There’s a month ahead. No grassroots football for a month. Everyone takes a break. Twitter bans all football posts, YouTube is offline for anyone wearing a polyester shirt and the Football Association pulls down the shutters on its grassroots operations for a full 30 days.
Well, one can dream.
Of course, anyone who’s ever been involved in grassroots football knows the summer is no time to put your feet up.
I could bore you to tears about how I think football in June should be non-existent. That we’re already working towards next season when some clubs have barely completed their awards nights – we’ve not even held ours yet! – is crazy. Give yourselves a break. But I digress..
Ground projects get started. Pitch maintenance begins in earnest and of course, sometimes there’s personnel to contemplate – especially with it being reported in certain quarters that player registration forms are out. In the last five days along, Sandhurst Town and Ascot United Women have all appointed new managers – Woodley United are about to follow suit, while Westwood Wanderers have seen double treble winning boss Devonn Reid depart.
June 1st, 2026 then. The first day of the 2026/27 season is upon us. Pre-season training dates are out. Pre-season fixtures are scheduled – although they are all, almost certain to change.
There are a few ‘firsts’ coming this season as well.
Maidenhead Town will be playing at their highest ever level after gaining promotion from the Thames Valley Premier League last season. Will they be able to follow in the footsteps of Berks County, Woodley United, Yateley United or perhaps, Windsor & Eton?
Speaking of a couple of those clubs, Windsor & Eton are back in the big time. Step 4 football returns to Stag Meadow for the first time since 2010 when the previous incarnation of the Royalists won the Southern League South West Division One, amassing 101 points in a tense title challenge with AFC Totton who finished on 100.
Yateley United will also play at their highest level having been placed in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South after winning the Wessex League Division One play-offs. The Hampshire side will be up against some of non-league’s famous names including Tooting & Mitcham United, Met Police and Corinthian Casuals.
There are some new women’s teams being created, especially in West Berkshire with AFC Aldermaston and Thatcham Town announcing plans to create sides which can increase opportunities for adult women’s football in the area.
A relegation to Step 7? It’s been awhile (I could be wrong – you can tell me in the comments) since a club has been relegated to the Thames Valley Premier League. A year ago, all three bottom sides in the Combined Counties League Division One were reprieved. Not so this year with it being understood Chalfont St Peter will drop to the Thames Valley Premier League. Newbury Town will no-doubt be gearing up for a promotion challenge, but if Chalfont can get themselves together, the former Step 4 side (Isthmian League between 1985 and 2006, Southern League between 2011 to 2018 and Isthmian again until 2022) may offer a challenge (before you get mad at me, discounting other sides from the title – promotion works differently at Step 7).
So there are a few firsts I’ve picked out. Over to you in the comments below.
