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FOURTH ROUND FLIRTATIONS
A review of The Wells’ past Vase passages to the last 32
By Matt Harris

Tunbridge Wells’ progress through to Round Four of the FA Vase for only the sixth time in the club’s history has been well enough documented lately. Win or lose, less well known as yet is that this year the club has already progressed through more rounds in the FA Vase than in any previous season. That’s because since the last time the club reached the last 32, a second qualifying round has been added to the competition to accommodate more entrants, and this year The Wells have played through both Qualifying Rounds.

As this is the club’s 125^th anniversary year www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk felt it apt to delve back into the mists of time and look at the previous runs that saw The Wells get to the Fourth Round.

Compared to the club’s own history, the FA Vase is still a relatively young competition - dating back to 1974. The Wells were fairly successful in the early years of the Vase. In fact three of the previous Fourth Round achievements came in the first five seasons of the competition’s existence.

In 1974/75, a home tie against Herne Bay in the First Round Proper provided The Wells’ first ever Vase match, and the Culverden club made an imediate impact on the competition, winning 3-2. Subsequent victories over Sussex opponents - Bexhill (3-1 away) and East Grinstead (1-0 at home) - secured a Fourth Round game with Hornchurch which the club lost 0-5.

The following year, Sidley United (3-2) and Herne Bay again (2-0) provided the opposition at Culverden in the early rounds, before Shoreham were dispatched on their own turf 4-1 as The Wells again reached the last 32. This provided another game at Culverden against Addlestone (now defunct). The home comforts enjoyed in the earlier rounds of the competition had worn thin by the Fourth Round though, and the visitors ran out 3-0 winners.

The Wells then had to wait until Season 1978/79 before a third appearance was made in the Fourth Round, and for the first time the club found themselves starting in the Preliminary Round as the competition began to grow in terms of clubs competing in it.

Horley Town were drawn to come over to Kent and a narrow 1-0 win was followed by 2-1 wins on the road at Whitstable Town and Eastbourne Town respectively in Rounds One and Two. Following a goalless draw at home in the Third Round against Uxbridge, The Wells produced the goods away from home again, winning the replay 2-1.

Unfortunately, away-day joy turned to travel sickness in the Fourth Round, and a trip down Portsmouth way to play Gosport produced a 2-4 defeat.

Fewer and further between
As the 1980s dawned, such runs in the Vase became more of a rarity -and it was another six years before the Fourth Round was reached again in Season 1984/85 (the year Tunbridge Wells also won the Kent League title).

This time Cobham were comfortably beaten 5-1 in the Preliminary Round at home, followed by Horsham YMCA (beaten in a home replay 4-0 following a 3-3 draw away). Again a replay was needed before Hastings were beaten 1-0 at Culverden following a 1-1 draw away.

The Wells seemed to be doing fine at home, and will undoubtedly have been delighted when, having been drawn to play fellow Kent Leaguers Alma Swanley away, the Third Round game was switched to Culverden. The tie was won 1-0 setting up an away-day at Wisbech Town. Alas, the club were less comfortable on the road in the Vase that year, and lost their Fourth Round game 0-2.

Given that this was a particularly memorable Tunbridge Wells side, it's not surprising that it took something special to end the Vase run that year. Wisbech proved themselves worthy assailants and only just lost a semi-final replay to that year's Vase winner, Halesowen Town after the pair were gridlocked following the scheduled two-legged semi-final.

That proved to be the club’s only Fourth Round outing of the 1980s, and another eight years passed before the next appearance in the last 32 in 1992/93 Season. First up, in the Preliminary Round were Three Bridges - and following a 1-1 draw at home, the replay was won 2-1 to set up a first round game at Burgess Hill Town (3-2).

The Second Round set up local derby with Tonbridge which undoubtedly still lives in the memories of many a long-term supporter. The Wells ran out 3-1 winners at Culverden to progress to an away day against Feltham & Hounslow Borough in Round Three. A 2-1 win saw the club through into the Fourth Round, where the road to Wembley came to a dead-end at Hoddesdon Town as the club were defeated 1-3.

That proved to be the last Fourth Round appearance until the recent win over VCD Athletic gave Tunbridge Wells passage through to the last 32 again this season. As you can see, the law of averages should certainly be stacked in Tunbridge Wells' favour for a first appearance in the last 16.

If the club can get past St Ives Town and into the Fifth Round on Saturday, another first could always be around the corner: Tunbridge Wells could yet be pitted against a side from the North.

While some lengthy trips out west have been handed to the club in the FA Vase and far-flung western clubs have had to make the trip to Culverden (Cornish sides among them), the match with Wisbech Town represented the most Northerly side The Wells have ever played in the competition to date. From here on in, there are all manner of potential firsts for the club. 125 years on, and the club is still cutting new ground!

Source: www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk

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