We want to aspire to get like Dartford, but we need more fans, says Tonbridge boss Tommy Warrilow

TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow says the club must increase its fan-base and commercial income to be able to challenge for promotion.



The Angels are slap bang in the middle of the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table in their inaugural campaign at that level, having picked up 38 points from 29 games.

Warrilow said after his side’s 1-1 home draw to Boreham Wood in midweek that he will push his side towards the play-offs, until it’s mathematically impossible to catch fifth-placed side Sutton United, who clinched promotion out of the Ryman Premier League with the Angels, as champions, while Tonbridge beat Harrow Borough and Lowestoft Town in two memorable play-off games at Longmead Stadium.

The Angels welcome second-placed Dartford to Longmead Stadium on Saturday and Warrilow is looking forward to a big crowd flocking through the turnstiles.

Dartford, who beat Basingstoke Town 4-1 at home in midweek, are now only nine points adrift of long-term leaders Woking, with a game in hand over the Surrey side.

“Hopefully we get a big crowd and we don’t let ourselves down,” said Warrilow.

“We’ve been playing well lately since the new boys have come in.  I think the side looks positive.  We’ve been on a fantastic run, we’ve only lost one in our last seven games, so it’s another big test for us against a side who have grown this year into a very good Conference South side, looking to get out.”

The Darts are the second best supported club in the division, attracting average gates of 1,245 to Princes Park Stadium, while the Angels attract an average league gate of 611 to Longmead Stadium and are the eleventh best supported club in the division.

“We want to aspire to get like the Dartford’s, the Dover’s, the Maidstone’s,” said Warrilow.

“We’ve done fantastic here on the pitch, things are going well.  We’re progressing brilliantly and on the pitch we’re trying to match and to catch up with the quality that the other clubs have got and I think we’ve got that now.

“We’ve gone up a league and we average 611 this year. We can’t kill people (to come and watch us), times are hard.  We just got to get on with it.  But our fans’ have been fantastic.  At Farnborough you thought we were at home with the noise that they were making.”

When asked what it will take to turn the Angels into a top-five outfit, Warrilow replied, “Time – this is our first year in it! We’ve addressed certain issues on the pitch with some quality players’ coming in.  We’re getting to know certain types of players as well and obviously the big F word – finance.

“We need more fans’, we need more sponsorship.  We need help all round because we need help off the pitch and it contributes to on the pitch but we’re not going to come in with all guns blazing. We’ve got to sensible. Even at the highest level you see what happens to the top teams when they go silly with their money.  It’s a sad way and I’m sure Glasgow Rangers are not on their own.

“We’ve been sensible.  We’ve always batted around with what we can sustain.  No-one’s ever been knocked a single penny since I’ve been the manager.  A lot of players’ are interested in coming to Tonbridge.  They might not get the most money but they won’t get no trouble getting it.

“The club is getting a very good reputation.   How we play, how we look after our players, the togetherness and it’s like a family orientated club and that’s what we have to promote and sell.

“If we want to go and buy a player because he’s getting X we’ve got no chance.   We’re slowly, slowly.  It’s our first season in it (Conference South) and I think when you actually reflect on it, everyone tells me  how well we’ve done.  Perhaps I should look back and go perhaps we have, but we’ve gone into the unknown but I’ve been more than happy.”

A crowd of over 1,000 on Saturday will certainly be a financial boost for the club going into the final two months of the season.

Former Dart, Warrilow has a lot of time for Dartford boss Tony Burman and the fans at Princes Park.

He said: “I have a lot of time for Tony, I know all the managers say that but I have. I like him and I like the club.  They’ve got a good set of fans down there and I’m really pleased where they are but Saturday we’ll be doing our utmost to try and spoil their party because I want to finish as high as we can.”

Warrilow then takes his side to Basingstoke Town on 6 March and the 47-year-old boss added: “They’re another team we didn’t realise financially they’re quite strong.  They’ve got some very experienced players and again it’s going to another yard-stick for us.

“We’ve competed against some really experienced Conference South established clubs and it shows that we have progressed.

“Of course there’s still work to do.  I’ve made mistakes, the players’ have made mistakes but we just have to learn from them, no-one’s perfect.”

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

Tonbridge Angels  v  Dartford
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 3^rd March 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3JF