Author: Moley

The official mascot of Binfield Football Club. I do website posts, newsletters and digging.
Massimo Giamattei - Binfield FC

Binfield player named in 2022/23 Isthmian League Team of the Season

A solid season from Binfield FC in the Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division One has resulted in one of the Moles being named in the Division’s Team of the Season.

Massimo Giamattei has been named in the left-back spot alongside three Walton & Hersham defenders and Northwood’s goalkeeper Andrew McCorkell.

Giamattei played 37 times for Binfield scoring four times as the Moles finished sixth in their second season at Step 4, narrowly missing out on the end of season play-offs.

In total, Walton & Hersham were the team with the most players in the select XI with five with Northwood, Binfield, Chertsey Town, Basingstoke Town, Chipstead and Westfield having one each.

The full team can be seen on the Isthmian League website here. The team is selected from the votes of the division’s managers.

Congratulations to Massimo for a fine season for the Moles and this recognition.

Michael Croker

Binfield Development side on brink of first title

The Thames Valley Premier League Division Three title could be decided on Saturday as Binfield travel to nearest challengers Reading City Development.

The equation is simple, a win or a draw will be enough for the young Moles to lift a first title and earn promotion this summer.

A defeat wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the story either with City needing to win their game in hand against Henley Town to overhaul the Moles.

The last time the two sides met, at the start of April, Binfield won 8-1 at home Michael Croker hitting five goals in the tie but for Binfield, that was the team’s last competitive action.

Regardless how the season ends for the young side, it has been a brilliant debut season in the Thames Valley Premier League with 11 wins and four draws and a goal difference of +29.

Samuel Applegarth, Reegan Basilio Artman and Liam Parry share the most appearances this season with 13 each while Croker’s five goals against Reading puts him comfortably ahead in the goalscorer chart for the club with 13.

Croker is just one goal behind Goring United’s Alex Halsey in the race for the division’s golden boot.

Binfield's u18s very much looking the part.

Binfield Allied Youth Team trial dates for summer 2023

Ready to step up your game? Binfield Football Club are holding trials for the club’s men’s under 18 side this summer.

The young Moles play in the Allied Counties Youth League, a competition that has nurtured the talents of the likes of former Welsh international Ady Williams, ex-QPR and Southampton striker Charlie Austin, Wolves defender Max Kilman and Polish international Matty Cash.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to represent a club that prides itself on bringing players through to its First Team setup then make a note of these dates:

Trials at Cantley Park, Wokingham

Allied Counties U18 trials will take place on Friday 19th and Friday 26th May at Cantley Park. 6.30 pm sharp start.

Want to know more? Please register your interest by contacting Martin Smith via martin.w.smith67@gmail.com

We look forwards to seeing you there!

Setup your own women’s team in Bracknell Forest – think Binfield FC

There are more and more women playing competitive football in Berkshire and Bracknell Forest than ever before.

Inspired by the Lionesses? Staying or getting fit? Or just keen to try something different? There are many reasons to get involved with a women’s football team in 2023.

Binfield Football Club is ambitious to have its own ‘pathway’ of young girls moving through junior football, into the youth game and finally able to play adult competitive football under the Moles umbrella at Hill Farm Lane.

If you are interested in, not just being part of a team, but helping us create and mould a women’s team in the village with the full support of our club, then please get in touch via the form below (make sure you note in the ‘anything else’ field you are interested in being part of a women’s team).

Binfield FC u10s girls team

Looking for a girl’s team in Bracknell Forest – think Binfield FC

Heading into the 2023/24 season, Binfield Football Club will have three age group teams for girls in Bracknell Forest.

The teams will cover school years 3 to 8 and will be a key part of the club’s plans to grow the football offering for women and girls.

As such, the Moles are looking for players for the following teams:

U13’s – School years 7 & 8

U11’s – School years 5 & 6

U9’s – School years 3 & 4

Training sessions for the three teams are as follows.

U13’s training – Mondays 6pm to 7pm and Thursdays 6pm to 7.30pm – The Parks Community Centre, Nicholson Park, Bracknell, RG12 7QN

U11’s training – Tuesdays 6-7pm until the end of July at Foxley Fields. From the end of August, Tuesdays 6-7 at Kings Academy, Binfield.

U9’s training – Mondays 6pm to 7pm – The Parks Community Centre, Nicholson Park, Bracknell, RG12 7QN

Want to join the team or just find out more? Fill out the form below.

The Binfield FC badge. Photo: Neil Graham.

Friday night Cup Final for Binfield’s under 18s

There’s Friday Night Football for Binfield’s under 18s as they take on Laurel Park Tornadoes in the East Berks Football League Cup Final at Ascot United.

