The first set of fixtures in the 2026/27 Allied Counties Youth League were completed last week with goals galore across the five divisions.
The Under 18’s competition features the majority of our teams in its Central Division, where Binfield, Bracknell Town, Holyport, Maidenhead United, Windsor & Eton and Wokingham Town will contest local derbies this season along with Buckinghamshire side Marlow.
Windsor & Eton and Maidenhead United – returning to the competition for the first time since 2019/20 – resumed rivalry with a 3-3 draw at Stag Meadow on Wednesday evening. The Royalists led after only five minutes but the Magpies were 3-2 up half time thanks to goals from Charlie Kelly (with a brace) and Benjamin Sikorski. Windsor levelled things up shortly after the break and their scorers were Harvey Franklin (2) and Max Cowan.
Elsewhere, Holyport had a fast start on Tuesday night and were 2 up after 15 minutes at Summerleaze against Bracknell Town. A 6-3 final scoreline puts ‘Port at the top of the early table. At Lowther Road, Wokingham Town and Marlow shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw on Thursday evening.
Binfield are yet to kick off as Burnham have withdrawn from the competition, leaving a seven-team Central Division. However, the league committee have moved quickly to ensure that clubs will have a complete set of 14 fixtures. To replace the two fixtures originally scheduled against Burnham, the league have added two additional matches for each club – one at home and one away – determined by a random draw within the division. The following are the additional fixtures:
- Tue 26 January 2027 – Marlow v Maidenhead Utd – 19:45
- Wed 27 January 2027 – Windsor & Eton v Bracknell Town – 19:45
- Thu 28 January 2027 – Wokingham Town v Holyport – 19:30
- Mon 1 February 2027 – Bracknell Town v Marlow – 19:45
- Mon 1 February 2027 – Maidenhead Utd v Binfield – 19:45
- Tue 2 February 2027 – Holyport v Windsor & Eton – 19:45
- Thu 11 February 2027 – Binfield v Wokingham Town – 19:30
Elsewhere around the county, in the South Division Tadley Calleva’s youngsters got off to a good start with a 1-0 victory at Fleet Town’s Easy As HGV Stadium whilst Eversley & California went down 1-0 at Cove on Thursday night. Out West, the Thatcham Town Under 18s mirrored the success of their senior men’s team with success against Reading City, the Cityzens going down 3-1 at Waterside Park last Monday evening.
Thatcham continued their winning ways in the FA Youth Cup with an 8-0 win at Marlow on Wednesday night, with Holyport losing 5-3 at home to Easington Sports, whilst Windsor & Eton hopes of chasing cup glory ended with a 4-0 defeat against Didcot Town on Tuesday night and Wokingham Town winning 8-0 at Eversley & California. Reading City host Bracknell Town in the same competition on Thursday (7pm) at the Rivermoor, hoping to continue their good recent record in that competition whilst Binfield will play Abingdon United at home (7:30pm).
We are keen to enhance our coverage of the Allied Counties Youth League this season – clubs are welcome and encouraged to send pictures, results, goalscorers, stories from the competition through to neilmaskell1979@gmail.com or 07904 279027.
Allied Counties Youth League Central Division teams:
- Binfield
- Bracknell Town
- Holyport
- Maidenhead United
- Marlow
- Wokingham Town
- Windsor & Eton
Allied Counties Youth League West Division teams:
- Abingdon United
- Carterton
- Clanfield 85
- Didcot Town
- Kidlington
- Reading City
- Thatcham Town
- Wallingford & Crowmarsh
Allied Counties Youth League South Division teams:
- Alton
- Camberley Town
- Cove
- Eversley & California
- Fleet Town
- Frimley Green
- Hartley Wintney
- Tadley Calleva
- Yateley United
