Royals Return Home

A positive piece on the excellent Reading FC blog and fansite The Tilehurst End caught the eye this week as it told the story of the return of Reading Women's return to the wider umbrella of RFC after a tumultous couple of years.

Home matches will once again be played at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, beginning with the visit of Fleet Town on Sunday 13 September at 2pm, with tickets priced at £8 for adults and free for under 16's.

March Matches

Much of the focus in March will be on Non-League Day 2025 and the many great admission offers and promotions will be in place on Saturday 22nd. Head over to the NLD website for more information and a match finder.

Here's some more games that may be of interest. Keep up to date on our Coming Up page.

Sunday 2nd: A double-header of FAW Youth Cup semi-finals at Park Avenue in Aberystwyth with admission £2 for adults and free for concessions. 

Monday 3rd: Monday night football for a fiver in the National League South when Aveley FC host Salisbury.

Tuesday 4th: National League football for £3 at Eastleigh FC. Buy in advance for their home game with Ebbsfleet United.

Saturday 8th: Reading YMCA vs AFC Winkfield in collaboration with the excellent Football in Berkshire website, who have chosen it as their first 'Hitting the Road' event. Admission to the Thames Valley Premier League game is free but a limited edition programme is available now, priced at £3.

Saturday 8th: Football for a Fiver at National League high-fliers Barnet when they entertain Dagenham & Redbridge at The Hive, concessions £2 and kids £1.

Friday 14th: Walsall Women vs Lichfield City at the Bescot Stadium (7.30pm). Tickets £5/£1 available online and on the evening.

Saturday 15th: Free admission at Redditch United for the home game against Bedford Town as well as a host of family-friendly activities going on.

Saturday 15th: Daggers Celebrate Diversity Day at Dagenham & Redbridge FC when Tamworth visit in the National League. Advance terrace tickets are priced at £2.50 adults and 50p for concessions.

Wednesday 19th: Inter-Services Football at Fratton Park as the Royal Navy take on the RAF. Tickets are free via this link.

Saturday 22nd: Hibernian vs Rangers in the final of the SWPL Cup at Fir Park, Motherwell. Tickets are on sale for the game, priced at £10 adults, £4 concessions and £25 for a family (2 adults, 2 children) and fans of all clubs and women's football in general are encouraged to attend. 

History at York Road and York City

Tuesday night was a historic one for both Maidenhead United and York City as they both celebrated landmark occasions.

The York Road ground in Maidenhead welcomed its first visitors on February 16, 1871, which meant the visit of Stockport County this week marked exactly 150 years of football in the heart of the town.

An excellent piece in the Maidenhead Advertiser earlier in the week highlighted both the historic nature of the game but also of the challenge facing Maidenhead and so many other clubs at this time, a live stream of Tuesday's night match would, it was hoped, bring in much-needed funds.

Last weekend's The Non-League Paper also ran a feature on York Road and the thoughts of club chairman Peter Griffin as plans are stepped up for a new stadium, that town-centre location making it increasingly difficult to make any further improvements while the land it sits on becomes increasingly valuable.

As Peter says, "It sets the club up long-term and means we would be not only debt free but self-sufficient."

The same evening, amidst the chaotic National League North season, York City played their first ever fixture at their new Community Stadium with a live stream on a 'pay what you can' basis hopefully bringing supporters a taste of what they can expect when they are able to watch matches in person again.

A chance to say a proper farewell to Bootham Crescent may have been lost amidst the pandemic but I hope the future is bright for the Minstermen.

Game Of The Week: Deal Town v Binfield

The thought of Wembley is now very real for the 32 teams left in the FA Vase who take part in the Fourth Round this weekend.

Deal Town, whose proud existence dates back to 1908, tasted glory in the competition in 2000 as they became the final winners at the old Wembley.

This Saturday the Southern Counties East League side take on Binfield FC who also ply their trade at Step 5 of the pyramid in the Hellenic League. Admission is £7 Adults, £4 Concessions and free for Under 12's.

The excellent Football In Berkshire website covers Binfield along with a host of other clubs while Kentish Football does a great job in that fine county.

