Author: Moley

The official mascot of Binfield Football Club. I do website posts, newsletters and digging.
Binfield Fixtures

2023 / 24 League Fixtures

The fixtures have been released for our 2023/24 campaign in the Isthmian League South Central Division.

We start with an away fixture against Ashford Town (Middx) on the 12th August whilst the first game at Hill Farm Lane will be on the 26th August against Chipstead.

The season will finish with an away game against Uxbridge on the 27th April.

The full list of fixtures are below.

Please note that these are subject to change due to cup ties and the British weather. Keep an eye on the website and our social media platforms for any changes.

Sat Aug 12 – Ashford Town (Middx) A
Sat Aug 26 – Chipstead H
Mon Aug 28 – Northwood A
Sat Sep 2 – Chertsey Town H
Sat Sep 16 – Ascot United A
Sat Sep 23 – Hanworth Villa H
Sat Sep 30 – Southall A
Sat Oct 7 – Metropolitan Police H
Tue Oct 10 – Westfield A
Sat Oct 14 – Hartley Wintney H
Sat Oct 21 – Corinthian-Casuals A
Sat Oct 28 – South Park H
Sat Nov 11 – Thatcham Town H
Sat Nov 18 – Sutton Common Rovers A
Sat Nov 25 – Leatherhead H
Sat Dec 2 – Marlow A
Sat Dec 9 – Uxbridge H
Sat Dec 16 – Raynes Park Vale A
Sat Dec 23 – Guernsey H
Tue Dec 26 – Badshot Lea A
Sat Dec 30 – Chertsey Town A
Mon Jan 1 – Northwood H
Sat Jan 6 – Hanworth Villa A
Sat Jan 13 – Ascot United H
Sat Jan 20 – Metropolitan Police A
Sat Jan 27 – Southall H
Tue Jan 30 – Westfield H
Sat Feb 3 – Hartley Wintney A
Sat Feb 10 – Corinthian-Casuals H
Sat Feb 17 – South Park A
Sat Mar 2 – Sutton Common Rovers H
Sat Mar 9 – Thatcham Town A
Sat Mar 16 – Marlow H
Sat Mar 23 – Leatherhead A
Sat Mar 30 – Chipstead A
Mon Apr 1 – Badshot Lea H
Sat Apr 6 – Ashford Town (Middx) H
Sat Apr 13 – Guernsey A
Sat Apr 20 – Raynes Park Vale H
Sat Apr 27 – Uxbridge A

Match Preview: Reading City FC – Home

Reading City FC

We are back in action at Hill Farm Lane with the first home game since the middle of April. This time it is for a pre-season friendly against Reading City.

Matchday: July 18th, 2023
Kickoff: 7:45 PM

About Reading City FC

The club was formed as a merger of Highmoor and Ibis in 2001, originally known as Highmoor Ibis. Both teams were in the Reading Senior League at that time, with Highmoor in the Senior Division and Ibis in the Premier Division. Ibis had previously competed in the Chiltonian League. Following the merger, the newly formed club took Highmoor’s position in the Senior Division and became league champions in the 2003-04 season, maintaining an unbeaten record. Their success continued as they triumphed in the Reading Senior Cup during the 2005-06 season, defeating Woodley Town 4-1 in the final held at the Madjeski Stadium.

After achieving the position of runners-up in both the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons, Highmoor reclaimed the championship title in 2010-11, which resulted in their promotion to Division One East of the Hellenic League. In their inaugural season in Division One East, they secured the position of runners-up, leading to their further promotion to the Premier Division. The club also performed well in the 2014-15 season, finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division. In June 2018, the club underwent a name change and became known as Reading City. At the end of the 2020-21, the club was transferred to the Premier Division North of the Combined Counties League.

From The Past

The two teams met back in September 2016 when Reading City where still called Highmoor Ibis in a Helenic League Premier Division game. The Moles were managed by current coach Roger Herridge. The Moles finished 3-0 winners to stay top of the table with 6 wins out of 8 games.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased on the gate. We take both cash and cards on the gate.

Prices are;

  • Adults: £5
  • Concession: £3

About Hill Farm Lane

The club house and changing rooms at Hill Farm Lane. Photo: C2 Photography.

Hill Farm Lane is a modern non-league football ground with parking on site, disabled access and more including:

  • Licenced bar
  • Tea bar serving hot and cold food
  • Disabled access to pitch side
  • Toilets
  • Standing and seated covered areas to watch the match
  • Card payments taken on the gate, in the bar and at the tea bar.

There are over 100 spaces available to park at the ground.

The Binfield FC badge. Photo: Neil Graham.

