FA Vase Round 3: Crawley Down Gatwick vs. Tunbridge Wells
After edging past Southern Combination Football League leaders Hassocks in the last round courtesy of a late equaliser and some quite frankly diabolical spot kicks from the visitors, Tunbridge Wells are again drawn at home, this time against Crawley Down Gatwick. Steve Sharman talks to David Connor, the Sussex side’s chairman before the teams clash in the third round of the FA Vase.
All photographs in this article are the property and copyright of Steve Sharman.
Following three consecutive home victories in the Vase for Tunbridge Wells, I can’t say my groundhopping heart was over the moon to see the side from Kent drawn at home again. I had imagined this ‘winner stays on’ notion for the Vase would allow me to see more grounds and more teams. Perhaps that idea was a little on the naive side!
However, Storm Darragh put paid to a return to The Culverden Stadium not once, but twice. The first postponement came after a Christmas night out where I was nursing something of a sore head the following morning, so I can’t say I was too upset. The second clashed with my birthday magical mystery tour, so the postponement helped swerve some potential family disharmony! The third attempt, though, to get the tied played before Christmas – much to my hopping delight – saw the tie switched to The Haven, home of Crawley Down Gatwick.
Both teams had been trying to generate excitement before the initially scheduled tie – Tunbridge Wells had released and delivered a promotional magazine to a bunch of postcodes around the town and had lined up their U’10 side to be mascots. Crawley Down were proud to point out that they were the only Southern Combination Football League side left in the competition, and were tweeting about the game in the way my children were looking forward to Christmas – counting down the sleeps!
The consecutive weekend postponements meant Tunbridge Wells go into today’s game having not played a first-team game in over three weeks. Since the penalty shootout victory over Hassocks, Wells have won 3-2 in the league at Erith & Belvedere via a 90+7 minute winner from last-round hero Ryan Hind, lost 2-0 at Faversham in the Kent Senior trophy, and drawn 1-1 at previous Vase opponents Glebe (also in the league), and go into this knockout tie twelfth in the table.
Flying High: This is Crawley Down Gatwick
Standing in the way of Tunbridge Wells’ pursuit of Wembley glory, are Crawley Down Gatwick. Like many clubs at this level, the Sussex side’s history needs a little unpicking. In 1983, Crawley Down United were playing in the Mid-Sussex league, earning promotions from Division Six to the Premier Division before merging with two other local sides to become Crawley Down Village in 1993. The club – now playing as just Crawley Down – joined the Sussex County League in 1995, finally sealing promotion to the top division in 2008/2009. The Anvils then won Division One by a colossal 15 points in 2010-11, to earn promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South, where they spent three seasons, and in 2012, changed their name to Crawley Down Gatwick.
Alas, the club suffered consecutive relegations – from the Isthmian League in 2013-14 and Division One of the Sussex League in 2014-15, meaning they started the 2015-16 season in the Southern Combination League (SCFL) Division One. However, the men from The Haven spent just a single season in SCFL Division One, immediately earning promotion back to the Premier Division, where they have been ever since.
Crawley Down’s journey through the Vase this year has been a tale of thumping wins and close calls. In the first qualifying round, The Anvils won 3-2 at Ash United in front of just thirty-eight spectators, before winning 4-2 on penalties in the second qualifying round following a 1-1 draw at Molesey. In the First Round Proper, goals from Oliver Leslie and Jake Neaves secured a 2-0 victory against Wembley FC, and the second round saw a hammering 8-0 win at league-mates Peacehaven & Telescombe, with a hat-trick for Oli Leslie.
This season’s run to the 3rd Round of the Vase has already equalled Crawley Down Gatwick’s best run in the competition. The only previous time they have got this far was in 2021-22, where they beat Lewisham Borough 3-1 at home and Tower Hamlets 3-1 away before home wins against Lordswood (3-2) and British Airways (3-0) set up a 3rd Round tie at Raynes Park Vale, where the Sussex side were soundly beaten (4-0).
Going into the tie today, Crawley Down currently sit eighth in the league, level on points with Peacehaven who they walloped in the last round, but a long way behind Hassocks, who Wells dispatched in the previous round. Games featuring Crawley Down are rarely dull – there have been 76 goals in the 17 league games before this tie (40 for, 36 against). Since routing Peacehaven, they have won 4-3 against Horsham YMCA, lost 4-0 to Crowborough, and also lost on penalties against Littlehampton Town in the Sussex Senior Cup.
Today’s tie will create a little bit of history, as Tunbridge Wells and Crawley Down Gatwick have never faced each other in a competitive game.
Chat with David Connor
Crawley Down Chairman, David Connor – who has been involved with the club for over thirty years and played for them many seasons ago – is kind enough to spend a few minutes chatting with Hopper’s Guide. At the start of our chat, he is keen to stress that Crawley Down is more than just the first team; they have almost thirty teams, ranging from U’5s all the way up to U’18s, with two teams in almost every age group, including boys and girls teams. I ask Connor about the pathway from youth team to first team, and the Chairman’s response demonstrates his pride:
“I think this season we have used six players that played for our under-18s last year, which is something we’re very proud of, which is very unheard of if I’m honest. You’re lucky if you get one player coming through step four or five, one or two players, but this year I think we’ve had six players that represented us last year in the under-18s”.
