With pre-season now well and truly underway the games are coming thick and fast! This saturday Simon Johnson and his cityzens head to West Berkshire to face near-neighbours and local rivals Thatcham. A scorching summer derby awaits!
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The end of the 2024/25 campaign saw the Kingfishers relegated to Step 5, ending an eight year stay at Step 4 following their historic promotion in 2017/18. Whilst many of the City faithful had hoped for a local derby, Thatcham Town were allocated to the Premier Division South rather than the Premier Division North ahead of the 2025/26 Combined Counties Football League campaign kicking off.
The most recent competitive fixture between Simon Johnson’s Cityzens and our West Berkshire counterparts was during the 2023/24 Campaign in which we won 1-4 at the Mettal Stadium in the First Round of the Berkshire & Buckinghamshire FA Senior County Cup. Although this is billed as a friendly with Berkshire bragging rights at stake, Johnson will be keen to ensure that we remain unbeaten in West Berkshire.
A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS
Over the past few years there have been many names who have represented both the Cityzens and Kingfishers these have included former Thatcham Manager Yashwa Romeo and club legends such as Tom Browne, Harry Grant, Jemel Johnson and Gareth Thomas.
As we approach the 2025/26 season a number of former Kingfisher’s have signed for Cityzens, most notably Harrison Bayley who was a key member of the Thatcham squad that won the league and vase in 2017/18. Johnson has also added Thatcham youngsters Ollie Bourne and Mo Ceesay to his ranks ahead of the new season commencing.
PRE-SEASON COVERAGE
Prior to pre-season commencing a decision has been made that we will not publish our pre-season friendly results or provide match day updates.
Pre-season friendlies give us an opportunity to build team chemistry, fitness and for Simon Johnson and his management team to implement their playing style & therefore the results don’t matter.
THE METTAL STADIUM
The Mettal Stadium, Waterside Park, Crookham Hill, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4PA
ADMISSION
Thatcham Town have advised us they will be charging admission for this fixture, the price of which is;
Adults: £5
Concessions: £3
Children: £1
GETTING TO THE GAME
By Car: From Reading take the A4. At Theale Interchange take the 2nd exit and stay on Bath Road/A4
Continue the A4, until you get to Thatcham. On route there are three roundabouts take the 2nd exit and stay on Bath Road/A4 at each one. Once you’ve entered Thatcham in 0.7 miles leave the A4 at the roundabout & take the 1st exit onto Pipers Way.
Follow Pipers Way for 0.6 miles until you reach the roundabout, then take the 1st exit on to Station Road.
In 0.1 mile continue to Crookham Hill.
Then turn left, followed by a right. Once you’ve turned right in 0.1 mile keep left and The Mettal Stadium will be on your left.
By Rail: The Mettal Stadium Stadium is approximately a minutes walk away from Thatcham Railway Station and is easily reached from either Reading or Reading West Railway Station, you’ll want trains scheduled for Newbury. These services are are operated by Great Western Railway and are very frequent with trains departing roughly every 10-20 minutes.
View departures to Thatcham from Reading or Reading West
By Bus: From Central Reading take the Jet black 1 Service operated by our friends at Reading Buses towards Newbury, and disembark at Cropper Close. This journey will take approximately 54 minutes with a total of 47 stops.
Information on bus fares can be found here
