The Sixth Form Open Evening at Hugh Christie was considered a great success with a very good turnout of potential students who took advantage of the presence of Tonbridge Angels Academy staff to discuss their A level and BTEC courses alongside their football training. It is hoped that many will attend the Academy Open Trials for both Year 11 and 12 boys and girls which will be held at Hugh Christie on Monday, 20th December at 10:30 am. You can register via:  

https://form.jotformeu.com/92911723517357

On the pitch the Elite squad made further progress in the National Academies League Cup beating League Two’s Sutton United Ambers convincingly by 7-0 at Kings Hill sports park. We still have a fantastic relationship with the Sports Park with squads 2 and 3 playing their fixtures at this brilliant facility. We still await the draw for our last 16 opponents.

A return to league action last week saw the Elite squad secure a hard-fought 2-0 win over Chatham Town with goals from Ben Hermitage and Joe Tyrie. The elite squad are improving each week and continue to play their home fixtures at Larkfield and New Hythe this year. 

It’s been a tough last 4/5 weeks for the Academy with eight potential elite squad players being ruled out with injuries with a few more longer term which has meant results haven’t gone so well for squads two and three as players have been pushed up into higher squads (which is positive news) but performances have been improving on a match by match basis. We hope to have majority of the players back after Christmas which will only make each squad stronger

Steve McKimm continues to involve Academy players in first team training, over 20 different Academy players have had this experience this season with Luca Woodhouse, Joe Tyrie and Finn Hartley all experiencing game time in a friendly vs Sittingbourne FC. Luca has been on the bench for the last three senior games at Canvey Island in the FA Trophy and the league games against St Albans City at Longmead and Slough Town. Given the low temperatures at both games, it was still a great experience for Luca who the gaffa will be getting out on dual registration soon in the Ryman South. We are continually looking to get some of our elite squad out on loan to senior sides with Joe Tyrie playing regularlyat Crowborough Athletic, Cam Wootton at Kings Hill and Kian Austin now signed with Larkfield and New Hythe.

News of some of our ex-Academy players has reached us with Rhys Bartlett leaving Crowborough Athletic, after scoring 14 goals this season, for high-flying Chatham Town where he has already opened his account with five goals including a hat trick against Punjab United.

Meanwhile, back at Crowborough, Jacob Lambert scored four times in a 6-0 demolition of Lordswood. Regan Bowden and Harrison Mayhew are also at Crowborough who are the form team in the SCEFL with seven wins and a draw in their last eight games 

Ex Academy captain Harry Hudson has been returning home from Nottingham University to still play for Tunbridge Wells first team on the weekends. 

And from the USA where Ned Lewis is enjoying a wonderful season with Harcum College, with his side unbeaten this season with 11-0 record. Ned has (at the last count) so far scored five times with five assists. Ned will be giving us an update in his own words for the next edition of Academy Update.

Overall this term has been full of positives with the Academy going from strength to strength each year in the classroom and on the pitch 

Have a good Christmas and wish you all a Happy New year, may it bring you all happiness and success!