Just Reward For Satsumas - 22nd May

Wokingham and Emmbrook boss Wayne Wanklyn says the club’s Reading Senior Cup success last week was just rewards for a fine season from his players.

The Satsumas got their hands on the silverware following a 3-0 extra-time success against Woodley Town at the Madejski Stadium. It rounded off a fine campaign for the Cantley Park outfit who also finished fourth in Division One East of the Hellenic League.

Wanklyn said: “We’ve had a good season. The players have been fantastic, their attitude has been superb. They’ve deserved some silverware and it’s great for the club that we’ve got our hands on a trophy. We’ve finished fourth in the league and won the Reading Senior Cup. The next thing now is to kick on from here.”

Last Thursday’s game was a tight affair throughout the 90 minutes. Wanklyn added: “It was a good game. It was close, we shaded the first half and they probably had the better of the second. But we had the best chances, Stuart Harris only had to make one save. In extra-time we just blew them away, we were the better side and we deserved the win.”

Chairman Sleeps With Cup - 16th May

Glenn Duggleby (pictured) stuck with tradition after winning his first trophy as chairman of Wokingham & Emmbrook on Thursday night. The Hellenic Division One East outfit beat Woodley Town 3-0 in the final of the Reading Evening Post Senior Cup after extra time at Madejski Stadium.

“It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” said a delighted Duggleby. “I woke up on Friday morning with the trophy next to me in bed. I have to take any cup I win home with me. It was our first final at the Madejski and first silverware for years. Our name, Wokingham Town, is on the trophy in 1961 and we have not won much since then."

“We made sure they kept the bar open at the stadium as they were going to close it, and then we all went back to the clubhouse in Emmbrook. It was a good night. I’ve not checked my wallet this morning but it definitely feels a lot lighter.”

Duggleby admitted Woodley had the better chances during normal time to win the match, but that his young side “murdered them” in the extra period. “We were fitter and always the better footballing side,” he said. “They were going down with cramp and eventually we took advantage. But they have done well this season and could have won it in the second half.”

Progress Pleases 'Proud' Wanklyn - 30th April

Wayne Wanklyn insists he is proud of what Wokingham & Embrook have achieved this season. The Satsumas completed their campaign last Saturday with a 5-3 success over Penn and Tylers Green.

Those three points cemented fourth spot in the table and with the Reading Senior Cup final on the horizon there is still a chance for silverware for Wanklyn’s men. That would top off what has been a fine season for the Cantley Park outfit and Wanklyn has been quick to pay tribute to his players.

He said: “Overall it’s been a good season. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this year considering where Wokingham and Emmbrook were 18 months ago. We had a good chat after last Saturday’s game where we all spoke about how things have gone. I think everyone understands where we’ve gone wrong and now we’re all determined to take it a stage further next season. We’ll all be a year older and everyone will know what this league is about. I really think we’ll do well.”

Wanklyn added: “I’m sure we’ll start next season as one of the fancied sides and we’ll have to cope with that. I know that I need to add to our defensive unit and possibly bring in one more forward and I’ve already held meetings with my staff about bringing people in. We’ve also got a couple of young lads coming through at the club who will be involved. I think I will need to bring in a maximum of two or three new faces – if I do that I will be happy.”

Following Saturday’s victory over Penn and Tylers, Wokingham now have more than a fortnight until their Reading Senior Cup final against Woodley Town. It will take place at the Madejski Stadium on May 14, but Wanklyn insists his players will still be in good shape by the time it comes around.

“I’ve given them this week off,” he said. “But then they will come back and train next Thursday and the following Tuesday. We will be organising an internal game for the Saturday. They will still be in good shape.”

Wanklyn Looking To Next Season - 24th April

Wayne Wanklyn is already planning for next season and insists he will not have to change much to turn his side into serious title contenders. The Wokingham and Emmbrook boss saw his team compete gamely with the league’s top two before fading away as the season drew to a close.

A fourth-placed finish now looks likely and that represents a fine campaign for the men from Cantley Park. With a Reading Senior Cup final at the Madejski Stadium also on the horizon, Wanklyn is understandably proud of what has been achieved this season.

But he is determined to see the club move forward next season and is already planning a title assault. He said: “What we’ve done this season has been excellent, I can’t praise the lads enough. But we have to learn from what’s happened. We have to learn to win ugly sometimes. Some of them are starting to understand that, in some conditions, you have to play a certain way in this league. We’re a decent side who like to play football but conditions sometimes don’t allow that. We have to learn to cope in games like that.”

Wanklyn added: “Our defence hasn’t been good enough at times and that’s something I’m looking at. I think I know what we need to take us a stage further. If I can get the right players in – and I’m only talking about one or two – I think we will go far next season.”

