FA Cup Action on the opening day of the season! After last season’s record-breaking Emirates FA Cup run in which the club reached the Second Round Qualifying for the first time in our history.  Simon Johnson and his Cityzens will be hoping to emulate that this season, first up on their FA Cup Adventure is fellow Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North side Ardley United who we’ll face in the Extra Prelimary Round.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Ardley United Football Club was formed in 1945, playing initially in the Lord Jersey FA on a pitch near the railway line on Oxford Road. The 1950s and 60s were successful, with multiple league titles and cups, including three Oxfordshire Junior Shields. In the mid-60s, the club moved to a new Playing Field site in the village and built modest changing rooms.

The club struggled in the 70s and early 80s but saw a resurgence with Norman Stacey as chairman in the mid-80s. They were promoted to the Oxfordshire Senior League in 1988, winning the Division One title and the Premier Division title in consecutive seasons. In 1993/4, Ardley joined the Hellenic League, achieving success under manager Peter Foley and subsequent managers, winning the Division One title twice and the Division 1 Cup four times consecutively.

In the early 2000s, Ardley built new dedicated facilities, leading to promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division. Under Kevin Brock, they won several cups, including the Oxfordshire Senior Cup in 2013/14. Following Brock, Paul Davis managed the team until 2017, when Norman Stacey resigned as chairman.

Ian Feaver became chairman, and Craig Adey managed the team, leading to immediate promotion back to the Premier Division after a voluntary relegation. Despite ups and downs, the team won the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup in 2018/19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the club strengthened its community support, creating various committees. Julian McCalmon was appointed as the first team manager. The club moved to the Spartan South Midlands Football League and then to the Combined Counties Premier League – North Division for the 2023/24 season. Ardley United aims to achieve Southern League football, supporting their management and players towards this goal.

HEAD TO HEAD

Reading City and Ardley United have met six times in recent years playing in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division, Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup and the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North.

In these meetings the Cityzens have won three, lost two and one has ended all square.

Our most recent meeting was here at the Rivermoor Stadium in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North last season and it ended 2-2 on the 20th April 2024.

TICKETS

This is an all-ticket game due to FA Cup ticket rules which sees the gate share split between both sides, therefore Season Tickets and Club Memberships are not valid for this fixture.

Tickets can be purchased online ahead of the game or on the gate. We take both cash and cards on the gate.

Turnstiles, kitchen and bar open at 1pm. Food is available from 1pm.

Prices are:

• Families (X2 Adults, X2 Children): £16
• Adults: £8
• Concession: £4
• Under 16: £4
• Under 5:  Go FREE with paying adult

We recommend purchasing your tickets online to reduce delays at the turnstiles. Purchase yours online now

THE RIVERMOOR

Address: The Rivermoor Stadium, Scours Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 6AY

GETTING HERE

By Car:  Leave the M4 at Junction 12 and take the A4 towards Reading.

Then take a left at the first set of traffic lights at Langley Hill, At the top of Langley Hill you’ll come to a roundabout where you’ll see the Water Tower public house on your left-hand side.

Continue straight on over the roundabout and travel through the centre of Tilehurst before taking a right turn into Norcot Road.

This turning is at the crossroads just past the Asda Petrol Station on your left-hand side, continue straight on down Norcot Road and then take a left on to the A329 Oxford Road before taking the first right on to Scours Lane.  You’ll see Reading City Football Club sign-posted.

Once you’ve turned on to Scours Lane continue straight on under the railway bridge and then take a right to enter The Rivermoor which is clearly signed.

Parking: Parking is available on site here at The Rivermoor at no extra cost on a first come first served basis, there are 80 spaces available to park in the ground. In the event that the club car park is full, then additional car parking is available at the Reading Retail Park, where you are permitted to a maximum stay of 3 hours.

Postcode for Additional Parking: RG30 1PR

Leave the Rivermoor and drive back up Scours Lane until you reach the junction with the A329, then turn left. Continue straight on at the roundabout before turning right to enter Reading Retail Park.

It’s roughly a 5-10 minute walk back to the Rivermoor.

Nearest Railway Station: The nearest railway stations to The Rivermoor are Reading West & Tilehurst, both of which are served by regular services operated by Great Western Railway from the much larger Reading Station and are in walking distance from the Rivermoor.

Reading West is also served by services from destinations including Basingstoke & Newbury whilst Tilehurst is also served by services from destinations including Didcot & Oxford.

Bus: The nearest bus stop to the ground is Norcot Junction and is served by the 16 and 17 Reading Bus service which travel between Central Reading and Tilehurst every 10 minutes. More details on the bus route/s here.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Please be advised that three way lights are in operation on the junction of Scours Lane and the Oxford Road to allow Thames Water to carry out a repair. Works are scheduled to be completed on Wednesday 14th August.

If you are heading to the Rivermoor between now and Wednesday 14th August please allow extra time for your journey.

FACILITIES

The Rivermoor has some of the best facilities for a non-league football ground with parking on site, disabled access and more including:

• Licensed bar
• Kitchen serving hot and cold food
• Disabled access to pitch side
• Toilets
• Standing and seated covered areas to watch the match
• Card payments taken on the gate and in the bar