wokinghamandemmbrookfc.com

Congratulations to Roger, Dan and all the Allied squad.

Following last years success, the initial belief was that if the team could play to their potential they would have a good chance of consolidating their position in the Premier League and after an opening game draw against Bisley this seemed a reasonable assessment.

However from here on the team were galvanised and as they grew in confidence they began to show they were serious contenders for the title inflicting the League Winners Hayes & Yeading’s only defeat of the season .  

To achieve Runners –Up is a fantastic achievement and even more satisfying is that the majority of the team have either come through the Youth system or are local lads supplemented by some excellent additions brought in by the management team. Also great credit to Roger & Dan for moulding the players and the time and energy they have put in over the season. As always success does not come without many people behind the scenes assisting so congratulations to all in involved.

Neil van den Dungen

Wokingham & Emmbrook Youth Section Chairman

Wokingham & Emmbrook U18's lifted the Berks & Bucks County Cup agianst local rivals Bracknell Town on Sunday (26/4)  Goals from Shane Cooper-Clark and Jack Broom in the second period gave the young Satsumas a fine 2-0 win. Click on image below for John Ansells match report.

                                                          Tuesday 21st April 2009                 

                           Please see the arrangements for travel etc for the two forthcoming cup finals.

 Sunday April 26^th – U-18s Berks & Bucks Cup Final at Abingdon United FC, 49-seater Coach

Players, management, committee and parents/supporters who wish to travel on (availability and places to be confirmed with Sally or Glenn) or follow the coach to meet at Emmbrook Sports & Social Club (ESSC) at 08.00 a.m.  Hopefully the club will be open for tea/coffee/bacon rolls (TBC, depending on how good Saturday night is at the Casino Night!!!)

Depart ESSC, Lowther Road, Wokingham RG41 1JB approx 08.30/08.45 a.m.

Arrive Abingdon United FC, Northcourt Road, OX14 1PL approx 09.30/09.45 a.m.

Depart Abingdon United approx. 15.00 hrs (depending on match duration, i.e. this is allowing for extra-time/penalties etc)

Return to ESSC (With Cup!!!)  The club will be open for celebratory drinks etc (TBC)

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Thursday May 14th – 1^st Team Reading Senior Cup Final Cup Final at Madjeski Stadium, Reading FC, 49-seater Coach

Players and management to meet at ESSC for pre-match meal & meeting @ 15.00 p.m. (TBC)

Committee and parents/supporters who wish to travel on (availability and places to be confirmed with Sally or Glenn) or follow the coach to meet at Emmbrook Sports & Social Club (ESSC) at 16.00 p.m.

Depart Emmbrook Sports & Social Club (ESSC), Lowther Road, Wokingham RG41 1JB approx 16.30/16.45 p.m.

Arrive Madjeski Stadium approx 17.00 p.m.

Depart Madjeski Stadium approx 22.00 p.m. (depending on match duration, i.e. this is allowing for extra-time/penalties etc)

Return to ESSC (With Cup!!!) The club will be open for celebratory drinks etc (TBC)

Please note that any supporters wishing to travel on the coaches should e-mail Glenn glenn112@btinternet.com or Sally Sally.blee@tesco.net to register names and numbers, as spaces will be limited to probably between 20 & 30 for both coaches for non-players/management.  So first come first served applies!!!

                                                             Friday 3rd April 2009

Wayne Wanklyn says his young side must learn some valuable lessons from the last couple of months if they are to secure promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division next season.

It looked for long periods of this campaign that the Satsumas would surprise everyone and claim a top two spot which would have seen them promoted. But two defeats and a draw from their last five games has seen them drop off the pace at the top and Wanklyn has accepted that they will not be going up this season. He said: “Inconsistency has crept into our game in the last eight to 10 weeks and that’s what is going to cost us. But we’re young and we must learn from this. I’m very clear in thinking that, on our day, there is no better football side than us in the league."

“Though that’s not always enough, you need to know how to win when things aren’t going your way and that’s what we’re lacking. We have to learn how to win ugly and that to get out of this league you have to know how to mix things up.”

Despite ruling his side out of the promotion picture Wanklyn insists there is still a lot to play for. “We’ve got the likes of Ascot, Finch and Henley to play,” he said. “They are local derbies so the league positions are forgotten for those games. And the players are all playing for a place in the Reading Senior Cup semi-final on April 11. There is plenty to play for so they will all be motivated.”

