Dave Hassett alarmed his team-mates in Saturday's pre-match warm up when he coughed and spluttered during some stretching exercises.

After some brief enquiries from Martin Telford it transpired that the striker has swallowed a fly. 'Did it wriggle and wriggle and tickle inside you' asked a clearly concerned Telford. Others present suggested that Hassett resolve the problem by swallowing a spider. Adding a note of caution Kevin Metcalf said that he knew an old lady who swallowed a horse...!

It is believed that Hassett will pull through the insect induced drama with no ill effects!

Instead of travelling to Maidstone on Wednesday 21st Sept, The Wells will now travel to Moneyfields for the FA Vase Replay on Tuesday 20th. A coach will be laid on by the club, and will leave Culverden at 3.30pm.

The away game at Maidstone will now take place on Wednesday 19th October.

There are also a couple further additions to the fixtures for October.

The Wells will play Erith & Belvedere away in the league on Tuesday 11th October (KO 7.45pm). Meantime, the game at Slade Green in the Kent Senior Trophy has moved from a Saturday to Tuesday 4th October (KO 7.30pm).

The committee of Tunbridge Wells FC has voted to raise the price of adult admission to £6 with effect from 01/10/05. All other prices will remain unchanged.

The increase has been forced upon the club by rising running costs - particularly water (after a dry summer) and electricity. As the club seeks to sustain a promotion challenge and ensure the ground is up to Ryman League standard, it is important that adequate funds are in the bank to cover costs.

Whilst regretting the rise the committee feels that an afternoon watching Tunbridge Wells FC is still very good value, and hopes very much that attendances continue to rise.

Matt Bromby played the first half of the reserves match at Greenwich Borough yesterday.

We hope to bring more news of his rehabilitation shortly.

With Tunbridge Wells sitting third in the Kentish Observer Premier Division table, supporters may be re-assured to know that the task of bringing the ground up to step four standard has begun.

A large portakabin has arrived at Culverden and will most likely serve as the club's hospitality suite when it has been connected and decorated. The current committee room is smaller than the minimum size for step four. At the same time two outside toilet blocks have been acquired and will obviously be plumbed in shortly.

A solution to the problem of the PA system has been agreed at the last committee meeting and this will be acted upon shortly at minimal cost to the club.

Further improvements towards meeting the step four requirements will be announced soon.

World football governing body FIFA has confirmed that the marathon penalty shoot out against Littlehampton has set a new world record for a senior cup game.

With the greatest of regret Tunbridge Wells FC has withdrawn its under 18 team for the 2005/06 season.

This action is considered by the club to be for one season only and the committee will now be evaluating it's structure for youth football in future seasons. One of the greatest priorities for the Wells is to encourage more local talent to come through and perform for its senior sides in the future.

With no manager and insufficient numbers of registered players at under 18 level, the club had to make a decision before the Kent Youth League season got under way.

Mike D'Arcy has been appointed as the new reserves manager at Tunbridge Wells FC.

Mike was most recently part of a very successful reserve set up at Tonbridge Angels and Tunbridge Wells are delighted he has come on board.

Mike's first game in charge is scheduled to be on Tuesday evening away to Greenwich Borough.

The Wells were caught in the National limelight today, with write-ups on the remarkable penalty shoot-out win against Littlehampton Town in The Daily Mail (Page 3), The Telegraph and The Guardian - as well as on the Yahoo.co.uk homepage as one of its Sports Headlines!

In addition there has been a flurry of local news interest, with Norman Sales and Kevin Metcalf's phones pretty busy in the last 24 hours.

The 40 penalties required to settle the tie is an FA Cup and European record. The official world record for the highest number of penalties taken in a senior shoot-out was established in January this year when 48 were required to settle a Namibian Cup first-round tie, when KK Palace eventually beat Civics 17-16 after the match had finished 2-2 after extra time.

Previous to that the World record was held by Argentinos Juniors and Racing Club, who - according to The Telegraph - shared 44 penalties in the 1988-89 Argentine championship. Argentinos won 20-19 in that shoot-out.

Tunbridge Wells progressed to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after a 2-2 draw against Littlehampton (AET), courtesy of a mammoth penalty shoot-out.

Dave Hassett had opened the scoring for The Wells, before Littlehampton levelled from the penalty spot. The Sussex League side then took the lead early into extra time, but a Buster Beaney effort secured a draw.

Involving a total 40 penalties, The Wells won the penalty shoot-out 16-15, and the club has since had it confirmed that this is indeed a new record.

John Whitehouse was the toast of Culverden after pulling of the all important save that secured victory, capping a superb individual performance. During normal time, Whitehouse had saved yet another penalty (one of two awarded by the referee to Littlehampton.)

The victory confirms that The Wells will travel to Met Police on Saturday 10th September in the First Qualifying Round. A supporter's coach will be put on by the club - details will be posted in the clubhouse at Saturday's League match at home to Sporting Bengal.