First Team
CCFL Premier Division North Sat 1 February Summerleaze Village
Holyport
  • Fashanu (22')
  • Seeman (6')
2
Reading City
0
2-0

Saturday will see us make the short journey down the M4 to play Holyport in an all-Berkshire Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North.

With Simon Johnson away on his honeymoon, Assistant Manager Michael Butcher continues at the helm.

The First Team are unfortunately having a tough time at present, they have only picked up 2 points from their last four. Butch and the boys would therefore really appreciate your support on the road as they look to start February on a high. Holyport however will be a tough test as they look to mount another promotion push this season.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Holyport Football Club, founded on September 1, 1897, began its journey in the Maidenhead and District League, playing at Windsor Road, Bray. Over the years, the club advanced to various leagues, eventually moving to Summerleaze Park in 2004, marking a new era of growth. The ground saw continuous improvements, including fencing, floodlights, grandstands, and more, enabling the club to compete at higher levels like the FA Vase and FA Cup.

The 2010/11 season was particularly successful, with Holyport winning four cups, including the Hellenic Division 1 East title. The club’s development continued, with the addition of youth and junior teams, culminating in their 125th anniversary year in 2022, which featured significant successes, including historic FA Cup and Vase runs. In 2023/24, Holyport achieved their highest-ever league finish and points total at Step 5, although they lost in the playoffs.

Preparations for the 2024/25 season have seen new management and infrastructure improvements, like a new teabar. Coupled with the Spencers Farm Housing Development getting the greenlight, it promises to be an exciting future for the club.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Reading City and Holyport are no strangers having competed in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North since the 2021/22 Season and our last five meetings have been nothing short of entertaining with a total of 16 goals scored! In those five meetings City have won three and lost two.

Last season saw both sides fight for promotion, with Johnson’s side doing the double over our near-neighbours  with a 0-3 win at Summerleaze and a 5-0 win at the Rivermoor. Both sides deservedly reached the play-off places with the hope of achieving promotion to Step 4. Sadly, it wasn’t to be.

Holyport however are once again challenging for the play-off spots and sit comfortably in fifth place, they’ve already beaten us once this season with a narrow 3-2 win here at the Rivermoor and it will be our turn to ensure they don’t do the double over us when we head to Summerleaze this Saturday.

Holyport come into Saturday’s game on the back of a 0-3 on the road to Hilltop on Wednesday evening.

City currently sit in fiteenth come into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw away to Risborough Rangers on Saturday. Johnson’s side were scheduled to face Epsom and Ewell on Tuesday night in what would’ve been the first ever meeting between the two sides as we begin our defence of the Southern Combination Challenge Cup but unfortunately due to prolonged rainfall over the past few days the pitch at the Rivermoor had become waterlogged.

With several games in hand they’ll be hoping to start February on a high note and push on!

TICKETS

Prices are:

Adults: £8

Concessions: £5

16-18 Year Olds: £2

Pay at the gate, cash and contactless payments accepted.

SUMMERLEAZE

Address: Holyport Football Club, Summerleaze Road, Maidenhead,Berkshire, SL6 8SP

GETTING HERE

By Car: From Reading take the M4.

Continue eastbound on the M4 until you reach junctions 8 & 9.

Use the left 2 lanes to take the exit towards Holyport Interchange

In 0.2 miles continue straight onto Holyport Interchange

In 276 ft use any lane to turn slightly left onto A308(M) (signs for Maidenhead Central)

In 0.6 miles continue on A308 to your destination

In 1.0 miles at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Windsor Rd/A308

In 0.5 miles at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Braywick Rd/A308

In 0.3 miles at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Bad Godesberg Way/A4

In 0.3 miles at the roundabout at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Cookham Road/B4447

In 0.3 miles at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Ray Mill Road West

In 0.3 miles turn left onto Blackamoor Lane

Continue along Blackamoor Lane until you see Summerleaze Road on your right, continue straight on.

Access to the ground is then via the electric gate (to the left as you turn in off the road), it will be signposted as ‘Private Road – Access to Cricket and Football Clubs Only.

Approach the electric gate, follow the track over a few speed bumps, over a bridge, past the cricket club and then you’ll find Holyport FC.

By Train: The nearest station to Summerleaze is Furze Platt. Furze Platt is not connected to the Great Western Mainline so from Reading you will need to take either Elizabeth Line or Great Western Railway Services towards London Paddington, before boarding please ensure the service calls at Maidenhead as this is where you will need to disembark.

Once at Maidenhead you will need to take the Marlow Branch Line to Furze Platt. This will be from Platform 5 and the journey should take 4 minutes.

Once you’ve left Furze Platt Station, Summerleaze is only a 12 minute walk away. Just head for SL6 7HH via google maps and you will then see the ground – you need to hop over the stile in the field, then follow the lane right for 50 yards.

By Bus:  Alternatively from Furze Platt Railway Station you can board the 37a  operated by Carsouel towards High Wycombe and disembark at Spencers Bridge, this journey has three stops and will last approximately one minute.

Once you’ve disembarked at Spencers Bridge, use SL6 7HH for Lutman Road and you’ll find the ground.