After a successful inaugural season last year in winning the Thames Valley Premier League Division 3 going unbeaten in the process, Binfield U23 were promoted to Division 1 for this season and with half of their league games played are sitting in 3rd place behind Reading YMCA Rapids and Maidenhead Town Reserves.
The league is looking very competitive with teams taking points off each other and at the halfway stage, seven of the ten sides will consider themselves in with a shout of promotion and even division champions – so it’s all to play for over the coming weeks / months.
This season has seen the side now playing home games at The Iconic Stadium at Hill Farm Lane which has been great for the young Moles but also for visiting teams to play at what must be the divisions premier venue.
The squad has been refined over the summer with a couple of lads from the Division 3 Championship Winning side departing and a few new faces coming in, including Joe Jacobs who had played junior, Youth and Allieds with Binfield and more recent addition Jake Cook who is still 17 and playing Allieds football – the club remains keen to offer a pathway for Binfield FC lads from the youth teams and specifically from the Allieds side; the new First team management have immediately shown an interest in the side and Jake Fisher played his part in Binfield’s best performance of the season against Ascot last week and it is hoped that he can play a part in the First team’s push for points in the second half of their season.
So – to this season so far….. a narrow defeat on the first day of the season against much fancied for promotion Newbury Town to a last kick of the game goal could have led to lingering disappointment but to the contrary – instilled belief that the squad is capable of competing and followed up with notable and fully deserved wins away at both Reading YMCA Rapids and Maidenhead Town Reserves and a thrashing of Woodley Development. There have been a couple of stumbles along the way but again the lads have responded well and have won the last couple of league games including avenging that opening day defeat by beating Newbury in the last home game.
As it stands we have played 9 league games, winning 6 and losing 3 with a +26 goal difference.
Sam Applegarth leads the way in the goalscoring chart with 8, Jake Fisher on 6, with Connor Gonzalez and Lewis Lancaster both on 5; also notable that the side can boast 5 out of 9 clean sheets with Zac Baker in goal making some outstanding contributions behind a strong defensive line-up. Player of the month for September was Connor Gonzalez and for October Lewis Lancaster (November and December were heavily impacted by the weather so POTM not awarded. Early Goal of the Season contender is Tom Harvey for his strike against Goring.
On spare weekends we seek good quality friendlies against TVPL Premier sides and have competed well – bodes well for next season! We experienced a disappointing defeat in the cup against Premier side Burghfield giving up a 3 – 1 lead to lose 5 – 3 but this only shows the level we can play to and look to sustain.
Binfield U23 head into the second half of the season with high hopes and ambition under the guidance of UEFA B Coach Matt Humphrey and “Super Al” Alan Hawkins.
Squad: Liam Parry (Captain), Zac Baker, Tom Harvey, Aaron Reed, Charlie Martin, Dom Rowe, Charlie Proudlove, Jack Kittlesen, Joe Jacobs, Lewis Lancaster, Max Reid, Jake Fisher, Joe Bartlett, Reegan Artman, Sam Applegarth, Raf Fernadez, Luke Territt, Connor Gonzalex, Jake Cook
We are grateful to our Sponsors – Apex Financial Services for kit; AC Beck for tracksuits and training tops and Iconic for the stadium.
