Tomorrow evening will see the club begin it’s 2024/25 FA Youth Cup Campaign as we host near-neighbours Marlow in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Since 2018, Reading City Football Club has proudly been partnered with John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme where First Team Assistant Manager, Michael Butcher is Director of Football.

Due to the ongoing success of our own Reading City Football Club Youth Academy, we can now achieve another historic milestone by fielding a combined Reading City Football Club and John Madejski Side, made up of members from our Under 18s Allied Counties side and members of John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Marlow Football Club, founded on November 22, 1870, is one of the oldest football clubs in England. The club was a major force in its early years, participating in the first-ever FA Cup in 1871/72 and contributing to the purchase of the trophy. Marlow has the unique distinction of applying for entry to every FA Cup competition since its inception, missing only one season in 1910/11. Over the years, the club achieved several honors, including reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 1882 and enjoying success in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.

Marlow rejected the chance to join the Southern League in 1894 to maintain its amateur status, a decision that allowed Tottenham Hotspur to take their place. The club faced financial challenges and moved grounds several times before settling at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground in 1928.

In the late 20th century, Marlow experienced a resurgence, reaching the FA Cup Third Round in 1992/93 and winning the Isthmian League Cup. However, the club faced relegation in the mid-1990s but continued to compete in various leagues, including the Southern League and Isthmian League.

Despite setbacks, Marlow consistently performed well, achieving promotions and making playoff appearances. In recent years, the club secured promotion to Step 3 in the Southern League Premier South for the 2024/25 season, marking a new chapter in its storied history.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This is the first time Reading City Football Club Under 18s and Marlow Under 18s have met. Our Under 18s had a very good campaign last season narrowly missing out on the Combined Counties Football League Tony Ford Under 18 Division West title. The 2024/25 season sees them compete in the Allied Counties Youth Football League’s Central Division.

Not much is known about our opponents form last season, but during the 2022/23 season they competed in the Isthmian Youth Football League. The 2024/25 season will see they compete in the Allied Youth Football League’s North Division.

Last season saw us reach the First Round of the FA Youth Cup after beating Torquay United 2-5, setting up a meeting with Exeter City at the Rivermoor which finished 3-5.

Our best ever FA Youth Cup run to date is reaching the Second Round Proper and facing Oxford United during the 2021/22 Season.

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 18:30. Food is available from 18:30.

Prices are:

Families (X2 Adults, X2 Children): £16

Adults: £8

Concession: £4

Under 16: £4

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:  Take the A4 to Reading. Continue straight on until you reach the roundabout, and take the 3rd exit onto Charvil Lane/B478.

Continue straight on until you reach the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Henley Road/A4155.

Continue to follow A4155.

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Church St/A4155.

Continue to follow A4155 until you reach the Caversham Bridge Roundabout then take the 2nd exit onto Richfield Avenue.

Go through the roundabout with Kwik-Fit on your left-hand side and continue straight on to Cow Lane.  When you get to the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Portman Road, before continuing to Wigmore Lane. There will be a Shell Petrol Station on your left hand-side.

At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Oxford Rd/A329 before turning right on to Scours Lane. Reading City Football Club will be signposted.

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

A4 London Road will be closed in both direction from just before Cumberland Road to Sutton seeds roundabout from 19:00-01:00 tomorrow evening.

This is due to resurfacing works by Reading Borough Council.

FACILITIES

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

• Licenced 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