The main aims for the team this season revolve around stability; Connor highlights how the team can be very inconsistent so the focus this year is to build on the foundations already laid, to improve and maintain stability, and then move up their current division, and through the non-league pyramid.
The aforementioned inconsistency is evident from the results; big wins followed by heavy defeats, and goals galore in most games. I ask Connor how he views the performances this season so far, and his response reveals both the positive and negatives associated with this type of form:
“We could beat anyone, we have the capability of being high in the league, if we can get a run of results. We’ve had a bit of a slump in the last weeks, but have stayed within the playoffs. I think to be honest, on our day, we could beat anyone in step five, anyone, but we need a bit more consistency to do that, which we’re not quite achieving week in, week out. We are capable of beating anyone, but we’re also capable of losing against anyone at all.”
Both management and supporters alike will be hoping the best version of Crawley Down turns up today, as Tunbridge Wells – having already beaten two sides from the SCFL, including the league leaders – will provide a stern test. The chairman is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing his team:
‘It’s going to be a tough game. We know they’re going to be a tough outfit. I think to be honest, talking to the management, we’re going to focus on our strengths rather than worry about Tunbridge Wells and see what we can do.’
Having already equalled the club’s previous best performance in the FA Vase by reaching the Third Round, we pause for a moment to allow the indulgence of looking beyond today’s game, and to understand what it would mean to the team and to the club as a whole to go even further into the competition, and perhaps make it all the way to Wembley:
“Oh my goodness me, it would be the culmination of many years of hard work. The club has really grown and grown and grown over the years and there’s been many good people involved in the club. Everyone has kept their feet on the ground. And I know I’m biased, but I think the club deserves a moment. It deserves a moment for what I call ‘football to take notice of Crawley Down Gatwick’ because we’re always competing with Three Bridges next to us, East Grinstead, who are both in the Isthmian South-East. And we’ve always competed with them. And in some respects, we don’t have the right, but we keep battling there. And it would be great to see a small club like us have that moment in football that I believe that every club has once in a lifetime.”
It’s always great when someone associated with a club – particularly someone as pivotal as the chairman – takes the time to speak to us, and it is in this answer to the final question that you can feel the honesty most in the chairman’s voice as he gives an answer laced with emotion, but also determination. With some off-field difficulties being faced by the club that we agreed not to publish at this stage, it really does feel like a trip to Wembley would be an incredible reward for years of hard work and something that would have a lasting impact on all those involved with Crawley Down.
However, as much as knockout competitions allow the notion of sporting romance to blossom, Tunbridge Wells are not here to be part of a preordained script. The visitors have their own stories to write and will be determined to rekindle their own love affair with the FA Vase.
On the Pitch
I arrive at the busy car park shortly after 3 pm and am fortunate enough that a guy signals to me that he is leaving so I can park in his spot. The weather is horrible so I pull on my big coat, tug my beanie a little tighter onto my head, and start to wander vaguely in circles as the entrance to the ground isn’t immediately obvious. The direction of the pitch becomes clearer when I hear the type of crowd noise that only comes from a goal being scored; Crawley Down are 1-0 up, and I missed it!
Annoyed by missing the goal, I pay my £7 and head into the ground. It’s a neat little set-up, with a pitch that slopes from side to side, away from the main stand and the clubhouse, down towards the dugouts. The home side are all in red, and Tunbridge Wells are in a change strip of all blue – Royal, of course. There are about 40-50 Wells fans hunkered down and making noise in the Brian Suckling stand, which has been commandeered as an away end, for the first half at least.
Despite the cold wind and the persistent light rain, it’s a decent, open game and there are chances at both ends. After a quarter of an hour, Tunbridge Wells think they’ve equalised but it’s ruled out, either for a foul on the ‘keeper or offside, it’s hard to tell.
Crawley Down are trying to play good football, always trying to play out from the back, however, the approach is not always successful and this, combined with good pressing, means the visitors look threatening. With nearly twenty minutes on the clock, not for the first time, the home side give the ball away on the edge of their own box and Wells striker Jacob Feasey is desperately unlucky to see his brilliant curling effort crash back off the post. The rain gets a lot heavier and suddenly, it’s actually a very unpleasant day.
The Crawley Down left back is having a difficult afternoon, and whether distracted by the distant roar of jet engines or the horizontal rain, seems unable to judge the flight of the ball. Accordingly, Wells continue to play into the space behind the full-back, where wide man Regan Corke provides the main threat. The defender is booked after being beaten again and, when he misjudges the flight of the ball for about the fifth time, Wells finally take full advantage. Winger Corke runs onto the ball, nods it past the onrushing keeper and slots into the empty net to bag his fourth Vase goal of the season to bring the scores level.
