Our Combined FA Youth Cup Squad made up of representatives from our Under 18s and Club Partner John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme will face Thatcham Town here at the Rivermoor on Friday 20th September in a First Round Qualifying Clash.

Last season the two sides met in the Second Round Qualifying with City winning 0-2 on the road in West Berkshire and they’ll be hoping to progress again this season!

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Thatcham Town Football Club was founded in 1894, originally known as Thatcham before “Town” was added in 1974. The club played at various locations before moving to Lancaster Close in 1949, and later to Waterside Park in 1992, now called the Mettal Stadium (as of 2023). The club joined the Reading Temperance League in 1896, winning their first title in 1905/06. They became founding members of the Hellenic League in 1953, winning several titles over the years. Thatcham later joined the Wessex League, won the title in 1995/96, and earned promotion to the Southern League in 2006. Their best finish came in 2010/11 when they reached the play-off semi-finals.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This season our Under 18s and Thatcham Town’s Under 18s will meet competitively in the Allied Counties Youth Football League Central Division.

Last season’s FA Youth Cup campaign saw the two clubs meet in the Second Round Qualifying at the Mettal Stadium in which our young Cityzens comfortably won 0-2. Last season’s FA Youth Cup was made-up of players of Club Partner, John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme.

During our preparations for the 2023/24 Season our own Under 18s also played Thatcham Town in a pre-season friendly in which we won 1-2. This season’s FA Youth Cup features members of our own Under 18s alongside representatives of Club Partner John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme.

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:

Adults: £6

Concessions: £4

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

THE RIVERMOOR STADIUM

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

GETTING HERE

By Car:  Take the A4 to 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.

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