Wokingham finish their league campaign tomorrow with a home game against Penn and Tylers Green. Shaun Wanklyn will again sit out the game because of suspension, but he will be available for the Reading Senior Cup final on May 14. “We just want to finish our season with a win,” said Wanklyn. “We want to finish with as many points as possible.”

Wanklyn Warning - 16th April

Wokingham & Emmbrook boss Wayne Wanklyn has told his players that they will miss out on a starting spot in the Reading Senior Cup final if they ease up during the final three league games of the season.

The Satsumas sealed a spot in the showpiece final at the Madejski Stadium with a 3-1 success against Sandhurst Devels last Saturday. But they crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Finchampstead on Monday and now look set to miss out on third spot in Hellenic Division One (East) to Newbury Town. Whilst Wanklyn admits a fourth-placed finish represents real progress for the Cantley Park outfit he insists his side must still fight for third.

He said: “We’ve still got a lot to play for in the league, there will be no easing up during these last three games. If I spot anyone doing that then they will be punished. The players must remember that they are playing for a place in the final. We’ve had a really good season and now we know we’ve got a final at the Madejski Stadium to look forward to at the end of it. It’s great for the club and shows just how far we’ve come this season.”

Wokingham travel to Henley Town this Saturday before visiting Berkshire rivals Ascot United on Tuesday night.

Wanklyn said: “They are both tough games but we want to finish with as many wins as we can. We’ve still got a chance of finishing third and that’s what we’re aiming for.”

Saturday’s semi-final success against Sandhurst Devels was sealed by a hat-trick from Richard Bland. The pacey frontman put in a fine all round display and helped the Satsumas come back from going behind on 10 minutes. He levelled things up just before the break and added two more after the interval to set up a final clash with Woodley Town.

Wanklyn said: “Blandy was the difference on the day. His pace caused them constant problems, he really did play well. It was a deserved win. They started well and probably shaded the first half but we took control as the game went on.”

Wokingham came back down to earth with a bump on Monday, however, as goals from Danny Isaiew and Robert Yorke-Goldney saw them fall to a 2-0 defeat at Finchampstead. Wanklyn added: “We had a couple of good chances early on and if one of those had gone in things could have been different. I thought it was a fairly even game and I don’t think they would have complained too much if it had finished as a draw. But fair play to them, they’ve got some good players over there and have the makings of a strong side.”

Satsumas Up To Secure Madejski Trip - 10th April

Wayne Wanklyn is hoping his squad get the reward of a day out at the Madejski Stadium as reward for all the efforts they have put into this season.

The Satsumas take on Reading League side Sandhurst Devels in the semi-finals of the Reading Senior Cup on Saturday as they look to secure some silverware from a promising campaign. With the final of the competition being played at the home of Reading FC, Wanklyn admits that that incentive is spurring his side on, with promotion from Hellenic Division One (East) now a very slim possibility.

He said: “It would be great for the lads if they could get to the final – it’s keeping the season alive for us. They have put a great deal of effort into the season, but it looks like we will finish just outside the top two. Third or fourth is still a great season for us and we are probably the surprise package in the league. But a cup final at the Madejski would be great for everyone and really deserved.”

While the Hellenic League high-flyers will be favourites to progress, Wanklyn is wary of the danger posed by sides such as the in-form Devels, who have lost just one of their last seven games. He explained: “We have had some tough games against sides from the Reading League this year and Westwood knocked us out of the County Cup. But I probably underestimated them that day and we have learnt from that and will take it into this weekend’s game.”

Learn From Defeats - 2nd April

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.”

Binfield Can Be Breached - 19th March

Wayne Wanklyn is confident Wokingham & Emmbrook have enough striking prowess to find a way past the watertight Binfield defence.

The last time the Moles conceded a league goal was on December 27 – and their opponents that day were the Satsumas. David Bellis and James Wise both found the net in a 4-2 defeat and Wanklyn insists they can repeat the feat this weekend. He said: “I think they’ve conceded four goals since August and two of those were against us. We know we’ve got goals in us and everyone is looking forward to the challenge on Saturday. Binfield are a strong outfit and they are in pole position for the league but we’re confident we can cause them problems. We’ve got pace on the break and players who can finish. If we create chances then we will take some of them.”

Wanklyn has been delighted with the response his players have shown to their disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Chinnor a fortnight ago.

They may have dropped more points with a 1-1 draw at Holyport last Saturday but the Satsumas boss was more than happy with the display. “We had a team meeting on the Thursday and we spoke about what we wanted for the last nine games. The response I got was very encouraging. The players know there is still a lot to play for and they will fight right to the end. We showed that last Saturday even if we only got a point. We know we can still have a real influence on this league, we’ve still got a lot of big teams to play. There are a lot of points still to play for as well as a lot of pride.”

