Wells chairman wants to bring Cup back to Culverden

THE CHAIRMAN of Kent League club Tunbridge Wells says neighbouring Tonbridge Angels are being “disrespectful” towards his club ahead of the annual Cup clash between the two sides, writes Stephen McCartney.

The two west Kent clubs contest the George Piper Courier Cup every pre-season and the Angels are expected to field a reserve side for the Culverden Stadium showdown on Saturday, 2^nd August.

The reason for that is that Blue Square South outfit AFC Wimbledon will be coming to Longmead Stadium to play a friendly as part of the record transfer deal that took Tonbridge Angels prolific striker John Main to south-west London last November.

“We’re starting elite youth teams and we’ve already got our elite under 13s (and they) will be playing the under 13s Tonbridge Angels in the morning and in the afternoon it will be our first team v their team for the Courier Cup,” Wells chairman Nigel Bourne told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

When asked his views about their Ryman Premier League neighbours playing two fixtures at the same time, thus denting the prospects of attracting a big crowd to Culverden Stadium, Mr Bourne said: “Well, that’s their fault mate. I’m there to win it and that’s their problem.

“I’m certainly not changing the date. They made the date with us and didn’t check their obligations obviously.

“I think it’s disrespectful to us but at the end of the day their reserves are still a very good team and we have to be on our game to beat them.

“But I want that trophy back in my cabinet this year. We had it two years ago and they won it back last year and I want it back again this year.”

Visit club websites:

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk