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PICTURE: South Reading F.C. are having an incredible first season in the East Berkshire League and still have a chance of winning six trophies in league and cup competitions this year.
South Reading President Chris Evans knew that the Club had something special on its hands this season and this promise is being delivered upon in an incredible first campaign in the East Berkshire Football League.
Reading welcomed back some members of a treble-winning side from 10 years ago, and boss Carl Reid recruited some additional class talent to take the League by storm so far this season.
The West Berkshire side have been a dominant force in Division One, winning in nine of its 11 League matches, scoring 55 goals and conceding just 20 - the best defensive record in the second tier.
South Reading come into the Showcase Match event in fifth position, eight points behind their opponents and current pace setters, Sandhurst Royals, but, crucially with games in hand on all of the sides above them in the table. A win on Saturday night would move them within a point of the promotion places.
Even more impressive has been their form in Cup matches with the Club still in all the competitions it entered at the start to the campaign. Reading reached the Final in the Berks & Bucks F.A. David Grange Junior Trophy with a crushing win at Marsh Gibbon last weekend. The team can also look forward to Semi Finals matches in the League Cup, Presidents Cup and Slough Town Junior Cup competitions.
Despite, the potential of having up to 20 matches still to play in just 13 weeks that remain this season, Evans is confident South Reading has the talent and strength in depth to cope with a busy Spring period and their pursuit of silverware.
Evans explained: “We’ve done exceptionally well in our debut season in the East Berkshire League. Our form in the League and all the Cup matches has been a dream for our team as well as loosing only once this season. Our brand of attacking and free-flowing football has been a joy for both Club spectators and neutrals to watch. In all competitions, we have so far played 21 games, won 19 drew one and lost once, scoring 97 times and conceding 35.
PICTURE: South Reading take on in-form Sandhurst Royals in a Division One Showcase Match event at The Racecourse Ground in Ascot this Saturday (7.30pm). You can purchase your tickets here: https://tktp.as/EFTETB
“I’m not at all surprised with our form and success because of the group of ex-players that approached the Club over the summer as well as those that Carl has recruited - they’re all class players. We knew that we had something special on our hands, with some of these players being a part of our treble winning side of 10 years ago.
“We’ve such a big squad of quality players that we are fully prepared to cope with the amount of football that we still have left to play. The league still remains our top priority as you are judged at the end of the season where you finish in the league, and we want to be at the top of the pile.
“As a Club and as a team, we have prioritised the league as our goal to win and then just see how we could go in the Cup competitions. The strength in depth of the squad has got us through in the Cup competitions, even in the games it looked like we were going to lose.”
He continued: “We’ve enjoyed out debut season. We have found the East Berkshire League to be well-organised, with great communication and an excellent social media presence that showcases all Clubs within the League.
“It’s also great to have Match Officials appointed to all our games and a team of three officials if the League consider it a big game. As a Club, we think it’s a great idea to have Showcase Matches as it gives both supports and neutrals the chance to watch great footballing teams.”
South Reading head into the game on Saturday night unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions, a run that dates back to early October and includes a 5-2 win against Sandhurst in the First Round of the Presidents Cup competition - a first-ever meeting between the two teams.
PICTURE: The top-half in the Division One table as we head into the Showcase Match event on Saturday night.
Evans speculated: “We’re in great form going into the game, unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions and having lost only once all season. We feel very confident in our own form and that squad that we have.
“We’ve played Sandhurst Royals once before and beat then 5-2 but, that was an extremely hot day and players on both sides were struggling in the heat. We know that Sandhurst have scored plenty of goals and don’t concede that many, so on paper the match should be an excellent game. Their strength is definitely their scoring power and their defensive organisation.”
Evans added: “This Showcase Match gives our players the chance to show their brand of football, the quality within the squad and the enjoyment that they get from playing in such a talented side.
“They also want to make the Club players, from our Soccer School to Walking Football, proud of the side as well as proud to be a member of the Club.
“For the Club it’s a chance to invite all our members to watch our talented Saturday men’s team that they could potentially play for in the future, and massive showcase our side on the social media channels.”
You can now pre-oder tickets at are discounted prices for the Showcase Match this Saturday. Just clink on the link here: https://tktp.as/EFTETB
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2024/25 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
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