Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s are the 2024/25 Isthmian Youth League East Division Champions!

Last night’s postponement of the game against Glebe, who were bottom of the table, prompted their withdrawal from the League, who in turn have expunged their results, leaving Dom Welsh’s team in an unassailable position at the top of the table.

Maidstone United’s win against Welling United left the Angels with two wins, both against Glebe, to win the title. Glebe, who have dug up their pitch to lay a 3G for next season, postponed the home fixture before postponing again last night.

Dom Welsh commented: “It’s not the ideal way to win a title, the lads deserved the right to win it on the pitch, we did what we could to help Glebe fulfil the fixture but it was not to be. But, ultimately, over the 16 games competed we have accumulated more points than any other team, so we deserve it.”

The last time Tonbridge Angels U18’s won the Isthmian Youth League East was eight years ago, and Dom was part of the squad (as a player) that won the title at Banstead Athletic, home to Kingstonian U18.

Callum Fincham and Adam Larkin played in every game whilst Tolu Fabimafobee, Jack Gallagher and Robert Penman missed just one. Leading the goalscoring chart was Penman, who netted 15 times whilst Fabimafobee scored 12.

The Under-18’s now have the Champions of Champions Trophy to play for with the semi-final against one of the other divisional champions due to be played on 1st May and the Final scheduled for 8th May at Uxbridge.

The winning of titles is not the sole purpose of youth team football with the progression of players through to senior football of great importance. Dom explained: “We’ve not had too many out on dual registration this year due to a large amount of the group being first years. However, we have had Josh Hanson on the bench for the first team, Tolu made an appearance in pre-season alongside Nayan Grant. Nayan subsequently signed a contract with Gillingham FC. Adam Larkin has completed a season at step 5 with Crowborough Athletic, making two cup finals and the play-offs and we’ve been fortunate that the majority of our players have had access to first team training. Lots of the boys have attracted interest from step 5 clubs but the timing hasn’t quite been right for some.”

Sadly, the nature of the Under-18’s is that each season several of the lads are out of age and move on. Dom said of those members: “We will have our second years departing this season who we would like to say a massive thank you, for their dedication over the last two years. Josh Hanson, Noah Millis, Gus Minster, Adam Larkin, Teddy Cooney, Ishe Hunidzarira, Rush Broderik and Tolu Fabimafobee and we wish them well in their future career whilst knowing that we have given them the best possible start to their careers.”

Next season there will be an added dynamic to the Youth set-up at Tonbridge Angels with the establishment of our own Kent Youth League teams. Dom explained the difference this will make: “Gaining control of our KYL section will allow to us to forge a real pathway across our age groups, in terms of setting positive standards; a  particular way of doing things and shaping the quality of players we would like to progress through our club.”

Dom paid tribute to his coaching staff: “I need to place a big thank you on record to James Larkin, Roy Massey and, most recently, Clark Hunt for all of their support across a long season. To volunteer so much time to enable the boys to showcase themselves at this level is an unbelievable achievement”

And finally, the parents without whom nothing would be possible with their unerring support in terms of transportation to and from matches, training and, most importantly, showing the greatest respect from sidelines.

Everybody has made their contribution and are all champions in their own right!