Tonbridge Angels clamp down on anti-social behaviour - EXCLUSIVE

TONBRIDGE ANGELS chairman Nick Sullivan has acted upon complaints from supporters and is bringing in the local Police force to patrol all their remaining home games this season - to prevent “mindless morons” using foul and abusive language at Longmead Stadium, writes Stephen McCartney.

Mr Sullivan read out one of “a dozen” letters that he has received from disgruntled supporters, highlighting the abuse that Horsham goalkeeper Paul Seuke received during the Ryman Premier League game between the two clubs on 26^th December 2007.

And Mr Sullivan has warned fans that using the “F” and “C” words at the club will NOT be tolerated.

He said: “One letter amongst many I’ve received since Christmas.

“Football, sport, certain language is acceptable, heat of the moment but certain words are not.

“We as a club cannot receive letters, which are quite damning towards me as chairman - and the football club.

“We have made a decision as from the Margate game (9^th February) there will be a police presence at all home games, that is to monitor the situation.

“We don’t want to knock the passion we get from supporters as it’s fantastic. The odd word is acceptable but this letter is about the Horsham game, where it was totally out of order!

“We (the board) have all spoken, the only way we can get round the situation is to get Police at games - at a cost to the football club.”

After reading out the letter, Mr Sullivan added: “I’ve written back to him, we can’t say sorry without doing anything.

“Our stewards cannot eject people from games, they’re not allowed. Police have powers and different rules.

“To protect the majority this is the only way we can deal with this matter.

“If Police eject people from the ground that person will be barred for the rest of the season - and next season.

“Rightly or wrongly there are certain words within sport that are known for being acceptable but there’s certain words that are not and what we don’t want, we don’t want to knock the atmosphere, which is very good at home.

“To get where we want to get we need people through the turnstiles.”

Sullivan, Garry Pass (vice-chairman), Tommy Warrilow (manager), Cliff Cant (assistant manager) and Charlie Cole (secretary) all answered questions at tonight’s meet the manager event, which lasted just over two-hours and was attended by at least sixty supporters.

Another form of abuse has been triggered on unofficial internet fans’ forums.

And vice-chairman Garry Pass has vowed to identify cyber-abusers and ban them from the club.

“We can identify most of the people who post,” he warned. “If it continues to get personal we will identify them and they won’t get entry.

“We will not have any negative (comments) - we are a family and when it gets personal, it’s not warranted.

“We know most of the people, we know there’s a few people sitting here tonight. If the abuse gets personal of any member of Tonbridge Angels they will get banned from the ground.”

Celtic supporter Mr Pass, “a successful businessman” who moved to Tonbridge seven years ago and he gave an insight to his background and his ambitions for the Ryman Premier League club.

“I believe that I’m looking to put something back into the community and that involves football, that’s the main reason why I invested in Tonbridge Angels Football Club,” he explained.

“I’ve got four kids of my own heavily involved in youth football.

“Since I’ve joined the club, you, the supporters are the integral part of the club.

“I got 50%, I paid off all the loans as part of a £100,000 investment. The club is now debt free.

“I’ve appointed a financial director within my own business empire and he gets involved in forecasting the future financially. We have monthly board meetings, we’ve now formed a development committee as Tonbridge Angels Development Fund.

“We’ve applied to develop the training pitch at the back. Plans are in place to open a new floodlight training area for the public - open 10am-10pm.

“I’ve had a meeting with the council on 11^th January, they’re all for it. They know these cages (floodlight Astroturf pitches at Tonbridge Farm Sportsground) don’t support the local community as they’re too small and flood.

“Now with regards to ground developments. We are working to a ground to Conference South level, this entails a minimum 500 seats under cover and a minimum capacity of 3,000.

“We talked at the last development committee meeting to extend terracing in front of the bar, which is a long-term plan. We get the club up as much as we want it we will look at a grandstand in front of the bar.

“I’m not a bank by any means but I will do anything in my power but I expect financial support through gates and bar - I want to see this club going forward.”

These improvements and with more fans flocking through the turnstiles - without having to listen to vile language - will assist with the club’s aims.

And when asked where he saw the club in five-years time, Mr Sullivan replied: “Five years time? I think this town, Conference now is full-time football.  Oxford’s wage bill is £1,000,000 a year. That’s fact! That’s a big ask!

“This town can support Conference South. Obviously there’s work on the ground, we have to get there.

“Money’s not everything but the sums of money being paid in our league is ridiculous but I believe we can achieve that.

“I know Jerry Dolke, the Bromley chairman, they are (almost) full-time in that (Blue Square South) league.

“There wage bill is probably three and a half times more than ours. They’ve got there because they’ve build their ball courts and restaurant - that’s what we’re up against!

“The plans that Garry’s spoken about, when they come to fruition, if we can get that Astro at the back, that will generate revenue.”

“We’ve got to get the gates up,” Mr Pass added. “Bar and programme proceeds wouldn’t cover the wages at this club.

“Where we want to go we’ve got to give people something to watch and bring in supporters to put players’ on contracts.

“If we want to move up our gates have to go up.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website:  www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk

www.kentishfootball.co.uk shall bring you the views from Angels manager Tommy Warrilow later in the week.

Folkestone Invicta v Tonbridge Angels
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 2^nd February 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, Kent CT19 5JU