Wanklyn Concedes Defeat - 12th March

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.

Believe - 26th February

Wokingham and Emmbrook boss Wayne Wanklyn says it is essential that his players still believe they can gain promotion to the FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division this season.

The Satsumas currently sit second, eight points adrift of league leaders Ascot United. But Binfield have now moved to within a point of them in third and have five games in hand on Wanklyn’s men.

With just the top two getting promoted, the Wokingham boss admits his side are not favourites for promotion, but says his players must never give up. “There’s still a long way to go,” he said. “Ascot and Binfield are in the driving seat, they know that and we know that. But we have to keep doing what we can and winning as many games as possible. Ascot have got some difficult matches coming up, they’ve got to play us once and Binfield twice so we need to be ready to take advantage of any slip-ups. It may not be in our hands any more but we can still have a big say on what happens.”

Wokingham host bottom club Launton Sports this weekend and Wanklyn will be looking for a better performance than the one he saw from his side last weekend.

The Satsumas reached the semi-finals of the Reading Senior Cup with a 4-2 success against Reading YMCA at Cantley Park. He said: “You could see after the first 15 minutes that we weren’t going to lose the game but we really did struggle to the win. It was very scrappy. We got through but I don’t let results camouflage performances. It wasn’t good enough and we spoke about it afterwards. It was all done in a calm manner but they knew I wasn’t happy.”

Extended Season? - 12th February

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".

Young Satsumas Achieving Early Success - 4th February

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 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.”

Far From Over - 30th January

Wokingham and Emmbrook boss Wayne Wanklyn has told his players that their season is far from over, despite last Saturday’s home defeat by leaders Ascot United.

The loss leaves second placed Wokingham five points adrift of their neighbours, having played a game more. But Wanklyn insists there is still plenty of football to be played and has challenged his side to respond to the defeat in the right way. He said: “We live to fight another day. We had a bad day last Saturday all over the pitch but now we need to move on, there’s still a long way to go. We had a big chat after the game last weekend. The lads were all very disappointed and I would have expected that as they knew it wasn’t good enough. They can now react in one of two ways. We can let the result affect us for the rest of the season or we dig in and get ourselves back on track.”

Wokingham will be looking to get their promotion push back on track when they travel to lowly Eton Wick this Saturday.

They will have to make do without the suspended James Wise for the clash, while young defender Jack Broome is also unavailable. Wanklyn says that Saturday’s game is the first in a run of five matches that he has earmarked for maximum points before heading into what looks to be a very difficult schedule in March.

“Our next five games are what I consider to be extremely winnable,” he said. “I’m looking for maximum points from these games before we go into a really difficult March. The lads are down, but if you’re not down after a result like the one we had last weekend then you shouldn’t be playing football. Now we need to show everyone that we can come back even stronger, starting on Saturday at Eton Wick.”

A "Must Win" - 22nd January

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.”

Struggling To Maintain Form - 15th January

Wokingham and Emmbrook assistant Roger Herridge admits the club has been struggling to maintain the form it showed in the early part of the season.

The Satsumas have picked up just two points from their past three games and are enduring their first real wobble of the campaign.

But they are still just two points off league leaders Ascot United and Herridge is confident a return to form is just around the corner. He said: “All sides have a spell when things don’t go right for them. You want to be at the top of your game all of the time but that just doesn’t happen. Over the last two or three games we haven’t had the results we wanted but what’s important is that we now get back on track as quickly as possible. We’ve had a bit of a rest because of the weather and maybe that’s come at a good time. Now we just want to get going again.”

He added: “There’s still plenty of twists and turns ahead of us. You’ve got to say that Binfield are the favourites at the moment but there’s still a lot of points to win between now and the end of the season.”

Wokingham host Bisley Sports this Saturday and will have Richard Bland available again after his return from Camberley Town.

The Satsumas will be without David Bellis and Alex Walton, however, as the duo are playing in a national schools cup game.

Herridge said: “Bisley are a young side but we know they can play very well on their day. Binfield only beat them 1-0 a few weeks ago which shows they can compete against the top sides. It will be a difficult.”

Not Top Of List - 8th January

Satumas boss Wayne Wanklyn says that returning to the top of the table this weekend is not at the top of his priority list.

A victory against Thame United on Saturday would see the Satsumas leapfrog leaders Ascot United and regain top spot. But to do so they will need to win for the first time in four league matches It’s breaking that spell of poor form that Wanklyn is most concerned about and the Wokingham boss insists going top would just be a bonus.

“I’m really not thinking about that,” Wanklyn said. “The top of the table is a long way from my mind. We’re in the middle of our worst run in the league at the moment, we’ve only got two points from a possible nine. The first thing we need to do is get back on the winning track. Recently I’ve been pleased with the second half performance against Binfield and the first half display against Newbury. We need to get our consistency back so we can perform for 90 minutes.”

