Fakenham Town’s Berkshire connection with Binfield and Ascot United

On Saturday, Binfield travel up to Fakenham Town in Norfolk for their second successive appearance in the FA Vase Fourth Round – a win would be a historic moment for the Moles, marking their furthest ever progress in the competition since first entering in 2008.

There is though a brilliant Berkshire connection for the tie between the Moles and ‘The Ghosts’ who play in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One North. Football in Berkshire’s Dave Wright takes up the story…

Amazingly, Fakenham’s oldest living player resides in Binfield. Goalkeeper Sid Negus, who is also a former club president, made more than 500 appearances for them after making his debut in the late 1940s against a team of Italian prisoners of war. He spent more than 20 years with the club.

Sid, who will be 94 in two weeks time, is now a converted fan of Ascot United, where his son, Simon, is the club chairman.

“He’s gutted he won’t be able to travel back to Norfolk to watch the game,” said Simon.

Update: Freelance photographer Alan Palmer has shared a Fakenham Town team picture with us on Twitter:

Related:

• Full FA Vase 2020/21 Fifth Round draw
• How to watch Binfield’s FA Vase Fourth Round tie
• Trials, goals, and a call from Geoff Warner – Ollie Harris’ road to Binfield stardom