The boys are back after a week long rest, and they begin their final six fixtures with a game in Wokingham against Finchampstead.

With the reverse fixture in two days’ time, Sheldon Baptiste’s team will be searching for three points down at the Memorial Ground, and are looking to continue positively following their goalless draw against Newbury. Our opposition enter tomorrow’s fixture off the back of a 3-0 victory over Maidenhead Town away at Bisham Abbey.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION – With reference to FCHD.info

Established in 1952, Finchampstead first participated in the Premier Division of the Chiltonian League in the 1987/88 season, earning the title of champions the same year. Across the next four years, ‘Finch’ placed as runners up twice, at the end of the 1988/89 and 1992/93 seasons. The Chiltonian League merged with the Hellenic League in 2000, with Finchampstead joining Division One East following the amalgamation. 2001/02 saw the local outfit become champions once again, with twenty wins in thirty-two. A goal difference of one proved the difference between second and third places in 2002/03, with Penn and Tylers Green narrowly beating Finchampstead to the runners-up spot.

Joining the Thames Valley Premier League in 2017, first entering into Division One, Finchampstead earned sixth and fifth place finishes in two years, before earning promotion into the first tier following a successful application in 2019/20. Unfortunately, their debut season in the top flight was voided due to the pandemic. With league action returning the following year, Finchampstead won the title for two consecutive campaigns, winning 75% of their games both years, before finishing as runners-up in 2022/23.

Currently, with eleven wins in twenty, on a tally of thirty-seven points, Finchampstead sit in fifth position out of fourteen.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since our first match up in 2020, our Cityzens have taken all the points on one occasion, back in April of 2021 in a 1-0 victory on home turf at the Atrium. High score lines aren’t unusual, with unfortunate 3-0 and 4-0 losses occurring in our last five meetings.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

02/12/23 – RCFC 0-2 Finchampstead

09/09/23 – Finchampstead 3-0 RCFC

19/11/22 – Finchampstead 1-0 RCFC

08/10/22 – RCFC 0-4 Finchampstead

20/04/22 – Finchampstead 3-0 RCFC

ADDRESS: Memorial Park, The Village, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 4JU

KEY INFORMATION: There are no admission fees for this match – 2pm Kick-Off

GETTING HERE

By Car: Drive from A33, B3270, A327 and B3348 to Finchampstead

Head south on A329

Merge onto A33

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on A33

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit and stay on A33

Keep right to stay on A33

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on A33

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto B3270

At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Shinfield Rd/A327

Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto Eastern Relief Rd/A327

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Arborfield Rd/A327 – continue to follow A327

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Observer Way/A327

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Eversley Rd/A327

At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Eversley Rd/A327 – continue to follow A327

Turn left onto Fleet Hill/B3348 – continue to follow B3348

Turn left – the ground will be on the right.

By Bus: Board the Leopard 3 bus at Station Road, courtesy of Reading Buses, heading towards Broad Street in Wokingham, and disembark at California Country Park. An approximate thirty minute walk will take you toward the ground, continuing down Church Lane before turning right on Jubilee Road, with the ground on the right upon arrival.

By Rail: Take the Great Western Railway service from Reading Station heading towards Gatwick Airport, and disembark at the Wokingham platform. It will be a short walk towards the Wokingham Station bus stop, then take the 125A bus service run by Thames Valley Buses heading towards Crowthorne, and disembark at California Post Office. A half an hour walk will take you to the ground, which will be on the right.