It’s first versus third in the League Cup Final as title Division One title winners Laurel Park face the Moles in a winner-takes-all showdown.

Binfield finished third in the division behind Caversham Trents and will have a point to prove against their championship-winning opponents having lost both League meetings this season, 2-1 at home in December and 6-3 away in March.

Please come and support the next generation of Moles as they look to bring home the cup.

Gates open at 6:30pm at Ascot United with kick-off at 7:30pm.

£5 Admission fee per adult, £4 for OAP, which includes a programme. Children are free. Cash and card payments systems will be available at the gates.

No dogs, No smoking and No Vaping are allowed. Car parking is free. Please note Ascot United is cashless football site, bar and cafe are card payment only.

Binfield Vets squad named for Cup Final

Binfield Vets chase Cup glory on Sunday morning when they face Woking Vets in the Farnham & District Sunday Football League Challenge Cup Final.

Kick off is 10:30am at Farnham Town FC.

Division One Binfield beat Hambleden 2-1 in the Semi Final while their opponents Woking defeated Eversley & California 8-1.

Binfield – who will hope to be in the Premier Division next season – go in as underdogs against Woking who lead the Premier by six points.

The Moles have named a 16 man squad with a number of names familiar with lifting trophies in Binfield colours.

Cup final squad

  1. Callum Whitty
  2. David Matthews
  3. Sam Delander
  4. Gary Callaway (c)
  5. Tom McGuire
  6. Trevor Weeks
  7. Daniel Wing
  8. Carl Withers
  9. Scott Williams
  10. James Rogers
  11. James Mulholland
  12. Lee Blackman
  13. Matt Davis
  14. John Mulholland
  15. Darren Barton-Taylor
  16. Stephen Nebbett
Michael Croker

Under 23s close on title as Binfield Vets face crucial weekend

Binfield’s under 23 side are a step closer to the Thames Valley Premier League Division Three title after a big win over nearest rivals Reading City Development on Saturday.

The Moles have a 15-point lead over the Cityzens but have played five more games and will face Reading once more before the end of the season.

Binfield will be crowned champions if they beat Reading City in the final game of the season on the 20th May regardless of the result in their penultimate game on the 29th April at Farnham Royal Mavericks. The title will likely come a lot sooner if City drop points in their seven remaining fixtures.

Michael Croker scored five of the Moles goals on Saturday as Binfield’s goal difference hit 38.

The team are already looking to build for next season with trials and training sessions open – it remains to be seen which division they will be placed in though.

Vets

A crucial top-of-the-table clash for Binfield Vets coming up at home on Sunday as the leaders host second-placed Milford & Witley.

Six points separate the sides with Milford having three games in hand so, as we say, crucial!

Allieds – Under 18s

Jamie Smith scored for the young Moles on Thursday but his side were beaten 4-1 at home by Wokingham & Emmbrook who had Josh Crittenden – the son of ex-Binfield striker Adam – scoring twice.

Binfield have three games left this season – all at home – against Abbey Rangers, Westfield and Eversley & California.

Details of the First Team’s 4-3 defeat to Uxbridge is here. News of a rearranged Marlow game is here.

New date for Binfield vs Marlow in Isthmian League

Following Bank Holiday Monday’s postponement of Binfield vs Marlow in the Isthmian League South Central Division One, a new date has been confirmed.

The Moles will host Marlow now on Tuesday 18th April at 7:45pm in what will be a packed final week of the season for Garry Haylock’s side.

Binfield will host Chipstead on Saturday 15th followed by Marlow in midweek, then a final day trip to Fetcham Grove and Leatherhead on Saturday 22nd April.

The Moles maintain play-off hopes in the division but realistically need to win all three of their final games to progress to the end-of-season shake-up.

All the Binfield fixtures are here.

Danny Wing. Photo: Colin Byers.

Binfield Vets headed to League Cup Final

Binfield Vets team are headed to the Farnham & District Sunday League Cup Final after a 2-1 win over Hambleden Vets on Sunday.

The ageing Moles reached the final courtesy of strikes from Carl Withers and Dan Wing with Philip Miller on the scoresheet for the visitors.

Binfield will face Woking Veterans after the Surrey side beat Eversley & California Vets 8-1.

The final takes place at Farnham Town FC on Sunday 23rd April.

Congratulations to all the Moles on this achievement!

Binfield is hosting girls football open days in April 2023

Binfield FC are pleased to confirm a series of girls football open days for youngsters in school years 3-8.

The sessions will take place at the Moles Hill Farm Lane home ground (RG42 5NR) on Monday 3rd April (6pm to 7pm) and Thursday 6th April (6pm to 7pm).