The visitors are well and truly on top now, and it just seems like Crawley Down don’t quite have the players for the tactics the manager has employed. There is a period of sustained pressure from Tunbridge Wells and a barrage of corners and efforts on goal but despite the one-sided nature of the game, the hosts hold on and go into the break level at 1-1. At half-time, I seek temporary refuge from the abominable weather and treat myself to a cup of tea and a cherry bakewell in the Haven Cafe Bar, which is great – lovely set up, and very friendly folk.
We all head out for the second half and although still bitterly cold, thankfully the rain has eased. The Crawley Down left-back has been taken off at the break, and the introduction of defender Jack Ryder and a tweak in formation make the home side look much more solid; in fact, the whole game seems less frenetic, is being played at a more controlled pace and is a much more even contest. There are still half-chances at both ends, but with Corke no longer being gifted the freedom of the park, he drifts out of the game and Wells look less threatening.
With sixty-five minutes on the clock, the Crawley Down captain is shown what appears to be a second yellow for something he said, and the hosts are down to ten men. The visitors fail to take advantage and then much to my surprise, the home captain rejoins the action – turns out he’d been sin-binned, rather than sent off!
The game opens up again as both sides push for a winner and with ten minutes left, Crawley Down fail to deal with a corner and midfielder Jack Walder bundles Wells in front. Chants of ‘We’re the famous Tunbridge Wells and we’re going to Wembley’ burst from the visiting supporters, easing the growing tension. The goalscorer nearly takes my arm off with a high five, and my hand is still stinging ten minutes later.
However, the joy is short-lived. The visitors pay the price for not killing the game off earlier when, with five minutes left, following a decent move down the right, Crawley Down fashion an opening. The chance is taken and against the odds, the home side are level at 2-2. Suddenly it’s the hosts piling on the pressure and we’re in a dogfight. The home ‘keeper, sporting a superb mullet, takes the opportunity afforded by a break in play to tell the visiting fans behind his goal he’s saved ten penalties this season and it’s the travelling Wells fans, boisterous all afternoon, that are now nervous.
At this stage, any mistake can be terminal; when, in added time, the Tunbridge Wells centre-back handles the ball just 25 yards from goal The Anvils have a great chance to win it but the free-kick is wasted.
So, we head to penalties.
Tunbridge Wells triumphed on spot kicks to get through the last round and Crawley Down lost a shootout in midweek – the psychological impact of past outcomes cannot be underestimated. The penalties will be at the other end and we barely have time to run to the length of the pitch before the penalties start.
Wells take first and left-back Mo Alaka rattles the crossbar, as does Crawley Down’s last-round hat-trick hero Oli Leslie, so the scores remain 0-0 after one penalty each. Rory Ward and Fez Kamara (Tunbridge Wells) and Josh Alder and Jack Ryder (Crawley Down Gatwick) – all score, leaving us tied at 2-2 from three penalties. Rhys Bartlett misses for the visitors and home striker Lewis Gould – academy product and scorer of the late equaliser – puts his team in the driving seat. Wells have to score to stay alive and Harry Hudson does just that, leaving the final penalty to substitute Michael Spence.
If he scores, Crawley Down are through but no!
His effort is saved, and we go to sudden death penalties.
Tunbridge Wells substitute Ryan Moir put his side on the front foot but Crawley Down centre-back Tito Salaam calmly draws his side level again. Another Wells substitute Kazzeem Richards steps up but his effort strikes the post, once again leaving the home side one penalty from glory. Midfielder Josh Brown places the ball on the spot and this time makes no mistake, slamming his penalty home to spark jubilant scenes amongst the Crawley Down players, management, and supporters.
You can see what it means as the home faithful are delighted, and the Wells players are devastated.
When the Dust has Settled
And so, Crawley Down Gatwick claim arguably their biggest scalp to date in this history-making run to the FA Vase fourth round. This really was a game of two halves; Tunbridge Wells dominated the first half and should have been out of sight by half-time. But, credit must be given to the home side who kept hold of the visitors’ coat tails, before making much more of a contest of it in the second half. There is no doubt that Tunbridge Wells will rue the fact they were unable to get the game on at The Culverden Stadium, and are now left to ponder what might have been.
This game epitomised everything brilliant about non-league football. There were mistakes, players falling over, moments of genuine class from players on both sides, horizontal rain, a great little ground, cherry bakewells, good goals, late goals, loads of drama, ex-players, missed chances, and ultimately a dramatic penalty shootout, but more than anything, there was so much heart involved. So much genuine passion and emotion that made me forget about the wind and the rain and instead get swept up in the moment.
I genuinely can’t wait to go back, and thankfully don’t have to wait long, as Crawley Down have been drawn at home in round four, and will face Fleet Town of the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
Our journey with Tunbridge Wells is over, and we now follow Crawley Down Gatwick, and who knows, perhaps this will be the year chairman David Connor’s dream is realised, and The Anvils will fly all the way to Wembley.
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