This Saturday Wokingham head to South Kilburn looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a 2-0 defeat at Kintbury Rangers last weekend. But they will have to make do without key players such as Jake Broome, Alex Walton, Richard Bland and Tommy Chapman who are all out injured.

All four missed last weekend’s defeat at Kintbury which saw the hosts win 2-0 thanks to goals in either half from Shayne Small-King. Wanklyn said: “Saturday’s performance was the sort of display that has cost us promotion this season. It was difficult for both teams as the pitch was terrible, but that’s no excuse. We weren’t good enough. We lacked ideas up front and didn’t give their back four enough problems. If we want to achieve anything then we have to go to places like Kintbury and win. We didn’t do that and we need to learn from those types of games.”

                                Report taken from the Hellenic League web site

The under eighteens traveled to Didcot Town last night (2/4) and came away with an impressive 1-0 win, in what was a thoroughly entertaining game. The young Satsumas dominated the first 35 minutes of the match, and but for some fine goal keeping and the woodwork could have found themselves three or four up before the break. However, Didcot came more into the game, and it looked like it was going to be one of these games, and we would roue the missed changes.

The second period was a much more even affair, with Wokingham carving out the better chances. Midway through the half Shane Cooper-Clark scored the only goal of the game from close range following good work from the impressive Ollie Cooper-Southward. Manager Roger Herridge was delighted afterwards saying, " next to Hayes and Yeading, Didcot are the best footballing side we have come up against this season, and I believe that would have been a joy to watch for the spectators. In a 1-0 win you think we would be full of praise for the back line. Although the played really well, I thought the front two (Ollie Cooper-Southward and Shane Cooper-Clark) showed what this team is all about, with fantastic work rate from both.

                                                                          Monday 30th March 2009

The Satsumas had a frustrating afternoon at Kintbury Rangers. Manager Wayne Wanklyn had to make four changes from the side that had beaten Binfield the previous week, with Jack Broom, Steve Tranter, Tom Chapman and Richard Bland all missing through injury.

There was no room for the free following football seen the week before on a pour uneven pitch, with an awful bounce and a strong wind blowing from goal to goal. These conditions seemed to benefit the home side who took the lead midway through the first half. However, Wokingham must have fancied their changes in the second period with the wind at their backs. Although dominating the most of the half, the vistors rarely threatened the home goal, and against the run of play Kintbury doubled their lead from a deflected free-kick with ten minutes remaining.

                                                                            Monday 23rd March 2009

The Satsumas became the first team to beat local rivals Binfield in the league on Saturday (21/3). A late strike from Billy Elgar was enough to see the boys in orange come away with all three points. The victory was not enough for the Satsumas to retain the Martin Joyce Trophy, that went back to Binfield, who had a 4-3 aggregate win. The win was overshadowed by the sending off of Shane Wanklyn and Dave Fenton for a skirmish in front of the home duggout with just seconds remaining. Manager Wayne Wanklyn remained up-beat " It was a shame about the sending off's at the end but I have no problems with the outcome as both players threw punches and got what they deserved". " As for the game I thought we did excellently against a well organized side and defended well throughout". " There were not many chances for either side and I thought who ever scored first would probably win it ". " I thought Shaun had his best game for the club but that was spoilt by the sending off but overall it was an excellent team performance". For me Tommy Chapman worked his socks off in midfield but I do agree it was a great team effort.

