tirelessly for their club - and realise what the implications of their actions could be for their club.

You are tarnishing the good name of Tonbridge Angels Football Club and non-league football in general.

Rather than chanting obscenities, supporters should use their “passion” into supporting their team - instead of harming their club.

www.kenishfootball.co.uk will be covering the Bognor Regis Town game on Tuesday night.

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk and www.tonbridgeafc.co.uk/forum

Tonbridge Angels v Bognor Regis Town

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 22nd September 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JW