The Thames Valley Premier League fixtures are out for the competition’s Premier Division with arguably one of the most exciting seasons ahead.
Changes in the dugout, promotion challengers and the biggest Premier Division by number of teams in the competition’s recent history mean there’s a lot of unknowns going into the new season – plus we’ve asked a TVPL regular for their thoughts on the season ahead (though we’re keeping their identity a secret).
Fixtures have now been released for the Premier Division with the season due to kick-off on Saturday 5th September – though please check here for more detail on the other TVPL division and what is happening there.
The Devonn Reid question
Newbury Town have Devonn Reid in the dugout. Arguably the biggest news story in the TVPL over the summer saw the treble-winning, three in a row Thames Valley Premier League manager switch from Westwood Wanderers to ambitious Newbury Town.
Can he replicate the magic that saw Westwood win the title three seasons in a row, plus more cups than the average kitchen cupboard? That remains to be seen, but Newbury are ambitious for promotion and lost out last season to Maidenhead Town in the slightly complicated way teams get promoted from Step 7.
Newbury will certainly be the one everyone will want to beat this season and there will be no shortage of challengers.
Expert verdict: Most of the early title predictions will be looking towards Newbury Town. The appointment of Devonn Reid certainly raised some eyebrows after his extraordinary spell at Westwood Wanderers, including back-to-back league and cup trebles. This shows a clear statement of intent by Newbury, add to this the plenty of additions to the playing squad, many of whom have already been top performers at this level. Newbury could quickly be the benchmark for the other teams to measure themselves against.
Who could be promoted?
Of the club’s in the division, at a glance, Chalfont St Peter, Henley Town and Newbury could all apply for promotion. The way it works is based more on Ground Grading than it is on the division winners and applications go in around Christmas time.
At the time of writing I am unaware of any clubs operating promotion ready groundshares for 26/27. The above also does not mean those clubs will apply. An application for promotion is at the discretion of the clubs and there is an application fee.
Only one team can go up so it’s a race to finish as the highest of the teams who have applied. Last season, Maidenhead Town won promotion to Step 6 despite finishing third, crucially they finished 15 points ahead of Newbury.
Expert verdict: Previous Champions Westwood Wanderers could be looking at a rebuilding season. With the loss of their management team and a vast majority of the playing squad that have made them so successful, they will be looking to stabilise and build again. The appointment of Dan Suarez and Callum Beasley will bring continuity having been at the club for a long period and they will no doubt be looking to create a pathway for Westwood to challenge once again.
The other challengers from last season will be looking to go one better this season, with Maidenhead Town taking the promotion to Step 6, Wargrave, Tadley Calleva Reserves and Burghfield will all be looking to build on several seasons establishing themselves among the league’s stronger sides. Tadley and Burghfield both having a change of managers this season, with the return of Steve Melledew and Lee Malham to Burghfield, who both have had the taste of success at this level. How this impacts their playing squads and how they start the season will be interesting to see.
The most competitive season yet?
There is no shortage of good sides in the Thames Valley Premier League. Two years ago Burghfield won the League Cup and County Cup double and have the clubs most successful manager, Steve Melledew back at the helm.
Reading YMCA meanwhile are one of the most successful sides in modern TVPL history – like Westwood, they won the competition three times in a row between 2016 and 2019. Like neighbours Burghfield, they have a successful former manager back in charge in the shape of Glenn Goudie, whose more recent football experiences have been at higher levels.
Wargrave as well were Newbury’s nearest challengers, finishing on 63 points last season while writing off Chalfont – despite the clubs recent fall from grace (they were a Step 4 side as recently as 2022) – might be a mistake, although a period of recovery may be the order of the day for the Buckinghamshire side.
Then there are the reserve sides in the division – Holyport, Reading City, Tadley Calleva and Yateley United. Will Finchampstead challenge again? Will another side put together a squad capable of challenging?
Expert verdict: The already mentioned, Chalfont St Peter will be looking for a quick return to step 6 after relegation from the Combined Counties League. The experience of playing at a higher level could work in their favour, but adapting to a strong new division and rebuilding confidence after relegation will be important. Cookham Dean return to the Premier Division after four seasons away, having earned promotion back to the top table by being crowned champions of Division One. Likewise, with Yateley United Reserves who were crowned champions of the Division One Reserves league, going the full season unbeaten, they will be confident that they are ready to make the step up.
Other notable mentions of clubs that could have an impact of the league table this season, Reading City Reserves, Holyport Reserves, Henley Town, Reading YMCA and Finchampstead will all be looking to improve on last season and are more than capable of taking points from anyone on their day. With so many changes to the league, new managers and players moving around, the league is arguably more open than ever!
Biggest division
The division at 16 teams is the largest it’s been in many years – possibly the largest ever although immediate records we have access to don’t go back before the turn of the century.
The top-tier of the Thames Valley Premier League typically runs with 14 teams, occasionally less than that, so while an additional four games might not seem like a lot, when you add in League Cups, County Cups and the like, suddenly that’s a lot more games to manage and for some, a lot more unknowns.
The hot weather means a lot of recreation ground pitches will be in poor condition, leading into what will undoubtedly be a difficult winter where they won’t get any better.
No recently promoted Thames Valley Premier League side has looked out of place at Step 6 (Combined Counties League Division One) in recent seasons,
Opening fixtures
Kick-offs are 2pm Saturday and 7:45pm midweek unless otherwise stated.
Saturday 5th September
- AFC Winkfield vs Yateley United Reserves
- Goring United vs Tadley Calleva Reserves
- Newbury vs Cookham Dean
- Reading City Reserves vs Burghfield (Friday night)
- Reading YMCA vs Henley Town
- Wargrave vs Finchampstead
- Westwood Wanderers vs Chalfont St Peter
- Woodcote vs Holyport Reserves
Wednesday 9th September
- Chalfont St Peter vs AFC Winkfield
- Henley Town vs Woodcote
- Holyport Reserves vs Wargrave
- Reading City Reserves vs Finchampstead
- Tadley Calleva Reserves vs Reading YMCA (7:30pm)
- Yateley United Reserves vs Burghfield
Who’s going to win the Thames Valley Premier League this season? Let us know in the comments below.