                                                   JOHN ANSELLS MATCH REPORT     

                                                   CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE PHOTO'S                                            

                                                  Holyport 1 Wokingham & Emmbrook 1,

                                     for a full match report.... click here

                                                                        Thursday 12th March 2009     

 Wokingham boss Wayne Wanklyn has admitted that his side's promotion dreams may now be over, admitting that his team’s promotion dreams look to have disappeared following a shock 2-1 home defeat against Chinnor last Saturday. The result leaves the Satsumas eight points adrift of league leaders Ascot and just one point above third-placed Binfield who have six games in hand. With just the top two gaining promotion, Wanklyn concedes it now looks unlikely that his team will be playing in the Hellenic Premier Division next season. He said: “We all know the score and I would say that at this moment in time it looks a done deal for Ascot and Binfield. But we’ll keep going, we certainly won’t make it easy for either of them. We’ve got to play both of them and they won’t be getting easy games. We have a slightly different agenda now. It’s about pride, self motivation and about showing that we want this football club to progress. We’ve still got a semi-final to play and I will be looking at how players respond during the next few weeks. We’ve still got a lot to play for.” He added: “I’ve been delighted with the players for most of the season. We’re a young side and to be in this position shows we’ve taken the club forward this season. But we can either go two ways now. We can let our chins hit the ground and go horribly wrong over the next four or five weeks. Or we can pick ourselves up and make sure we have the best finish possible. We don’t want to finish fourth or fifth, we want to make sure we’re third at least.” Wokingham will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to Holyport on Saturday and Wanklyn has hinted he may make changes to ‘freshen’ things up. Billy Elgar is still unavailable for the weekend’s clash following a car accident a fortnight ago, but other than that Wanklyn has a full squad to choose from.

                                       Report taken from the Hellenic League web site

The success story rolls on, for our under 18 side. They progressed through to the last four of the Berks & Bucks County Cup. After a 4-1 (aet) victory over a strong AFC Newbury side at Lowther Road on Sunday. Shane Cooper-Clark lead the way with a fine hat-trick, with Charlie Oakley completing the scouring. The young Satsumas will face either Thatcham Town or Amersham on the 15th March, with the venue to be confirmed. A full match report to follow.

Wokingham's Roger Herridge admits the constant weather disruptions could see the Hellenic League season extended.

With numerous games called off since the turn of the year due to rain, ice and snow some sides have been left facing some serious fixture congestion. With just over two months left of the season third placed Binfield still have a staggering 17 league fixtures to play.

Although Wokingham are not in as bad a situation having played six games more than their local rivals, Herridge still believes something might have to be done. He said: “We will probably have less problems than some of our rivals. Binfield, with their cup runs, are going to have a terrible run-in to the season. It’s very difficult at this level of football because a lot of teams don’t have floodlights. Binfield will be alright at home as they have them but they will have problems when they go away."

“The League has decided to cancel the Supplementary Cup which is very sensible of them because to be honest that cup is a bit of a pointless exercise. Maybe they will have to extend things, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s certainly been a frustrating time for everyone.”

The poor weather has even left the Satsumas unable to train during the past week and with last Saturday’s game with Wantage called off as well as Tuesday’s clash with Thame, Herridge admits they may be a bit rusty.

“Not being able to train has been frustrating,” he said. “Even our all weather surface at Cantley has been unusable. We’re hoping we will be able to train on Thursday though and everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that Saturday’s game gets the go-ahead. You can’t just presume the game is going to be off. You have to prepare like you would usually do so you’re in the right shape for kick-off.”

This Saturday Wokingham host strugglers Rayners Lane at Cantley Park and they have Nicky Bateman back after suspension. The Satsumas need three points to keep up with pacesetters Ascot United and Herridge is hoping for a repeat of the second day of the season when they beat the West Londoners. He said: “We came away from that game with a really good victory and that’s what we’ll be hoping for again".

                                                       Report taken from the Hellenic League web site

                                                          Friday 6th February 2009

 Saturday's clash with Wantage in the Supplementary Cup has been postponed due the extreme weather we have been experiencing.

                                                          Still Possible - 5th February 

 Wokingham assistant manager Roger Herridge says last weekend’s 5-1 success at Eton Wick shows the players still believe they can achieve promotion this season.

The second-placed Satsumas were rocked the previous weekend when they crashed to a 4-1 home defeat against league leaders Ascot United, a loss that saw them fall five points adrift of the pacesetters. And with Binfield just four points behind them, and with six games in hand, Wokingham know they are in a real fight for the top two finish they need to reach the Hellenic Premier Division.

However, Herridge, pictured, insists that the team are up for that fight. He said: “Everyone was really disappointed after the Ascot game, we’ve got aspirations of bigger and better things so that result came as a blow. But the boys have responded in a good way. They’ve worked hard in training and they certainly haven’t thrown in the towel. We’ve got three or four league games coming up now that we would expect to win. If we can do that then we will put ourselves in a strong position going into the final month. We’ve still got a great chance of getting out of this league this year.”

