Match Information
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Westfield 0-5 Tunbridge Wells
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When: Saturday 6th July 2024
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Kick-off: 12pm
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Where: The Knight and Davey Community Stadium, The Tawnies, Main Road, Westfield, East Sussex TN35 4SL
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Competition: Pre-Season Friendly
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Attendance: 96 (my headcount)
Westfield are members of the Mid Sussex League which is a Regional Feeder League for the national Pyramid promoting teams up to Step 6. The club have grabbed my attention in recent months because they are part-owned by one of my favourite current footballers – Steve Cook of Queens Park Rangers.
Steve’s excellent form in defence was one of the main reasons why QPR battled away from Championship relegation worries at the end of last season. I find it admirable Steve is also supporting local football at Westfield in the Hastings area of East Sussex where he grew up.
I chatted to him at about it a few months ago and he spoke very enthusiastically regarding future plans for the club. Steve is particularly keen to lay a 3G artificial pitch. Westfield’s 16 adult and youth teams would be able to use the surface for matches and training as well as nearby schools and community football sides.
Bearing everything in mind, I set off on my 200 mile round trip via the M25 motorway and down the A21.
Westfield itself is a village containing 2,500 residents based five miles north of Hastings. Nice sunny weather was forecast so my wife and five year old daughter joined me for a day out on the South Coast.
Ground Description
Westfield unveiled the new Knight & Davey Community Stadium in January 2024 having moved 250 hundred yards across Main Road from their previous Parish Field venue. They are rapidly developing facilities with concrete foundations evident for imminent delivery of a prefab grandstand.
The club building houses dressing rooms and a refreshments bar whilst offering covered overhang for spectator shelter.
Programme Details
An eight page homespun effort including welcome notes featuring the chairman and manager respectively, a comprehensive history of Westfield FC, sponsorship details and the matchday line-ups.
On sale at £1. Highly commendable to discover a Regional Feeder League club issuing programmes for pre-season action.
The Match
Tunbridge Wells compete in the Step 5 level Southern Counties East League Premier Division and proved worthy winners on an exceptionally windy occasion.
Goalscorers were Regan Corke three (5, 22 and 35 minutes, penalty), trialist Bal Maher (52 mins) and Jack Funnell (85 mins). It was so blustery that many spectators huddled in front of the changing room block for protection against the elements.
I must admit I got confused when the two teams unexpectedly changed their shirt colours at half time following 11 substitutions each.
I suddenly thought I was watching a different match and I had to ask someone what was going on! It was the same game though. Both sides alternated use of red shirts in either half! It reminded me that pre-season fixtures are just for fitness and offer little football betting opportunities within online betting.
The People
Westfield chairman Jack Stapley actually played for his team during the first 45 minutes before coming over to shake my hand just after half-time.
He told me the 50-seater stand from Elite Stands UK will be installed soon plus extensive covered standing accommodation behind one goal and then floodlights prior to Christmas. The club will therefore meet grading requirements for National League System Step 6 football.
Jack said: “Once the ground is ready, we will push for promotion.” A couple of experienced of ex-professionals have been signed in Charlie Daniels and Dan Gosling ahead of the new campaign.
Those two guys are best known for lengthy spells at AFC Bournemouth where they made more than 450 combined appearances between them. Indeed, the duo lined up alongside Steve Cook when Bournemouth won promotion to the Premier League in 2014/15.
Furthermore, I talked to the travelling Tunbridge Wells fans who brandished colourful club flags. They didn’t sing this time but their most famous chant thoroughly celebrates the well-to-do Kent town and always amuses me:
“Oh Tunbridge Wells, is wonderful,
Oh Tunbridge Wells is wonderful!
It’s full of lawyers, doctors and architects,
Oh Tunbridge Wells is wonderful!”
In addition, I was really humbled Steve Cook tweeted me afterwards direct from the QPR pre-season training camp in Spain. With his Westfield hat on, he said: “Thanks for going down Tony! Appreciate it.”
Post-Match
On full-time, I drove my family to Hastings beach for the rest of the afternoon. However, preceding weather forecasts were totally incorrect.
In fact, windy conditions had intensified so much that the pier was partially closed and various fairground rides on it were not able to operate. Rain started too. My daughter was disappointed but we went for a wholesome meal instead to compensate.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