Attention is now on next Saturday and our 4th round fixture in the FA Vase against @binfield_fc ⚽️
Let’s do the boys proud and show them the support they deserve! Club house open from 13:00 🍺🍻🍔🍟

Game is being sponsored by @baylissexecutivetravel thank you for your support 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/s9JYnCfNSZ

— Deal Town FC (@DealTownFC) January 5, 2020

The Going's Good At Ascot United

A significant development at the Racecourse Ground is now complete with a new 3G pitch in place and an overdue first home game of the season for Ascot United FC on Tuesday 8 October against Guildford City.

As the excellent Football in Berkshire website explains, the Yellaman have had to reverse a number of fixtures to date in 2019/20 but are ready to welcome supporters through the gates with free entry (donations welcome) for the Combined Counties League Premier Division Clash.

Slough Town Pull Out All The Stops

Non-League Day 2019 is almost upon us with Saturday 12th October marking the 10th year of the day that aims to highlight all that is good about the game at lower levels.

The offers are starting to come through (keep an eye on the Non-League Day Twitter page) but Slough Town stand out at this stage and deserve a big crowd for their National League South game against Billericay Town at Arbour Park.

General admission prices have been reduced to just £5 with free entry for under 16's but there is also no charge at the turnstiles for season ticket holders from Premier League or Football League teams.

With a host of clubs on Slough's doorstep there should be plenty of potential spectators ready to take up that offer.

Football In Bracknell

The ‘Links’ tab at the top of the blog has been updated to include Football in Bracknell.

I came across this site recently, in connection with a pre-season tournament at the home of Bracknell Town FC and also featuring Wokingham & Emmbrook, Binfield and Eversley & California.

Scheduled to be played over the weekends of 8/9 and 15/16 July, admission to the matches will be free.

Football in Bracknell is a not for profit site run by two people, Darrell Freeland and Tom Canning who have both been hugely involved in football in the Berkshire town over the years.

Comprehensive and accessible, it is the perfect example of the incredible depth of the game in this country and also how the internet and social media can allow for detailed coverage of a club, division or, in this case, area.

£10 Tickets as Reading Host West Brom in FA Cup

West Bromwich Albion, having just squeaked past Peterborough United on penalties in their FA Cup 4th Round replay on Wednesday night, visit Reading on Saturday 20th February in the last 16 of the famous old competition.

The Royals had already announced that ticket prices for whoever they hosted at the Madejski Stadium would be £10 Adults and £5 for all Concessions, the third time they have had those prices in place in the FA Cup this season.

The Baggies themselves charged a maximum of £10 for their home ties against Bristol City and Peterborough in Rounds Three and Four and a large travelling support will be making their way down to this one.

Just four days later, on Tuesday 23rd February, Reading host Rotherham United in the Championship and there are also reduced prices in place for this 'TFI Tuesday' fixture. It is £10 Adults, £5 Concessions (24 and under, 65 and over) and season ticket holders can take two friends to the game for free.

Free Football in Bracknell This Saturday

Just a quick glance at the official Bracknell Town FC website tells you that this is a club that aims to place itself firmly at the heart of the local community with the 'Winter Ale & Sausage Night' looking particularly inviting!

And the Robins have partnered with their local newspaper the Bracknell Times to offer free football this Saturday when they entertain Cheltenham Saracens in the Uhlsport Hellenic League at 3pm.

A voucher will be included in this Thursday's free edition of the 'paper which just needs to be cut out and handed over at the turnstiles.

Free Football at Maidenhead United & Gap Connahs Quay

A couple of cracking free football offers for the Bank Holiday week...

Conference South side Maidenhead United officially opened their 500 seater stand before the opening league game of the season against Sutton United last Saturday and anyone wishing to take at look at the revamped York Road ground can do so for free on Saturday 30 August.

To mark a sponsorship agreement with local newspaper the Maidenhead Advertiser the game against Eastbourne Borough on that day has been designated as free entry for all fans.

Welsh Premier League side Gap Connah's Quay Nomads FC meanwhile play their first home league game of the campaign against Carmarthen Town on Monday 25 August (2.30pm) and not only is it free admission but spectators will get a free programme as well.