He added: “No disrespect to sides like Eton Wick but when we go to grounds like theirs we have to think 'do we want to play here next season?’ The boys know that if they get promoted they will be playing at better grounds with better facilities. That’s what they want to achieve.”

Wokingham host Premier Division side Wantage Town this Saturday in a Supplementary Cup match at Cantley Park. They will have to make do without the suspended James Wise and Nicky Bateman for the first round clash, but Herridge is confident the squad has enough quality to progress.

He added: “It’s a break from league action for the boys and a good chance to test themselves against Premier Division opposition again. It won’t be easy but we want to get some consistency back, winning becomes a habit and we need to get back to that.”

                                                    Report taken from the Hellenic League web site

               

Whilst the Hellenic League Division One East first team have been taking plenty of plaudits this season, there is another side at Wokingham and Emmbrook Football Club who have been making their way impressively through the campaign.

The club’s Allied Counties (Under-18s) team have yet to taste defeat in the Premier League and sit eight points clear at the top of the table. It has been a remarkable campaign for the side who were only promoted to the top flight last season after they roared to the South Division title, winning all but one game.

Led by first team assistant manager Roger Herridge, they have won seven of their nine league games, drawing the other two, to open up a commanding gap on the likes of Hayes & Yeading and Didcot Town. Their form has surprised everyone, including their coach who saw this season as a time for consolidation after last year’s heroics.

Herridge said: “Our first aim this season was to make sure we stayed in the division after the success we had last year. With four of the 10 teams in the division getting relegated we were under a lot of pressure to perform straight away. We didn’t have the best pre-season either, we didn’t train together that much because of other commitments so we didn’t have the best preparation. But we’ve just got better and better as the season has gone on. We’ve got 23 points from a possible 27, it’s been a fantastic effort from the boys.”

He added: “They’re a great bunch and they’ve all got fantastic ability. They’re a pleasure to work with and every week we are getting to know each other better and better. There’s a real camaraderie within the squad now and they’re starting to believe in themselves. We’re at the halfway mark and there’s plenty of tough games ahead but the players think they’ve got a chance.”

Wokingham have been reaping the success of their Allied Counties outfit in the past few seasons with current first team players such as Sam Whiting, James Wise and Richard Bland all coming through the ranks at the club. A number of last season’s success stories have also made the step-up with David Bellis, Alex Walton, Jack Broome, Nick Bateman and Sean Wanklyn cementing their spots in the first team during this campaign.

Herridge said: “It’s a very good level of football. It gives the lads a great opportunity to play good quality sides, on decent pitches and under lights. The boys are very much part of the senior set-up, the same people that run the first team are always there watching the Allied Counties side. Wayne (Wanklyn) is always there, he knows the importance of the team and that many of the players are the future of the football club. If you look at the first team now you can see just how many of them have played at Allied Counties level, only a couple of them haven’t.”

He added: “The spine of our side this season is David Bellis, Alex Walton and Jack Broome and that is very strong. But some of the younger lads who have come in have also excelled, players like Shane Cooper-Clark and Jack Ingram have been superb. They look like being the next ones to step into the first team.”

Despite all the success that the Allied Counties side has enjoyed in the past couple of the seasons, there is still something that gripes at Herridge. Due to the lack of facilities, such as floodlit pitches around Wokingham, his team have had to play their games away from the town. Plans to develop Cantley Park have stalled due to funding issues with the FA and they don’t look like being resolved any time soon.

Herridge said: “The only disappointing thing is that for the last few years we’ve been playing our football outside of the district. We’re at Reading Town at the moment and before that we were at Bracknell. It’s a shame because we want to represent Wokingham in Wokingham. The lack of a decent football set-up in the district is embarrassing. We’re in an affluent area but from a sport point of view it’s second rate.”

                                       Report taken from the Hellenic League web site

                                                                                         27th January 2009

The attendance of 148 in the top of the table clash with Ascot Utd was not only the highest in the Hellenic league on Saturday, it took our home support this season past the 1,000 mark. In 11 home games in the league, we have been watched by a total of 1,062 supporters, at an average of 96.5 per game. This support is not only welcomed by the players and management, but by the executive committee too, and it goes to show what this club can achieve given the right setting!! ALL WE NEED KNOW IS THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL COUNCIL TO HELP PUSH WAYNES BOYS TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!

