The FA Cup is already churning out stories for 2024/25 with Wallingford & Crowmarsh and Virginia Water among the early winners, now the FA Trophy and FA Vase return with a real shot at immortality for Berkshire sides.
Maybe that’s overselling it, and pre-2018 we’d certainly have never gone with such hype – but after over 40 years without even a finalist, we’ve had three Wembley finalists and two winners – and we’ve not even had to count our Buckinghamshire friends in that.
Since then, Thatcham Town and Ascot United have won the competition, and Binfield reached the Final, three stellar days in the history of Berkshire football.
With both competitions kicking off over the weekend, it’s a question that’s been asked by Steve Gabb in this week’s newsletter – who will be the next Berkshire side to grace the hallowed Wembley turf – but on the ground both competitions, combined with the Bank Holiday weekend offer a rare opportunity of four days of non-league football.
On Friday night Sandhurst Town host Nailsea & Tickenham in the Vase and Windsor are at home (at Beaconsfield FC) to PFC Victoria in the Combined Counties League Division One, while there’s a full raft of fixtures on Saturday in all competitions.
On Sunday, Wokingham Town are at home to Cheltenham Saracens, again in the Vase (3pm) and Monday it’s another full schedule with the standout fixtures the derbies between Binfield and Ascot in the Isthmian League and Windsor & Eton vs Windsor (11:30am) in the CCL Division One.
A full schedule of all fixtures over the Bank Holiday weekend are on the Berkshire Football Fixtures & Scores here.
