Reports in the national media have confirmed football is returning to Faraday Road in Newbury for the first time in five years.
Faraday Road, the former home of Newbury Town and the spiritual home of football in the area has been ‘derelict’ and the subject of planning proposals in recent years.
But now, thanks to campaigners and a change of council policy, the ground is being used again.
A BBC report states: “An under-8s match is due to be played on Sunday with hopes for adult matches to begin next season.
“The facilities at Faraday Road had not been used since the town’s football club and youth groups were evicted by West Berkshire Council in 2018, ahead of potential redevelopment work.
”The buildings, owned by the council, were destroyed in a suspected arson attack in 2021.”
In the 1994/95 season Newbury Town’s men’s team reached as high as Step 3 of the English Football Pyramid – at the time that was the Isthmian League Division One – before financial difficulties saw the club dissolved.
Currently the senior men’s team representing the West Berkshire town is Newbury FC who play in the Thames Valley Premier League Division One. Newbury Women FC play in the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division Three West along with Thatcham & Newbury Town Ladies Blues and Thatcham & Newbury Town Ladies Whites.