                                                            23rd January 2009 

Following a pitch inspection this afternoon at Cantley Park ,the Club are hopeful tomorrows game against Ascot United will go ahead. Chairman Glenn Duggley said "Providing we do not get too much rain overnight, and  with some work on the surface in the morning we should see the fixture go ahead" Kick-off for this top of the table clash is 2.15pm.

   Wokingham & Emmbrook FC's wonderkids are a team without a home

 Wayne Wanklyn admits that defeat in this weekend’s top of the table clash against Ascot United would leave his side with a mountain to climb in the Division One East title race.

The Satsumas go into the match two points behind leaders Ascot, who have one game in hand on their Berkshire rivals. A defeat would leave them five points adrift of the Yellamen and with Binfield circling menacingly in the background, Wanklyn admits that might be too big a gap.

He said: “If Ascot were to pick up three points it would certainly put them in the driving seat. It would give them an advantage on us but it wouldn’t finish our season. There’s still a long way to go, both teams have very difficult games ahead of them so anything can happen during the next few months. It’s an important game, it’s another local derby and both teams will know it’s not going to be easy.”

Games between sides competing at the top of the table can often be a damp squib but Wanklyn doesn’t think that will be the case on Saturday. He added: “If you look at the stats of both sides they are both fairly evenly matched. I think we’re the top two scorers in the league and defensively there’s also not much in it. So looking at that it could end up being 7-7.”

Wokingham ended a run of three games without a win last weekend when they crushed Bisley Sports 4-1 and Wanklyn will be looking for a similar performance on Saturday. The Satsumas boss insists that on their day his side can beat anyone in the league but he knows Saturday will be one of their toughest tests. “I’m just looking for us to perform like I know we can do,” he said. “If we do that then we’ve got a great chance of winning the game. We know it’s going to be difficult as Ascot are a very good side. But we also know that if we perform like we know we can then we can beat anyone in this league.”

                                                    Youth Football

The future looks bright for Wokingham & Emmbrook Football club as the clubs youth team (Under 18s) currently sit proudly at the top of the Allied Counties Premier League.

Playing against clubs off a far higher senior status the team is currently 8 points clear at the top of the table having won seven and drawn two of the 9 league games that it has played since gaining promotion after comfortably winning the South Division last season.

After opening the season with a draw against Bisley Sports the side has gone on to perform well above expectations with there most satisfying victories coming against two highly fancied teams Sun Postal Sports (Watford) and Hayes & Yeading on there on turf.

The side is managed by 1st team Assistant Manager Roger Herridge who is assisted by Daniel Bateman and physio Mark Pugh. First team Manager Wayne Wanklyn is also a regular attendee at matches and he oversees the Allied set up which he sees has an important role in the future success of the club.

The side is seen as an important stepping stone in the development of players from both within Wokingham & Emmbrooks youth section and from other clubs around the area. The majority of the current first team squad has progressed on from the Allied Counties side over the last few years with three of the current Allied squad, David Bellis,Alex Walton and Jack Broome, regulars in the first team that are performing so well in the Hellenic League.

This years Allied squad not only has a number of players that joined the club as 7 year olds and have progressed through but also players that have joined the Allied set up after playing there boys football at a number of other local clubs including California Boys, Meadway, Dynamos, Camberley Town and Westwood Wanderers.

Home games are currently played at Reading Town FC but with the hopefull development of Wokinghams ground at Cantley Park just around the corner the club is hopeful that from next season the side will be playing its football under lights in Wokingham.

Allied Squad 2008/2009

Sean Woodward, Jack Gibbs, Tommy Butler,Shane Cooper-Clark,David Morgan,James Donaldson,Jack Broome,Oliver Cooper-Southward,Jack Ingram,Josh Smith,James Lovell,Joe Finn,Alex Walton (Captain),William Wilson, David Bellis,Mark O'Connell,William Day, Jordan Watson, Paul Gideon,Elliot Cooper,Teddy Reakes,Ben Knight,Scott Whiting.

With the teams place in the Premier League almost secure for next season the Management team are already planning ahead. Trials will be held in the spring for Next Seasons squad. Anyone who is interested in trialling should in the first instance contact Roger Herridge on 07762 750374. To be eligible players must not have reached the age of 18 before 1st September 2009 but will have obtained the age of 16 before August 31st 2010.

                                                              Allied Counties Premier League

                                                                                          14th January 2009