All three Berkshire clubs were represented on a short segment with Reading FC legend Ady Williams on Friday morning ahead of a huge weekend of FA Vase football.
We’ve summarised what each clubs manager said below during the sports segment of the Andrew Peach show at 9.30am. You will be able to listen again on the BBC Radio Berkshire website here.
Thatcham Town manager Danny Robinson said: “We’re very excited, the weeks dragged on a bit though.”
Robinson spoke briefly about the clubs history in the competition – they were quarter finalists in 1988/89 and were knocked out by neighbours Hungerford Town. He said: “We’re trying to make a little bit of history, we were knocked out by Hungerford last time. We’re up against a very good side though but my boys will do us justice.
“We’ve done due diligence on Bromsgrove Sporting, we are quite well informed. They have a big following and are a very good side, very strong going forward.”
Related: ‘We’ll find a way to beat Coleshill’ says Jeff Lamb
Bracknell Town manager Paul McGrotty was next up and Williams put to the Robins co-boss that the club had never been past the last eight (the last appearance being against Great Yarmouth Town in the 80s).
McGrotty replied: “No pressure then!”
He added: “We’re looking forward to it, it’s a tough one travelling up to Birmingham, they’re a good side but so are we!
“There have been some massive changes at Larges Lane, it’s a club going in the right direction. It’s great to be part of it.”
Williams raised the point of a Wembley Stadium Final to which McGrotty responded: “It’s what everyone at our level wants to achieve, at this stage the players can’t help but think about it.”
Windsor boss Mick Woodham was up next and said: “I haven’t slept well all week. Bit of a stretched out week, roll on the game!”
On the clubs reformation he said: “It’s been a tough seven years, taking relegation’s after Windsor & Eton closed but we are where we are – we’re just trying to get our name on the football map.
“It’ll be a magnificent achievement getting this far in the Vase, the fans have been great with us and we’ve got a mix of older and younger, but it’d be great for the players and supporters if we could be in the hat for the quarter finals.”
Williams asked the Windsor manager about the clubs playing budget, Woodham responded saying: “There wasn’t a playing budget, in the dressing room the physio – and rightly so – is the only one receiving and money!”
The FA Vase fifth round fixtures involving Berkshire clubs is:
- Coleshill Town vs Bracknell Town
- Thatcham Town vs Bromsgrove Sporting
- Windsor vs Hamble Club
Follow Football in Bracknell on twitter for updates on all the action from the Fifth Round this weekend.
