For their next fixture, as part of their Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division campaign, Sheldon Baptiste’s team will travel to take on Henley Town, down at the Invesco Perpetual Triangle Ground.
We enter this match off the back of an intense draw against Newbury Town, which ended goalless, whilst Henley Town will be looking to continue their solid form, following an overwhelming 4-1 victory away from home against Reading YMCA, who we faced earlier this month.
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
In the 1957/58 season, Henley Town joined Division One of the Hellenic League, finishing eighth from fourteen teams. Six years later, they earned promotion to the Premier Division, named as Champions with 13 wins from 18. Relegation followed in the 1965 campaign, but it wasn’t long before they reinstated themselves in the Premier Division after topping the league once again in 1967.
In 1971, Henley left the Hellenic League. Thirteen years later, in 1984/85, they were one of the founder members of the Chiltonian League, and were placed in Division Two following reorganisation. Division Two was retitled to Division One in 1987, and earning promotion meant Henley were promoted to the Premier Division. They were relegated down to Division One after the 1990/91 season, but were promoted the following year. The 1997/98 season saw them named runners-up, and in the 1999/00 campaign, they were promoted again.
In 2000, the Chiltonian League merged with the Hellenic League, and Henley proceeded to join Division One East. That year, they were promoted to the Premier Division. Relegation struck once again in 2006, but Henley Town gained promotion as runners-up in the 2010/11 season. In 2012, they went back down to Division One East, before going up the ranks again in 2015/16.
2017 saw the final season in Division One East for Henley, who resigned mid-season. They entered the Thames Valley Premier League in 2018, joining Division Three, ultimately winning automatic promotion. They claimed back-to-back promotion in the following campaign, which was held in 2020/21 due to the previous season being voided because of the global pandemic. A six point lead saw them enter Division One as Champions.
A successful application for promotion into the Premier Division in 2022 means that Henley Town will be playing their second season in the top flight of the TVPL.
Currently, with two wins from five, The Red Kites sit in tenth position.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Our Under 23’s have met with Henley on two occasions prior to this weekend’s fixture. A match on the road for City saw an unfortunate 5-1 loss, with four Henley players netting at least a goal. Our home tie ended in a 2-all draw, with the points being shared at the Rivermoor.
LAST MEETINGS
5-1 Away Loss – 11/11/2023
2-2 Home Draw – 16/08/2023
ADDRESS: The Invesco Perpetual Triangle Ground, Mill Ln, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 4HB
Key Information: There will be no admission fees for this fixture
GETTING HERE
By Car: From Reading, join the A4155 at Caversham Road.
At Caversham Bridge take a right to continue along Church Street.
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Prospect Street/A4155
Follow the A4155 Henley Road for 6.2 miles
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Reading Road/A4155
Turn right onto Mill Ln
Henley Town Football Club will be on the left
Nearest Railway Station: The Invesco Perpetual Triangle is only a 15-minute walk from Henley-on-Thames Railway Station.
From Reading, take Elizabeth Line Services towards Abbey Wood and disembark at Twyford.
Alternatively take Great Western Railway services from Reading towards London Paddington that call at Twyford where you’ll need to disembark.
Once at Twyford you’ll need to take the Henley Branch Line to Henley-On-Thames from Platform 5. Trains depart every half hour.
Once you’ve arrived at Henley-on-Thames, leave the Station and Walk north-east towards Meadow Road, Turn right onto Meadow Road.
Take a slight right to stay on Meadow Rd, followed by another slight right.
Take a slight right towards Mill Lane before turning right onto Mill Lane.
Continue straight to stay on Mill Lane.
Henley Town Football Club will be on your right.
By Bus: From Reading take the Aqua 28 Bus Service, operated by our friends at Reading Buses. The new ‘aqua 28’ route runs every 30 minutes and can be boarded from Friar Street, Central Reading, stop CN.
Disembark the Aqua 28 at ‘Tesco Superstore’. Henley Town Football Club is then only a five-minute walk via Mill Lane.
When you get off the bus, Mill Lane will be on your right-hand side next to the Tesco Superstore.
To get the bus back to Reading, walk back up Mill Lane and turn left, continue straight on until you reach a bus stop. It will be on your left-hand side just after the zebra crossing.
You can find out more about the Aqua 28 Bus Service here.
FACILITIES
The facilities at The Invesco Perpetual Triangle are very modern, with their clubhouse providing a fully stocked licensed bar.
A selection of refreshments will also be available from the bar.
