If first team boss Martin Larkin was looking to top up on winning mentality to help drive his side on for the season, he appears to have found a rich vein in new signing Dane Luchford.
Dane joins from Ryman League Folkestone Invicta, and www.tunbridgewellsfc.com made contact with him to find out more about our newest recruit...
TWFC: Dane, firstly, welcome to Culverden! Tell us about your footballing career to date.
DL: So…unlike a lot of players around the Kent Scene I’ve never attended a YTS Scheme of sorts as most of my schooling was Rugby-focused and I only really started playing when I came back from Majorca after spending six months out there post-University…
Once back, my brother Justin landed the manager’s job at Faversham Town in the Kent League and enticed me down there for around three and a half years. During that time I was part of the squad that won the Kent League and Cup double along with promotion to the Ryman League (South).
Since then I’ve played for a few clubs over the years (mainly following my brother), including Horsham, Whitstable and most recently Folkestone. Folkestone was the first time I haven’t played under Justin, and it was probably the best football I’ve produced since I started playing! A lot of that goes down to Cugs [Neil Cugley]. We did so well last year getting to the play-off final. It is just a shame we couldn’t cap it off with promotion…
TWFC: What’s been a personal highlight and lowlight of your career as a footballer to date?
DL: For highlights I would have to say two things past and present. Firstly, winning the Kent League and Cup double. Not many people can say they have done that throughout their career (unless you’re Richard Sinden who has basically won everything at our level!), and it’s something I will always be proud of. Secondly not many people play in Finals. I was lucky to have been part of a squad last year with Folkestone that got to the Play-Off Final, and what an experience that was!
The lowlight would probably be from the double-winning year, when in the Cup Final at Welling’s Ground my brother benched me! I can moan all I want, but he will always remind me that at the end of the day we won. It’s cemented in history and I have a winner’s medal, so looking back I see it as character building. The very next week we put eight past Corinthian to clinch the league, so I guess you just get a lot of ups and downs in football, usually in quick succession.
TWFC: You were part of a lethal side going forward last season, scoring 20 of Folkestone’s 123 goals. You’re dropping down a level to come to Tunbridge Wells. What factors won you around to being part of the side Martin Larkin’s assembled here at Culverden?
DL: Yes, its dropping down a level in regards to league name, but there are clubs in this league that could more than hold their own in the Ryman South - so I don’t really see it as dropping down a level.
One main factor that brought me here is that The Wells want to win and clinch promotion; this is a club that has a real passion to drive forward and get to the next level. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
Also after having a conversation with Martin I got to understand in more depth where he and the Board want to take this club. I have played here twice in pre-season friendlies with Folkestone and it’s a decent ground at this level, a good playing surface - it’s got vocal fans that get behind their team, and when you have a squad that wants to run themselves into the ground for each other then you just know the club has the grounding to push on and achieve something big! Tunbridge Wells have already been to Wembley, why can’t this year be the same but with a promotion to go along with it?!
TWFC: We hear you’re looking forward to playing in front of the ‘Culverden Choir’. If you were to give them a helping hand to pick a tune that sums you up, what would it be?
DL: To be honest I wouldn’t want to request anything as you have to earn in. When I was playing for Folkestone the fans there were fantastic towards me and they were singing songs that will stick with me forever. But I figure the fans will only sing if you give them a performance to sing about! Hopefully I can put in some good performances that will start to get the 'Choir' singing loud!
TWFC: At the moment, Erith & Belvedere are cruising at the top of the SCEFL, with The Wells needing to play catch-up. What do you a) know about the squad here already, and b) bring to the party yourself that makes you confident your new side can still be in the mix for promotion at the end of this season?
DL: I know a few of the players here and have probably played against the rest, so I know how good this side is and can be. Martin and Sinden have both told me about the solid defence they have this year and with the midfield and forward lines finding their feet this team is starting to put in the performances that you would expect with the players.
It’s a long season, too. Come Christmas the pitches will not be as flat as the ones at Erith & Belvedere and Corinthian, and so the type of football changes - and if you are a club that can adapt to change then you will be there or there abouts at the end of the year. We had to do that at Faversham when we won the league; go away on a rainy Tuesday night to Deal Town and get a result. It comes down to who wants it more. I used to hate those games, but when you realise what you are playing for you all pull together and all that hard work you put in makes it worthwhile. This is a man’s league and those nights separate the men from the boys!
Now, what could I bring to the party…? I have pace, a high work ethic, an eye for goal and get a lot of assists. But at the end of the day I don’t care who scores as long as three points get put in our column in the League Table. I am not here to enjoy a day out - it’s a second job and I want to win; winning is probably one of the best feelings you will ever get, and I want that to carry on.
TWFC: Fantasy scenario… Dane Luchford’s been tearing up the Championship all year. Your side wins promotion to the Premiership at the end of the season and offers you improved terms to stay. But offers are also tabled from France, Germany, Italy and Spain. After talking to all interested clubs, you’ve made a decision. Based on a mix of personal reasons and professional reasons you decide to…
DL: I think I would be torn between Football and Personal reasons…
Footballing Reasons: The Premiership is the best league in the world! It would be a chance to test yourself against the best and really find out whether you’ve nicked a move or are the real deal! I have lived abroad before and even though its great, you cannot beat real English football: different tactics, real weather (whether it be sun, rain, sleet or snow), crunching tackles, and more!
Personal Reasons: Everything in England is so fast-paced and sometimes I just want to unwind and get away from everything - and in other European Countries I feel you could do that much more than over here. But this is football, and personal circumstances come second. As we all know this is not a sport you play forever, and you must enjoy it as much as you can.
TWFC: Back to reality, you’ve picked The Wells… What will define a successful season for you, personally, at The Wells?
DL: Promotion is a must! What a feeling it is to know you have won a League - you can’t beat that! Also to get towards the goal tally I scored last year, I think there are 26 games left - double figures is an absolute must (could I reach 20…? Now that’s a target I would love to reach again). And then there’s Wembley….let’s just see what happens.
(Interview by Matt Harris)