Page 4 - Deal Round Up September 2020

Some Lost Grounds In
Kent
By The Editor

I purchased recently a very interesting book called ’The Cemetery End’ (or 25 Years Of Lost
Grounds & Stands). It has many photos of old defunct football grounds or grounds that
have been transformed into modern stadia. Some of which I can remember visiting years
ago, the likes of Tooting & Mitcham Utd, Bromley, Chingford Town, Leyton and Hendon, to
name but a few. It got me thinking that it may be interesting for the reader to do an article
about some now defunct Kent grounds. I hope you enjoy it.

Canterbury City
Given the popula-
tion of the city of
Canterbury the club
has never really had
a strong local bond,
with cricket, rugby
and hockey fairing
above them in the
popularity stakes.
The club who have
never played higher
than the old South-
ern League, started playing at Kingsmead Stadium in 1958 on the site of a former rubbish
tip, which is probably best remembered for non-football events such as athletics, speedway
and greyhound racing.
When the club left Kingsmead in 2001 the club folded. It re-formed in 2007 and played
at Bridge and then Hersden Recreation Grounds, before ground-sharing with Herne Bay,
Ashford United, Deal Town and now, Faversham Town. The club is hoping to move into a
purpose-built ground on a development at Bekesbourne if planning permission is granted.
Kingsmead Stadium is now covered by housing.
Tonbridge Angels
The club was formed in 1947 (as Tonbridge FC) and played at the Angel Ground in Vale
Road. Then in 1980 the local
council, who were the landlords,
wanted to develop it as a super-
market complex and they had to
vacate.
The club then moved into the
Longmead Stadium, at the north
end of the town, but not before a
battle in the High Court.
The Angel ground was badly dam-
aged in the Second World War,
having been used by the Army to
store vehicles and ammunition. It also housed many Kent County cricket matches.It is now
the site of a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

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