Newbury FC coach reflects on an emotional homecoming

Newbury Football Club made their return to Faraday Road on Saturday afternoon, ending six years in exile.

The result wasn’t ideal, as Newbury lost 3-0 to Abingdon Town in the Berks & Bucks Cup, but the occasion will still live long in the memory.

There’s a catch however, as Faraday Road’s changing rooms are still yet to be approved by the Thames Valley Premier League.

This means that Newbury’s fixture this Saturday, in the league cup against Woodcote, may have to be played at Henwick or be changed to an away fixture.

“We’ve had slight issues with the changing rooms in terms of size,” said coach James O’Doherty.

“For the league we’re in, they need to be a little bit bigger.

“We’re fighting against the league at the moment.

“We need some leeway to correct that and make them acceptable.

“But we’re working closely with the guys from the council.”

Saturday’s occasion, held in front of over five hundred people, is one that those involved will never forget.

“It was an absolutely massive day for us, a surreal day really, O’Doherty said.

“Obviously a long time coming. It’s a starting point, a beginning for us.

“Obviously the result wasn’t ideal, but there’s a few positives to take out of it.”

O’Doherty described his emotions when entering the facilities for the first game back home.

“A lot of relief, and probably pride as well,” he reflected.

“For a few of the guys who were involved in Newbury before it was closed down it was emotional.

“People like Carl Jenner, who has been involved for over fifteen years, he was very taken aback by it.

“It was rewarding to see.

“We’re grateful to everyone involved who has got us to this point.”

Now Newbury will turn their attention to growing the club further.

“Sponsorship is going to be one of our main pushes,” he said.

“We’re looking to get companies involved with the club to help us get what we need as a club.

“We want a lot of advertising around the pitch. We’ve got the all-clear from the council to do that.

“It’s the only way we can pay pitch fees, refs, linesmen, all sorts.”

Before any of this though, the club will want to turn their league form around.

“We need to start winning games,” he admitted.

“We need to score more goals and find other strengths.

“I didn’t think Saturday was a 3-0 game. We need to get a little cuter.

“But eight of the eleven at the weekend were under eighteen.

“The physicality is where we’ve been caught out… the average height was around six foot.

“We need to strengthen in areas like that, but in terms of application the young lads have been amazing really.

“It will come together. The main thing is to be competitive and stay in this league for the time being.”