Lifeline for Newbury Sunday League, as two new clubs sign up

Newbury Sunday League football is finally growing once more.

Two new clubs officially entered the competition last week, taking the number of teams from six to eight.

The loss of four clubs at the end of last season left the league with only five members, seemingly heading for extinction.

The Crickets AFC signed up in pre-season to take the total to six, and are now joined by two late additions, Frilsham & Yattendon and AFC Aldermaston.

Frilsham & Yattendon’s entry is backed by the club of the same name, who compete in the North Berks League and were founded in 1936.

They’ve now opted to enter a Sunday League side, built up from scratch by both the club and organising committee.

AFC Aldermaston are similarly well supported, running sides in the Wessex Football League, Thames Valley Premier League and the Basingstoke & District Sunday League.

Such is their capacity and player pool, that they have been able to launch a side in Newbury Sunday League too, with their entry officially known as AFC Aldermaston Sunday B.

The sides will face each other on Sunday in their official debuts, as they look to make up for lost time.

The new entries are expected to extend the league schedule to twenty weeks, which will take the season up to Christmas.

After that, it will be on to cup competition, with the possibility of changing one of the cups to a league format being actively explored by organisers.

Chairman of the league, Bill Fry, was delighted with the progress made.

“It’s fantastic news, two new additions!”, he said.

“Frilsham are linked with the club and they’ve had support from a former footballer who has helped to set it up… tracksuits, kits and an agreement over the pitch.

“Aldermaston had some new players come into their Basingstoke league side, which meant there was an excess of up to forty players on their books.

“Once they realised how many people were left over, they approached us at the last minute!

“The guys running the two sides have come across really well.

“It's given everybody a lift and we’re all looking forward, trying to generate more interest again for next season.”

Faced with only five sides at the start of the summer, extinction was a real possibility for the league.

The Upper Thames Valley Sunday League appears to have suffered that fate, with their AGM on July 27th listing just five sides and no fixtures having been announced for this season whatsoever.

“Hopefully we got in early before ours went the same way”, Fry reflected.

“We might have dodged a bullet, and to be honest we've not heard from any of those teams.

“Presumably there are some clubs that will be looking for a place to play.”

The league, although strengthened and stabilised, is still desperate for clubs, with the aim being to get back to multiple divisions.

The deadline for entry this season has now passed, having already been extended by a week to allow for the two late entries.

Any sides interested in joining, or anyone interested in learning more about setting up a club, should contact Bill Fry on 07964 058344.