Wednesday Night Football for our Under 23s, and it’s time for the Finchampstead return fixture! Sheldon Baptiste’s squad will be fighting for the three points on home ground today, hoping to turn their luck around following a narrow defeat on Easter Monday.

A goal from forward Andrew Tafeni put our young side ahead, but two late goals saw the hosts stage a comeback. With tonight’s opposition taking the victory last time out, it will be a chance for redemption as City search to push themselves up the table, with very few games left of the campaign.

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 twelve wins in twenty-one, on a tally of forty points, Finchampstead sit in third position out of fourteen.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since our first meeting 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 time out, a late equaliser from Dylan Parmer and a converted spot kick from Nick Payne saw Finch claim their third consecutive win, on an overcast day.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

21/04/25 – Finchampstead 2-1 RCFC

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

ADDRESS: The Atrium Health Club, Scours Ln, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 6AY

KEY INFORMATION: There are no admission fees for this match – 6pm Kick-Off

GETTING HERE

By Car:  Take the A4074 towards Reading.

Turn right onto Bridge Street/A4155 and continue to follow the A4155.

At Caversham Bridge Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Richfield Avenue and continue straight on.

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 and keep going until you pass the Rivermoor. The Atrium will be signposted ahead, and the pitch will be across the road from the car park.

Parking: Parking is available on site here at The Atrium at no extra cost on a first come first served basis. 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 a maximum stay of 3 hours. There may also be additional space at the Rivermoor.

Postcode for Additional Parking: RG30 1PR

Leave the Atrium 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 Atrium.

Nearest Railway Station: The nearest railway stations to The Atrium 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 within walking distance from the Atrium.

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.