TONBRIDGE ANGELS picked up two awards at the Bostik League’s AGM held at Wembley stadium on June 9, the Community Club of the Season – for the second year in a row – and Programme of the Season in the Premier Division.
The Angels provide the town’s youngsters of all abilities with coaching sessions at Longmead stadium evern Saturday morning and during the school holidays.
The Ladies team, which also encourages local participation, is going from strength to strength, coming second in their league and winning the Kent Divisional Cup in only their second year.
‘It’s one thing saying you are community-based club, but quite another thing to be recognised by your league in this way’, said the club’s Chairman Dave Netherstreet.
‘I would like to thank and congratulate all those volunteers who have worked so hard for the club this past 12 months to have won this award for the second year running.’
He added: ‘Also congratulations to the matchday programme team who have picked up a second award for their efforts this past season.
‘Once again it’s a labour of love with many hours of unpaid work put in to achieve this recognition.’
Two young players in the first-team squad, Dom Welsh and Callum Adonis-Taylor, took it upon themselves to organise the Soccer Skills workshops in the holidays.
Geoff Curtis, a graphic designer and Angels fan, designs the first-team programme using pictures, articles and statistics produced in-house by supporters on a voluntary basis.
They also won an award from the Soccer Swap Shop for best programme in the Bostik Premier and 10th best in the whole non-league pyramid.
Last December Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP marked the 10th heart-screening session for local young people that the club has funded in association with Cardiac Risk in the Young [CRY].
That day the club was celebrating the fact that the 1,000th young person underwent a screening. So far the club and its supporters have raise £36,000 for CRY.
The club also hosts the town’s annual fireworks display in conjunction with Tonbridge Round Table, an event which last year raised almost £3,000 for local charities.
And in May the annual Beer and Music Festival is dedicated to a worth cause. This year’s proceeds will be going to Cage Green School, the primary close to the stadium.
Other fundraising events included the club disco, which helped Tommy’s Charity, an organisation that supports research into stillborn and premature babies.
Another music night organised by Slimming World saw almost £500 donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The discos also serve another important purpose, bringing a clientele to the club who might not usually go near a football ground.
PICTURE: STRIKING ARTWORK: The programme for the last home game paid tribute to departing goalscorer Nathan Elder
