Sheldon Baptiste and Mimi Olaide’s group of Cityzens are set to be at home once again this Saturday, but this time on home ground at the Rivermoor.

Last time out, our Under 23s were held to a draw by Finchampstead, with midfielder Tafari Downes netting an early strike from low range. Despite the team’s best efforts, a goal from Kai Arndell levelled the scores and the points were shared.

Our opposition this weekend enter off the back of a week long break, last meeting with AFC Winkfield, emerging 2-1 winners, with Ryan Farmer and Oliver Brown each putting one past the goalkeeper. The latter scored in our previous meeting with the Fielders, in what ended a 5-0 win for the home team.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION: With reference to FCHD.info

Burghfield first entered the Thames Valley Premier League in 2015, beginning in the fourth division. They finished the season as runners-up, despite having an early three-point deduction, and were able to be promoted into Division Two, competing alongside fellow Premier Division side Wargrave. Following sixteen wins in twenty for the Fielders, they were rewarded with automatic promotion, and the title winners joined the second tier.

The 2017/18 season saw Burghfield challenge for the title once again, but they unfortunately lost out due to goal difference, placing behind Richings Park. Despite this, they were still able to be promoted, and joined the Premier Division.

The charge didn’t stop there, as the Fielders finished as runners-up in the 2021/22 season following the pandemic. Since then, Burghfield have also completed a historic cup double, winning both the Charles Twelftree Trophy and the BTC Senior Cup in March and May respectively.

Currently, Burghfield sit fifth in the table, with eleven wins in twenty-four, on a total of thirty-nine points.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

We’ve faced the Fielders on multiple occasions, usually involving high scorelines. Our most recent meeting saw Burghfield secure the home win, earning all three points after our Under 23s suffered a 5-0 loss, despite a strong showing from our boys in blue.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

5-0 Away Loss – 02/11/24

5-0 Home Loss – 13/04/24

4-0 Away Loss – 16/03/24

4-2 Home Loss – 04/03/23

3-2 Away Loss – 5/10/22

THE RIVERMOOR

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

KEY INFORMATION: There will be an admission fee of £2 in place upon entry – 2pm Kick-Off

GETTING HERE

By Car: Leave the M4 at Junction 12 and take the A4 towards 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 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 within 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.

By 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.