Promotion confirmed, as vice-chairman confirms Faraday Road return for Newbury FC

Newbury FC have finally been promoted to the Thames Valley Premier Division.

After finishing second in Division One, the club were made to wait for confirmation of their promotion due to a reorganisation of the league.

Vice-chairman Ifor Sheldon explained how, “the Thames Valley League themselves were trying to get more teams into the Premier Division.”

“They were taking their time choosing which clubs to go in.

“After finishing second, we had an inkling that we would be promoted, but it wasn’t until their AGM that they produced a list.

“They had more teams apply for membership this year, so that was the delay.”

Newbury’s campaign was a hard fought one, coming second to Tadley Calleva Reserves by eight points.

They were the only side Newbury failed to score against, with Ben Wickens’ team losing just five games across the whole season.

With promotion confirmed, Newbury now sit just one promotion away from Tadley’s First Team at Step 6.

The news coincides with an impending return to Faraday Road for the club, which Sheldon confirmed was edging closer.

“We’re working hard with the Council. They’re backing us very strongly”, he said.

“They’ve placed orders for particular bits of equipment for Faraday Road.

“We may not start there for a couple of months, but we will end up there.

“We are definitely going to Faraday Road. We’re going back to our spiritual home.”

One more promotion is required to reach Newbury’s target, having gone up a tier two years in a row.

“This is Step 7. We want to get to Step 6. That’s our plan … it’s looking very good!”, Sheldon said.

“We’re trying to get back to where we were before all this happened five or six years ago.

“This is an example of people putting their faith in us, seeing that we’re the main team in Newbury.