Slough Town will cross the border into Buckinghamshire as they head to fellow Division One side Haddenham Youth when they embark on their 2023/24 campaign in the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday 10th of September.
The Rebels enter the competition for the third season as members of the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League. The duo finished the 2022/23 season on identical points and game record, the only thing separating them was Slough’s considerably better goal difference tally so the match up certainly has potential to be a close and exciting encounter dependant on how both sides have recruited over the summer break.
Craig Gareppo, manager
Craig Gareppo and Leigh Hunter have co-managed Slough Town since the 2019/20 season. Craig was honest in his assessment of their previous runs in the FA Cup, “we’re hoping for a better result than the previous two years, but for me it’s exciting to manage a team playing in such a prestigious tournament”. Craig himself explains that, ‘Cup competitions are a totally different kind of buzz to league football” and they’ll be hoping to make an impact in front of goal this season.
Haddenham are a familiar opposition for the Rebels, “It’s always nice to know a bit about the team you’re playing, we don’t have scouts at this level so playing against a team we know is an advantage.” and Craig is full of compliments, “Haddenham are a team much similar to ourselves, they play good football and play it the right way” despite being their First Round Qualifying rivals.
As far as expectations go for their match up Craig is feeling “confident about every game that we play” and Sunday will be no different” and he acknowledges the calibre of Haddenham with “both games last season being very close” and he makes a quick note about the strength of his players, “Our squad has improved over the summer and we aim to go as far as we can in the FA Cup”
Slough’s previous FA journeys
2020/21
Tilehurst Panthers 7-1 Slough Town
2022/23
Slough Town 0-8 Milton United
Kick off is at 2pm. Cuddington Recreation Ground, Bernard Close, Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0AJ
