The battle(s) of Berkshire: FA Sunday Cup throws up county derbies

The Football Association Cup (FA Cup) dates back to 1872 but did you know that in 1964, The FA introduced a parallel competition for those football clubs competing on a Sunday morning. A competition that showcases the best of Sunday League football, and the true grassroots spirit of football in England.

You might be thinking, well there are SO many teams, how does it work? Let me take you on a little administrative journey.. the stipulations are simple. The team must play in its Leagues respective top division, and the FA Sunday Cup game must be played at a ground that has been graded for Step 6 of the Non-League pyramid (around here that’s the Combined Counties League Division One).

Before we get into this seasons Berkshire representatives, the illustrious silver trophy, a gift by the Shah of Iran to the FA to celebrate its centenary in 1963 – has only ever crossed the Berkshire border ONCE. In the 1991/92 season, Theale of the Reading Senior Division sent Marston Saints back to Wolverhampton empty-handed following a 3-2 win at Reading FC’s Elm Park. Graham Hambridge taking the headlines for Theale that day with the deciding goal.

Back to the present day, and we have four representatives of the Royal County looking to emulate the successes of 1992. The Reading Sunday League is represented by current league champions FC Bapco, Burghfield and Tilehurst El Patrons, while it is a debut Sunday Cup appearance for Newbury Sunday League outfit, Kingsclere FC.

FC Bapco, who made the last 32 last season will be hoping their highly talented team can go further this year and put the Reading Sunday League back on the map. The current league champions have scored 26 goals in their opening three fixtures but will face a much more formidable opponent at Reading City on Sunday when they face fellow league opposition in Burghfield, who themselves boast an equally talented an experienced squad.

A regular top of the table clash, but given the stature of the competition, this one feels like a classic – if not also slightly unfortunate (do teams really enter the FA Sunday Cup to play against teams they know?)

Tadley Calleva’s Barlows Park will also host a game as Kingsclere welcome Tilehurst El Patrons. It makes sense, being at Tadley given the past and present representation of both sides for the Combined Counties League Premier Division South club. The Romans captain Jordan Goater will lead his Kingsclere team out in familiar surroundings against former and current teammates in Ousmane Darboe (Reading City) and Dan Williamson (Tadley) and backed by current Romans teammate Connor Thorne.

Last seasons Newbury League runners-up have had a mixed start to the season but will be hopeful of progression against their cross-county opponents.

Tilehurst El Patrons will hope that experience of the occasion can guide them into the next round, and a win is important as an abandoned league opener (after shipping five goals at home to Emmer Green) and a heavy defeat in the Berks & Bucks Cup sees Reading league stalwarts somewhat licking their wounds just two games in.

No matter what happens, two representatives of Berkshire football will be flying the flag for Berkshire in the second round.