Written by 
Gulls back at Plainmoor to face The Angels
Fresh from their 1-0 win at Salisbury on Tuesday evening, Paul Wotton’s men return home on Saturday, as Tonbridge Angels head down to the English Riviera to contest another vital National League South fixture.
Who’s the boss?
Angels manager Jay Saunders has been at the helm since May 2022, having previously worked minor miracles by leading Maidstone United up from Isthmian South to the National League in four seasons, clinching promotion to football’s fifth tier in 2016..
Described as a hugely committed whole-hearted individual during his playing days, Saunders has gone on to replicate that spirit in the dugout.
His three-year tenure at Margate from May 2019 was badly hit by the Covid pandemic, with the club eventually agreed to let him pursue his managerial career at a higher level with Tonbridge. Since making that move, he has now firmly established The Angles in the sixth-tier, with the side’s focus are now firmly fixed upwards.
How have they been doing?
Tomorrow’s visitors arrive in a mid-table position, courtesy of five wins, five draws and three defeats in their opening thirteen matches of 2024/25.
Having played two games less than most of their rivals, there’s still plenty of opportunity for Saunders’ men to force themselves into the early-season Play-Off places, and their recent home win over Dorking evidence of their potential to upset some of the most fancied sides in the division.
Player to watch
September’s National League South Player of the Month, 32 year-old winger Sean Shields has been impressive form since arriving at Longmead last season, following a brief spell with Isthmian League South side Rayners Lane.
Having begun his career in the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, it was in non-League circles that Sean eventually gained experience of first-team football, with two spells at Potters Bar Town bookending a stint with Rushden & Diamonds.
A highly successful three year stay at St Albans paved the way for a move to then-EFL outfit Dagenham & Redbridge, before a move to Ebbsfleet heralded 116 league appearances and 15 goals. Five years with the Fleet saw Sean go out on loan n no less than six occasions, with Maidstone, Boreham Wood and Notts County just some of the clubs to benefit from his services on a temporary basis.
After two years with Weymouth, Shield’s career took on a somewhat nomadic existence once again, with switches at Barnet, Scunthorpe and Rayners Lane all taking place within a year, before he made Tonbridge his new home last year.
Played for both
Ryan Hanson’s spell at Plainmoor never quite hit the heights it promised, however the popular midfielder has quickly established himself as a key member of Jay Saunders’ squad.
Hanson switched Devon for Kent earlier this year, having been at Plainmoor since arriving from Dover in the summer of 2022.
Having seen his pathway to the first-team at Crystal Palace and Hull City blocked, a move to hometown club Dover saw his form culminate in being awarded the captain’s armband, and after an eye-catching performance against The Gulls, former United manager Gary Johnson wasted little time in unveiling Hanson as one of his raft of pre-season recruits some eighteen months ago.
Ryan wasted little time in showing the Yellow Army what they were missing out on at Longmead last March, as he delivered a Man of the Match performance in a 4-1 win for The Angels.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 2-1 Tonbridge Angels | National League South | Saturday 2nd December 2023
United’s only previous home encounter with tomorrow’s opponents ended in favour of The Gulls just under a year ago – and Torquay fans will no doubt be hoping for more of the same tomorrow.
Dillon De Silva’s early goal gave United an early advantage, before that was cancelled out just short of the hour mark by Francis Mampolo. Brad Ash struck soon after to put The Gulls back in front though, and that’s the way it stayed until full-time.
Tickets for tomorrow’s match are available to purchase online 24/7 HERE