Newbury hopeful of coming home again

NEWBURY FC are hopeful of returning to Faraday Road for the 2024/25 campaign.

Newbury have not played at their traditional home for five years since they were evicted by West Berkshire Council to make way for the proposed London Road Industrial Estate redevelopment.

That scheme fell through, but Newbury’s hopes of returning to Faraday Road looked to be over when the ground was destroyed by fire in 2021.

But the new Liberal Democrat administration vowed to bring football back to the site and now it looks likely that the facilities will be in place to enable Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division football next season.

Separate changing rooms are required for Step 7 football.

Club vice-chairman Ifor Sheldon said: “The club really wants to play at Faraday Road and the council is doing all it can to enable that.”

Since leaving Faraday Road, Newbury have endured a nomadic existence, playing at Brimpton, Lambourn and Henwick Worthy in Thatcham.

But the club’s prospects are brighter now than for years and an impressive campaign under manager Ben Wickens saw them earn promotion from Division 1 this season.

They finished runners-up to Tadley Calleva Res, who stretched their lead at the top to eight points following their 2-1 win over third-placed Binfield Development under-23a.

Lars Nicholas hit both goals for Tadley.

Burghfield Res are destined for a midtable finish after losing 5-3 to Reading YMCA Rapids, despite goals from William Howden, Harry Peters and Toby Briggs.

Burghfield’s first team also suffered a defeat in the Premier Division.

Teo Atik and William Vallins struck for the villagers, but they lost 3-2 at secondplace Wargrave.

If Burghfield win their final game at Finchampstead on Saturday then they will finish in fourth place.

Mortimer Development kept their Division 2 promotion hopes alive with a 4-0 win at Reading City Development.

James Croft led the way with two of the goals, while Andrew Johnstone-Archer and Caleb Tong were also on target.