Our young Cityzens come into this game after a tough-to-take defeat against Woodcote FC last Wednesday, with Sheldon Baptiste’s side looking to rack up their first victory of the season.

Last year’s title winners will be looking to continue their solid run of form following their perfect start to the campaign, in which they have claimed all six points from two games against Tadley Calleva Reserves and Slough Heating Laurencians.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Westwood Wanderers were established in 1972, first participating in Division Two Kennet of the Reading League during the 1993-94 campaign as ‘Westwood United’, in which they emerged as runners up. This subsequently brought about their promotion to Division One, and inevitably promotion to the Senior Division in 1997/98. 

They were also runners-up in the league during the 1999/00 season, and were crowned champions of the Reading League in the 2007/08 season. Across the next few years, Westwood would see a three point deduction and a missed attempt to place as runners-up due to goal difference. In 2013, they were relegated to the Premier Division, but placed runner-up again the following year.

The “Reading League” was soon renamed the “Thames Valley Premier League” in 2014. Back-to-back victories as Division One league champions in 14/15, 15/16 and 16/17 saw them travel up the ranks and they were promoted back into the Premier Division. In 2019, Westwood United underwent a name change, becoming known as Westwood Wanderers.

Wanderers’ Manager, Devonn Reid, is a former Cityzen, who took the side to victory last season, topping the table. Fifteen wins in 22 games saw his squad narrowly beat Wargrave to the title by a single point. The reigning champions currently have accumulated 5 goals and sit 2nd in the table.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

In our most recent ties, Westwood have finished the stronger side, with the scoreline reflecting 20 goals to 3 in total. Our most recent meeting against ‘The Wood’ saw a thumping 6-0 defeat at home, with the visitor’s Samuel Poulter striking all six to claim back-to-back hat-tricks.

Our last victory against the Visitors occured back in April 2021, resulting in a 2-0 win to our Cityzens down at the Rivermoor.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

6-0 Home Loss – 10/02/2024

7-0 Away Loss – 21/10/2023

1-0 Away Loss – 22/04/2023

4-2 Home Loss – 01/04/2023

2-1 Away Loss – 19/03/2022

TICKETS

PRICES ARE:

Adults: £3

Concession: £1

Cash and Card is accepted on the turnstiles.

THE RIVERMOOR

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

GETTING HERE

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.

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:

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