FA Cup Draw

The Moles have been draw away to either Wokingham & Emmbrook or Cinderford Town in the Preliminary Round of the Cup. The fixture will be played on the 19th August.

The game between Wokingham & Emmbrook and Cinderford Town will be played on the 5th August as soon as we know the result of that game we will update the website with details of the fixture and any ticketing arrangements.

The Binfield FC badge. Photo: Neil Graham.

FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round Draw

The FA have drawn the 1st qualifying round of the FA Trophy and the Moles have been drawn away to Ashford United.

Not to be confused with Ashford Town (Middx), Ashford United are based in Ashford, Kent and play in the Isthmian South East Division and last season finished 9th.

The game is due to be played on Saturday 9th September. We will publish further details of the fixture and tickets nearer the time.

The FA have also drawn the 2nd qualifying round. The winners of the above game will play the winners of the name between Phoenix Sports and the Metropolitan Police.

Match Preview: Bracknell Town FC

Unfortunately, this game has been postponed. Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for news of our next pre-season friendly.

Just 77 days after the last game of the season, the Moles are back in action with their first pre-season friendly of the 2023/24 season against Bracknell Town FC.

Matchday: July 8th, 2023
Kickoff: 3:00 PM

Please note that this game is being played behind closed doors and unfortunately spectators are unable to attend. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates from the game.

About Bracknell Town FC

Bracknell Football Club, originally known as Old Bracknell Wanderers, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1896. The club experienced several league changes and name modifications throughout the years. In 1911-12, they became league champions and went on to win the League Cup in the following season. Bracknell enjoyed further success in the 1960s, securing the League Cup in 1968-69 and achieving a double of the title and League Cup in 1969-70.

The club’s progress continued as they joined the Spartan League and won the League Cup in 1974-75. After the league merged, they competed in the London Spartan League and finished as runners-up in the inaugural season. Bracknell experienced ups and downs, including relegations and promotions, throughout the years. Notably, they won the Premier Division and the League Cup in 1982-83. The club’s journey included participating in the FA Cup first round in 2000-01 and winning various cups such as the Hellenic League Challenge Cup and Berks & Bucks County Senior Trophy. In recent years, Bracknell achieved promotion to the South Central Division of the Isthmian League, finishing as runners-up and qualifying for the promotion play-offs in the following season. They secured the championship in 2021-22 and earned promotion to the Premier Division South of the Southern League. Additionally, the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the second time in 2022-23 and finished as runners-up in the Premier Division South, ending the season by winning the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup for the first time.

Head To Head

The Moles last played Bracknell Town in the 2021/22 season. At Hill Farm Lane, Bracknell won 3-1 and they won the away game 5-0.

Tickets

This game is behind closed doors and no tickets are available. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates from the game.

Andrew Spiers and Jack Craske with the Berkshire Football Award won by Binfield. Photo: Neil Graham.

Binfield win at Berkshire Football Awards 2023

This very website you are reading now is officially award-winning.

The Moles online home won Best Website at the Berkshire Football Awards on Wednesday night with our own Andrew Spiers and Jack Craske on hand to pick up the trophy.

Binfield are no stranger to success at the awards, last summer the Moles picked up the Best Community Campaign award for the Soccer School run by Bob Chapple and has had a number of player and volunteer wins over the years.

Commenting on the win, Binfield chairman Andy Cotton said: “The club is absolutely delighted to see that our amazing Media Team have been recognised for their professionalism and hard work over the past season. Winning the FIB Award for Best Website is a real achievement as there are so many other noteworthy people who were shortlisted for this. Our Media Team have transformed the club and our communications over the past 12 months – we are really proud of everyone who’s contributed so much to us – it’s made a huge difference to everyone who belongs to the club and to the outside world where we’ve seen a tremendous uptick in interest in Binfield FC across all our platforms – thank you so much ladies and gents for kicking arse here!”

The event was held this year in Reading at Double Barrelled Brewery with 16 awards handed out by host Tom White of Sky Sports News. Locally, photographer Neil Graham scooped the Darrell Freeland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Football.

Watch the moment the winner was announced

Binfield Chargers looking for new players at u13 level for 11 aside season

Binfield’s Chargers under 12’s moving to under 13’s and 11 aside football next season and are keen to strengthen their squad.

The Chargers play in Division 1 of the East Berkshire Football League and have a few spaces available in our squad.

The team is looking for players with a positive and hardworking attitude who want to improve by joining a great group of existing players.

The team will play as under 13s in 2023/24 and looking for boys who are currently in Year 7 and moving to Year 8 in September.

Anyone interested and want to come down to a couple of training sessions, please contact Ben Churchill on 07557 025096

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!