As the 2024/25 season swaggers into view, Football in Berkshire asked a few of those writing about the game across the county what they were most looking forward to this season.
With thanks to James Earnshaw, Dave Read (Wandering Tractor), Ollie Haines, Dan Darlington, Abi Ticehurst and Andrew Belt.
A new era for Reading
In 2024/25, I’m looking forward to what should be the dawning of a new era at Reading Football Club. After two seasons of turmoil, a possible new owner (whenever they come) will finally draw the line under the Dai Yongge Era and allow the club, and town, to start to process of returning to where they should be. It won’t be a straightforward or smooth journey, but it should be exciting.
James Earnshaw (Reading Chronicle)
Youthful buzz at Maidenhead United Women
I’m looking forward to watching Macey-Nikiah Walters in action for Maidenhead United Women. The club recently confirmed her commitment for the season on social media.
She was a standout player in their Combined Counties Cup win with her lightning-quick pace down the wing and her positive decision-making to move the game forward. She’s still only 18-years-old so there’s no doubt there’s lots to come from the young winger in the future.
The general buzz at the club having spoken to manager Ed Jackson-Norris recently makes for a very exciting & ambitious 2024/25 for the Magpies.
Abi Ticehurst (FiB)
The community in the game
I’m looking forward to getting back to watching women’s football in the area and beyond. Catching up with the lovely people I’ve met over the past couple of years, visiting new teams and hopefully helping raise the profile and coverage for local women’s football in tiers 4 to 7.
That is completely down to the community in women’s football. Two years ago it was mainly Woodley and Maidenhead I covered but there are a lot of new teams I’ve got to know like Ashridge, Berks County and Wokingham and more new ones to visit this season.
Dave Read (aka Wandering Tractor) – Dave will be providing match day food reviews to Football in Berkshire throughout the 2024/25 season.
Maybe play-offs?
I’m really excited to see how Marlow and Flackwell Heath get on after promotion last season. Both will be looking to find their feet as quickly as possible in their new divisions – and Flackwell are moving up to Step 4 largely unchanged from what I’ve seen. Marlow will also expect to be competitive – and have brought in a raft of new players – but as Mark Bartley says, they’ll have to earn the respect of their league opponents in the Southern League Premier South.
However, I can’t not mention Maidenhead United after seeing them in action the other night against AFC Wimbledon. They’ve picked up six wins from six in pre-season and have conceded just once in the process – that late goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over the League 2 opponents. I know everyone says you shouldn’t get too carried away by preseason form but I just feel for the first time since they were promoted to the National League back in 2017 that they can look to achieve more than just survival.
That will be the first aim of course but I think a top half finish isn’t beyond them and if they achieve that – the play offs won’t be too far out of reach. Tyrese Dyce looks like a good replacement for Sam Beckwith, Zac Bell played well at right back and Nathan Ferguson – signed from Wealdstone – looks a class act at this level in midfield. I’m really pleased they’ve held onto Tristan Abrahams – who turned their season around when he came in towards the end of the last campaign. He stretches teams really well and they’ve also got the likes of Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, Ruben Carvalho and Reece Smith.
Hopefully all those players can stay because it gives them good options and quality going forward. Finally, a mention to the defence which has been watertight in preseason. They’ve held onto Ross, Lokko, De Havilland, Clerima etc and I just think they’ll be extremely difficult to beat. Fingers crossed this optimism doesn’t unravel in the first few weeks!
Dan Darlington (Maidenhead Advertiser)
What’s being served up
Food. Going to games to me has become more and more about the off pitch experience. I’ve written about this elsewhere but I’m far more likely to head to a match at a club that’s put some thought and effort into its match day experience – be it food, beer or other such entertainment.
Thankfully, the quality of nominees at this years Berkshire Football Awards for that particular category showed there’s plenty of options – and eventual winners Reading YMCA highlighted it doesn’t all have to be grandiose hot dogs in six kinds of sauce (although I would go for that offering as well).
So YM, Slough, Reading City, Burnham etc, look out for me!
Tom Canning (FiB)
End of an exile?
I will mostly be looking forward to seeing who is flying the flag for Berkshire. As FiB demonstrates, we are not short of clubs to follow in the county and each season, there are winners and losers. Roll on March when the stakes are highest and nearly every game there are permutations. I will once again most likely be an armchair observer and keeping up with FiB’s excellent unrivalled coverage from a group of writers who care so much about the game from the grassroots and upwards.
Suppose I manage to take in the odd game in person. In that case,, this will be a triumph with parenting young children taking precedence but, each year, the prospect of taking my son to the football (and crossing everything that he enjoys it!) gets a little closer so my relative match-going exile nears its end!
Andrew Belt (FiB)
The journey
One of the things I love most about non-league is the journeys which have brought players to the level.
One in our area is Alefe Santos, picked up by Hungerford Town this Summer.
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, he moved to England aged just 12 and quickly signed for Stoke City. A fair few appearances at professional level with Derby followed, before a journey down the divisions which has taken him to West Berkshire.
Ryan Clarke is there too, a play-off winner with Oxford United in 2010 and still going strong between the sticks at 42-years-old!
Contrast these stories with those of their teammates, some of which have played for the club since they were kids, and you quicky start to appreciate how football can bring people together from all walks of life.
Here’s to non-league, the journeys that life takes us on, and coming together to enjoy another great year of football!
Ollie Haines (Newbury Weekly News)
