Ascot United FC add experienced duo to Hellenic League squad

Injuries and player availability have hit Ascot United hard in recent weeks, but managers Paul McGrotty and Jeff Lamb have added the experienced duo of Jon Palmer and Gavin Smith to their ranks.

The pair should be familiar names to Bracknell football enthusiasts, both were at Bracknell Town during the heady days of Alan Taylor when the Robins were battling it out in the Ryman League Division 1, and subsequently Southern League Division 1.

Palmer in fact made a brief cameo on loan at Bracknell during the ill-fated 2011/12 season when Bracknell were relegated to the Hellenic League Division 1 East, but on leaving Bracknell both had successful spells under former team-mates Jon Underwood and Neil Baker at Godalming Town.

Smith has already made two appearances this season for the Yellamen, and Palmer one but neither featured in the Floodlit Cup win on Tuesday night at home to Thame United – a victory that ended a run of three defeats.

See the latest Hellenic Premier League table, fixtures and results on our page here.

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Tuesday 25th August 2026

Tadley Calleva19:45Hamble Club

Wokingham Town19:45Hungerford Town

Ascot United19:45Binfield

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Tom Canning

Tom Canning is the co-editor of Football in Berkshire. He has played at the lowest possible level of football in the Bracknell Sunday League Fourth Division. In real life Tom is a Freelance Digital Content Producer having spent 20 years at Reach PLC, starting out on the Reading Evening Post - as well as a year with The Cricketer Magazine. He co-founded Football in Berkshire with Darrell Freeland in 2016. He is the former manager of Bracknell Town Ladies Reserves and Binfield Ladies in the Thames Valley Women's League.

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