The club are looking to have more girls teams in the 2023/24 season in the Berkshire Girls League. Binfield is already home to under 10 and under 12 teams this season.

Please feel free to come along or send us an email if you want further details: binfieldgirlsfootball@gmail.com

Full details

Binfield FC Girls – Open Days – 2023/2024 Season – Years 3-8.

  • Monday 3rd April – 6pm to 7pm
  • Thursday 6th April – 6pm to 7pm

Binfield FC, Hill Farm Lane, RG42 5NR

Binfield back to winning ways in Isthmian League as Vets title hopes checked

Back to winning ways for Binfield in the Isthmian League South Central Division One on Saturday with the play-offs still very much in view.

The Moles beat Merstham2-0 at the weekend courtesy of a Conor Lynch brace while around them, Hanworth Villa beat Basingstoke Town 1-0, Guernsey took points off Southall (4-1) and Northwood beat Westfield.

It does remain a very tight race to finish in the division’s top five.

Vets held at Headley

Binfield Vets title hopes in the Farnham & District Sunday League were kept in check by Headley Veterans with a 2-2 draw in Bordon, Hampshire.

The Moles remain top of Division One though and have a crucial tie against placed Milford & Witley to come in the final games of the season.

Coming up: Under 23s face Reading City test

Binfield’s Development sides title hopes will face their biggest test on Saturday 8th April when Reading City Development – arguably the only side that can stop the Thames Valley Premier League Division Three title heading to Hill Farm Lane – visit the Moles.

Binfield are 12 points clear of Reading in second but the Cityzens have five games in hand – including home and away ties against each other.

Meanwhile Binfield’s under 18s next fixture see’s them host Guildford City on Thursday night having seen their most recent fixture with Westfield postponed.

New Binfield manager Garry Haylock.

Binfield boss Garry Haylock on his playing career, management and success with the Moles

Binfield manager Garry Haylock was featured on the Football in Berkshire podcast and covered everything from his playing career at home and abroad, his time in management and what it means to be successful with the Moles this season.

In the episode, Garry discusses how he ended up being offered the job as Binfield manager, how important a club’s chairman is in his decision to join a club and what he made of being known in Ireland as a ‘Guarantee of Goals’.

You can listen to the podcast in full below or head to Football in Berkshire’s YouTube channel here.

Match Preview: Walton & Hersham FC – Away

Walton and Hersham FC

After the disappointment of the postponed game on Saturday, the Moles travel to second placed Walton & Hersham FC.

Matchday: Saturday 18th March, 2023
Kickoff: 3 pm

About Walton & Hersham FC

Walton & Hersham Football Club was established in 1945 following the merger of Walton FC and Hersham FC. The club’s early years were marked by success, winning four league titles, including three consecutive titles in the Corinthian League. Walton & Hersham moved to the Athenian League in 1950 and later joined the Isthmian League after being crowned league champions for a fourth time in 1969. The club’s most successful period followed shortly after, with the team reaching the FA Cup Second Round and winning the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley Stadium. However, the departure of several key players and the manager resulted in the team’s rapid relegation to Isthmian League Division Two. Walton & Hersham struggled throughout the next few decades, regularly earning promotion and suffering relegation between the Isthmian League divisions. The club was saved from extinction in the late 1970s with the help of former Ballon d’Or winner Sir Stanley Matthews, who briefly served as the club’s president. In 2019, the club was taken over by a group of students, who claim to be the youngest owners in world football.

In August 2017, Walton & Hersham relocated from Stompond Lane to the Elmbridge Sports Hub, a £20 million sports complex development shared with local rivals Walton Casuals. The club suffered relegation to the Combined Counties Division One after three seasons in the ninth tier of English football. In 2021 the club were promoted to the Premier Division South based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. After six years away from the Isthmian League, a 1–0 victory over Raynes Park Vale on 9 April 2022 secured at least a second placed spot and back-to-back promotions.The club returned to Step 4 for the first time since relegation in 15/16.

Head To Head Record

Earlier this season, the Moles lost 2-0 to Walton & Hersham at Hill Farm Lane.

The Moles games on Saturday was postponed whilst Walton & Hersham beat Chertsey 5-2. Walton & Hersham sit in 2nd place, whilst the Moles in 7th place.

Tickets

Prices are;

  • Adults: £9
  • Seniors (65+) / Concessions: £6
  • Next Gen (13-21): £4
  • Under 13: Free

Cash, card and contactless payment are all accepted at the gate.

About Elmbridge XCel Sports Hub

Address: Waterside Dr, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2JP