The weekend talking points include a highlight for Neil Graham in the FA Cup Final, Lisa Benn’s Women’s FA Cup appointments and will it be Old Windsor, Singh Sabha or Britwell in the East Berks League?
Neil Graham and the FA Cup
Caps doffed to our tremendous lensman Neil Graham who was our Berkshire representation at the FA Cup Final at the weekend. Neil had a snap featured in the match programme as Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties.
National League
The National League shuddered to a halt on Sunday with Maidenhead United already sure of a place in the top-tier of Non-League Football for 2022/23 despite a 1-0 defeat to Notts County who’s fans as always were glowing in their reviews of York Road.
While Maidenhead are now on the beach, the National League play-offs kick off on Monday 23rd May with County facing Grimsby Town.
What’s certain now is that building for 2022/23 starts now for Alan Devonshire. Next season sees four relegation spots return to the National League from two (we’d all assumed Dover were already down hadn’t we?) and the Magpies would undoubtedly like to move into their new ground – as and when that happens – as a top tier side.
Lisa Benn
The highly regarded former Berks & Bucks FA official had already refereed the FA Women’s Super League Continental Cup Finals this season and on Sunday she was the Fourth Official in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final.
Quoted on the website Bournefreelive, Benn said: “I am extremely delighted with the appointment; it is the season that just keeps giving! The messages from referees locally, nationally, friends and colleagues, I am extremely grateful!
“The game should be a great display of women’s football, highly competitive and I look forward to all match officials contributing to a great game!”
Berks County
Steve Gabb has gone to town on Berks County’s semi-final win on Saturday against British Airways here, but he was particularly impressed with Luke Hayden and Kai Hobbs, plus it was a relief to hear that some things don’t change at Bottom Meadow – the bugs!
Showdown in the East Berks
There are three games to go in the East Berks Football League Premier Division and ‘could it be Britwell?’
Quite possibly. The Slough boys won the crucial game against fellow title challengers Old Windsor on Saturday but it could well be Hype Train who are the king-makers with home and away fixtures against Britwell.
Old Windsor remain in with a shout but Britwell are level on points with Singh Sabha who have played a game more and it looks set to be a tense and sensational finish to the season.
Related: Britwell are re-galvanised and have the backing of the community ahead of Premier Division run-in
