20052021

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Thursday, May 20, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

NWN Sport

Copy deadline NOON TUESDAY

Email: sport@newburynews.co.uk

Thatcham to ground- share with Atom Men Kingfishers and Aldermaston have agreed to share Stacatruc Stadium

By LIAM HEADD liam.headd@newburynews.co.uk @liamh_nwn

Shirt sponsor will continue for Town Operations director of Bewley Homes Peter Carpinelli (left) with Hungerford Town chairman Patrick Chambers Ref: 20-0921

AFC Aldermaston have announced that they have entered into a groundshare agreement with Thatcham Town FC for the 2021/22 season. This groundshare will en- able the club to fulfil its Step 6 fixtures for the forthcoming season after they were moved from the Hellenic League Di- vision 1 East to the Combined Counties League Division 1. The groundshare became necessary as AFC Aldermas- ton were unable to meet the required ground grading cri- teria for Step 6 at their home ground, Aldermaston Recrea- tional Society. AFC Aldermaston chair- man Martin Desay said: “It is really sad to have to leave the Rec Soc, which has been our home since 1952 when the club was originally formed, by the early pioneer workers of what was then AWRE. “The club has invested sig- nificant effort, finance and re- source to improve the ground, including providing flood-

HUNGERFORD Town has announced that Bewley Homes has extended its two-year shirt sponsorship with the football club. The agreement, which kicked off at the start of the 2020/21 season, will now run until the end of 2022/23. It’s a much-needed boost for the club whose revenues have been hit hard over the last 12 months by Covid restrictions on fans in the ground and sponsors pulling out. Crusaders chairman Pat- rick Chambers said: “It’s been a tough time, but, with the help of sponsors like Be- wley Homes, we are nearly through it. “It’s a tremendous boost to now have their backing for another two seasons.” Meanwhile, operations director of Bewley Homes, Peter Carpinelli, added: “It’s the right thing to extend the sponsorship for an additional season after a Covid-affected first year. “We are fully supportive of the Crusaders and under- stand how important the club is to local people and the com- munity. “We are looking forward to coming to the home matches next season and supporting the team.” Bewley Homes has also pledged to pay for, and in- stall, a defibrillator at the ground which is being organ- ised for next season. Elsewhere at the club, manager Danny Robinson has confirmed a list of play-

Thatcham’s Stacatruc Stadium will also host home games for AFC Aldermaston next season

lights, barriers, and changing facilities. “When a senior club has to leave its home ground, it will have an impact on the local community, its supporters, players and volunteers. “We will have to work really hard to manage this transition

to Thatcham Town to make it work for us.” Deasy also thanked Tha- cham, including chairman Dave Melin, and said: “We are really excited about the prospect of sharing Thatcham Town’s ground and excellent modern facilities and great

staff. “Dave Melin and I have been working together for a few months now to make this happen, and we are looking forward to working ever close- ly across both clubs to our mutual benefit as we move forward.”

Matt Jones (right)

ers who are set to play for the club ahead of the upcoming season. Robinson has kept the bulk of last season’s squad, with the addition of a few new players too – which include Warren Bentley and Matt Jones. Speaking about the squad, he said: “The most important thing was to retain the players that we wanted to keep from last season and we always knew that we would lose a cou- ple of players too. “It was important to add some players and we will look to add some more, but I am happy that the vast majority wanted to stay. “Last season we had a lot of players that turned up for pre-season and we had to get rid of some to put together our squad as we were starting with a blank canvass. “All the foundations have now been put in place and it was important to retain play- ers and add some more so we can have that extra bit of qual- ity.”

Aldermaston will be leaving their Rec Soc home ground

Thatcham Town will be sharing their home ground

Kintbury into semi-final after derby win KINTBURY Rangers have pro- gressed in the Presidents Challenge Cup and move into the semi-final af- ter a 2-0 win over Hungerford Town Swifts. This led the referee to award a free- kick, but Letcombe managed to block the resulting shot.

scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to earn his side all three points. Elsewhere, Burghfield continued their recent good form with a convinc- ing 5-1 win at home to Wraysbury Vil- lage. Teoman Atik scored a hat-trick while Lewis Butcher netted a brace. The result came just two days af- ter they beat Richings Park 3-2, while Mortimer drew 1-1 with Marlow United over the weekend. In Division 1, Mortimer Res suffered a 3-2 defeat away to Westwood Wander- ers Res, while Goring United lost 3-2 to Richings Park Res in Division 2. Goring United Res, however, secured a 5-2 home win over Pangbourne in Di- vision 3 and in Division 4, Burghfield Res won 3-1 against Harchester Hawks.

Letcombe made the game safe in add- ed time when Josh Fowler raced clear, and although his first shot at goal was blocked, he recovered to place the re- bound in the bottom corner. As a result of their win, they will face Flackwell Heath in the semi-final on Saturday. n Newbury FC suffered a 3-2 away de- feat toMaidenhead Town in the Thames Valley Premier League. Lewis Critcher and Samuel Angel netted during the early stages for Maid- enhead, but two goals – including one from Terry Patton – saw Newbury get back into the game. However, the home side took all three points as substitute Chip Duncan

Josh Davis and Charlie Allsop were on target for Rangers, who edged out their local rivals. Letcombe moved into the semi-finals of the Bateman Sports Division Two cup with a 2-0 victory against Long Crendon. The visitors eventually broke the deadlock in the second half when Greg Nutley was brought down in the area and Luke Polding made no mistake from the resulting penalty. With five minutes remaining an at- tempted clearance from Michael An- netts sliced off his foot and flew back- wards to keeper Danny Joyce who caught the ball.