Simon Johnson and his Cityzens achieved a historic triumph on Saturday, becoming both the first manager and group of players to secure the club’s place in the Second Round Proper of the FA Vase.

The celebrations however were subdued with the champagne left on ice as Johnson’s side switching their attention to Tuesday evening’s Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North clash here at the Rivermoor Stadium as near-neighbours Virginia Water head to town.

The Rivermoor Stadium is becoming something of a fortress, with Johnson’s side now unbeaten at home in their last three home clashes and will be looking to extend that on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Virginia Water Football Club (VWFC) was formed in 1919-1920 and celebrated its centenary in 2020. The club received royal financial support during the reigns of Kings Edward VIII and George VI, who also gifted the club its current ground.

VWFC initially competed in the Woking & District League before joining the Surrey Intermediate League in 1964 and progressing to the Spartan League. In 1970, the club was promoted to the Combined Counties League. After a tough period in the 1980s, VWFC won the Surrey Intermediate Cup in 1990-91 and enjoyed further success in the mid-1990s, winning several Surrey County Premier Cups and achieving a historic league and cup treble.

After various league changes and promotions, Ceri Jones was appointed manager in 2015-16, leading the club to back-to-back promotions and a cup double by 2017. The club achieved its highest league finish (7th place) in 2022-23 and reached the Senior County Cup final. Following the resignation of the Bessent brothers as managers in 2023-24, Adam Sams became the new manager, securing another 7th place finish and reaching the Combined Counties Premier League Cup final.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

We are well acquainted with Tuesday evening’s visitors, having played them during both our Uhlsport Hellenic League and Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North campaigns.

In our last five meetings City have recorded 1 win and 2 defeats against Virginia Water, with two ties ending all square.

Johnson’s side are now unbeaten in nine of their eleven games in all competitions, having narrowly lost to Step 3 outfit Hungerford Town in the Berkshire & Buckinghamshire Football Association’s Senior County Cup.

Coming into this game Johnson’s side are on the back of a historic 4-0 win against Baffin Milton Rovers in the First Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase, ensuring the club booked its place in the Second Round Proper for the very first time.

Virginia Water’s form is quite the opposite as they continue to endure a tough start to the season, having only registered four points from their last four league games. Their last five games, in all competitions have resulted in 1 win, 1 draw and three defeats for the Surrey based outfit.

Coming into this game Virginia Water are on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to British Airways on Saturday. The waters who had gone down to ten men, salvaged a point with a goal in the seventy third minute and will be hoping that their battling performance can be a catalyst as they look to kick on.

A Foot in Both Camps

Former Club Captain Alfie Grant, along with former Team Captain Josh Baines are now plying their trade for Virginia Water.

TICKETS

Prices are:

Families (X2 Adults, X2 Children): £16
Adults: £8
Concession: £4
Under 16: £4
Under 5:  Go FREE with paying adult

We recommend purchasing your tickets online to reduce delays at the turnstiles. Purchase yours online now

For our Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North games, we are delighted to be able to offer the following discounts on admission to the Rivermoor:

Free Entry

Reading City Football Club is proud to work with Tickets for Troops and the Defence Discount Service to offer free entry to our brave Armed Forces Veterans & active Armed Forces Service Personnel along with their families.

We are also proud to work with Blue Light Tickets and Blue Light Card to offer free entry to supporters who work in the emergency services, NHS, social care sector along with their families.

Our Armed Forces, Emergency Services, NHS & Social Care Sector Heroes do so much for us both at home and around the world, we wanted to do our bit to say thank you for their service.

Discounted Entry

With so many Premier League and English Football League clubs, located in or around the Thames Valley Region we’re offering anyone with a Season Ticket for a club competing in the 2024/25 Premier League or English Football League, 50% admission for our First Team Games.

Reading City Football Club is proudly partnered with Her Game Too, as we believe that football should be for all. To celebrate our partnership with Her Game Too we offer anyone with a Season Ticket for a Women’s Super League or Women’s Championship club 50% off entry.

To redeem our free or discounted entry offers just show your Blue Light Card or Season Ticket for a Premier League or English Football League club to our turnstile operators.

THE RIVERMOOR

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

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 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.

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 in 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.

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

FACILITIES

The Rivermoor has some of the best facilities for a non-league football ground with parking on site, disabled access and more including:

• Licensed bar
• Kitchen serving hot and cold food
• Disabled access to pitch side
• Toilets
• Standing and seated covered areas to watch the match
• Card payments taken on the gate and in the bar