A very late weekend talking points for you, we’ll keep it brief!
Wokingham & Emmbrook safe from relegation?
Short answer is that mathematically, no, but after two wins in a row and three unbeaten, Eliot Whitehouse’s Sumas are in a good position eight points clear of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North’s bottom side Holyport and the dreaded drop.
Wokingham & Emmbrook, who have the best goal difference among the teams in the bottom five, beat St Panteleimon on Saturday – a team who’s season seems to be getting away from them after a strong start – and while we’re sure there will be no foot taken off the gas at Lowther Road, supporters can at least we think, afford to rest a little easier.
Listen to Eliot on the Berkshire Football Stories podcast here.
Grace Moloney is 200 not out
The Reading FC Women goalkeeper became one of the club’s longest-serving players at the weekend when she made her 200th appearance for the Royals in the 0-0 FA WSL draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
The Slough-born Republic of Ireland international has played – bar a loan spell at Aston Villa – her entire senior career with Reading and continues to go from strength to strength, we hope one day we’ll be able to get her on the podcast.
Who’s a good dog?
Binfield’s Liam Tack endeared himself to the home fans on Saturday as the Moles beat Hanwell Town 3-1 in the Isthmian League.
Tack found himself a new friend in Kennedy who was observing proceedings.
Details on the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity here.
Was Northern Irish confusion behind Josh Kelly’s lack of England C call?
The return of the England C team managed by Paul Fairclough (minus the under 23 restriction that was previously in place) is great news for non-league footballers at the top of the pyramid. The team has seen several players with Berkshire links join up in recent seasons including Sam Barratt and Grant Smith.
The team has previously seen players like DJ Campbell, Andre Gray and the late Junior Agogo don the Three Lions, but there’s been a bit of surprise in Maidenhead that their home-grown, free-scoring forward Josh Kelly didn’t make the cut for a game against Wales at the end of March.
That led to some supporters to presume he wasn’t eligible having been called up to the Northern Ireland under 21 side. Thankfully, Josh’s dad Lawrie cleared things up on the Maidenhead United Fans Page on Facebook: “Trust me he’s English the Northern Ireland under 21s invited him out to Spain to their training camp for two friendly games hoping that the name Kelly would mean he had Irish heritage, but when going through all the records there was no Irish connection on his grandfathers side, so hence why he couldn’t play in any more games I can assure you he is definitely English.”
So, why isn’t he in the squad Paul?
