Four unmissable Berkshire friendlies this summer including an intriguing ‘Battle of the Ding’

Some non-league pre-season fixtures can be humid, unattractive affairs. Two teams filled with dehydrated footballers attempting to work off the summer’s excesses on a school’s 3G pitch. Curious onlookers staring through a cage through the evening haze trying to identify which of their Step 6 heroes are back for another 46 game Combined Counties Division One season.

However, we feel we’ve identified four friendlies that could be an interesting watch as we gear up for the 2025/26 season.

Tuesday 15th July – Kintbury Rangers vs Hungerford Town

While most friendlies are a “good run out for the lads” or “more minutes in the legs” this fixture is a bonafide competitive game between two west Berkshire giants in Hungerford Town and Wiltshire Senior League winners Kintbury. Under the lights on 15th July the two teams will compete for the Hungerford Cup.

The pride of Hungerford is at stake for the side from Step 3 against the village upstarts from Kintbury. We may be over-egging this one a bit, but it’s certainly a little more interesting than your average pre-season fare.

Tuesday 15th July – Westwood Wanderers vs Reading City

We don’t have a confirmed venue for this fixture as yet however this is an intruiging fixture between two important Reading non-league clubs ‘the Battle of the Ding’ if you will. Westwood Wanderers won the Thames Valley Premier League last season so can regard themselves as the best team from Reading at Step 7. They face Reading City who will regard themselves as the best non-leauge club from the town (or should we say city?)

Westwood Wanderers have been steadily improving over the past couple of seasons and will be looking forward to challenging themselves against higher tier opposition.

Saturday 19th July – Maidenhead United vs West Ham United

There can be few places where Alan Devonshire is more highly regarded than at Maidnehead, however, east London may come close. Alan Devonshire was an FA Cup winner with West Ham United in 1980, providing the cross for Trevor Brooking to score. West Ham were a second division club in 1980, defeating the more illustrious Arsenal in the final. We believe this may be the first reported instance of a Devonshiring in football history.

It’s unknown what sort of squad West Ham will bring to York Road, but the recent European trophy winners will have to be careful not to fall foul of a Devonshiring of their own.

Saturday 2nd August – Dulwich Hamlet vs Bracknell Town

By August most Step 5 and 6 clubs will have started their league seasons. In fact they’ll also have started their FA Cup campaigns. However, in early August Step 3 Bracknell Town will travel to face Isthmian League side Dulwich Hamlet. The south London club are one of the most famous names in non-league football and attain some remarkable crowds at Step 3 often reaching 3000 supporters for home fixtures at their Champion Hill ground.

With this being the Robins’ last pre-season friendly it will be the final chance for Jordan Ive to fine-tune his squad and tactics before their league season kicks off.