Wokingham, who were without a game last weekend, go into the clash at Thame boosted by the return of Richard Bland who has rejoined the club following a spell with Camberley Town. Wanklyn added: “Everyone is delighted to have Richard back. He’s a great player and will give us another option. We’ll go into Saturday with a big squad. I’ll have about 18 available I think so I will shake things up a bit.”

Delighted Manager - 24th December

Wayne Wanklyn is delighted to see his Wokingham & Emmbrook side sitting top of the Division One East table at Christmas.

The Satsumas have surprised many this year with their displays and last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Newbury ensured top spot going into the festive period.

And with a game against title rivals Binfield this Saturday they know a win would put them in great shape going into the New Year.

Wanklyn said: “If at the beginning of the season someone had offered me top spot in the division going into Christmas I would have taken it. This Saturday is a big game for many reasons, it’s not just about league position. It’s about local pride so form can go out the window.”

Start Of Key Period - 18th December

Wokingham and Emmbrook start a key period of their season on Saturday when they travel to fellow high flyers Newbury Town.

The Satsumas have enjoyed a fine first half to the campaign and currently sit second, level on points with leaders Ascot United.

Then after Saturday’s trip to Newbury they travel to neighbours Binfield and manager Wayne Wanklyn admits it will be a vital week for his side. He said: “It’s a very important period for us. We go to Newbury on Saturday and then we go to Binfield. If we can get two good results from those games we will put ourselves in a very good position going into January."

“Like all the sides around us we want to take as many points from the Christmas period as possible. The right result on Saturday will send us into the Binfield game in confident mood.”

The last time Wokingham met Newbury they were beaten 2-1 at Cantley Park in October thanks to a last gasp goal by the visitors. Like a lot of clubs this season, Wanklyn was very impressed by the league’s newcomers and he is expecting another difficult clash this weekend. He said: “They were very organised and they liked to play football. They were a decent outfit and their other results prove that. On the day I thought we also played quite well and a draw would have probably have been the fair result but fair play to them, they took their chance late on. It will be a difficult game but we’ll go there in good shape and I’m confident we can get the right result.”

Wanklyn’s only injury concern going into the weekend’s match is Darren Thorne who looks set to miss out due to a knock to his knee.

Wide Open East - 11th December

While many believe Wokingham, along with Ascot and Binfield, are favourites for the title, Satsuma"s boss Wanklyn insists no one can be counted out.

He said: “There are plenty of twists and turns still to go. People haven’t really spoken about South Kilburn but I don’t think they’ve lost a game since we beat them back in August. They’ve moved quietly up to third now and have put themselves right in the picture. Then there’s Kintbury, Ascot, Binfield, Newbury and ourselves, There’s six or maybe even seven teams that are going to be in a good position at the turn of the year."

“It will be a very interesting second half of the season, especially when you think that not may of the top sides have played each other yet.”

Wokingham host lowly Prestwood this Saturday before travelling to Newbury and Binfield in the coming weeks. With games against their title rivals approaching Wanklyn knows the importance of getting three points this weekend. He said: “It’s so important we get the right result on Saturday when you look at the games we’ve got coming up. Sides always want to be in the mix when you get to the New Year and if we can get good result in the next few weeks we’ll be right in there.”

Ready To Battle - 27th November

Satsumas assistant boss Roger Herridge says last weekend’s 1-0 win at Highmoor/Ibis in the Reading Senior Cup showed his team have the fight needed for a title charge.

Herridge has seen his side play some fine football this season which has taken them into the top two in Division One East.

Whilst he admits last Saturday’s display was not one of their best in footballing terms, he says it showed that the young players at the club have the battling qualities needed to compete at the top: “It certainly wasn’t a game for the purists. Normally it’s a nice place to play but the surface was awful and both sides struggled. It was a day for grinding out a result and we did that so we’re happy.”

“We’re a young side that are still learning. Last weekend we didn’t perform like we wanted but we still stood up to the test and didn’t shy away from that fight. That was very pleasing. We’ve shown this season that we can play good football but now we know we can go into a battle which is something we will have to do if we are to win the league."

“We go to Chinnor this Saturday and they are normally a physical side so, in many ways, last weekend was a dress rehearsal for this one. We will have to fight and match them but if we do that I’m confident we can come back with three points.”

Contenders - 20th November

Wokinghams' assistant manager Roger Herridge says last weekend’s 1-0 win against Kintbury Rangers has proved his side are real title contenders. The victory was the first the Satsumas have inflicted over any of their championship rivals this season and keeps them two points clear at the top of the table.

Herridge believes it was their most important win of the season and it will have made the other top clubs stand up and take notice. He said: “It was a great win, we’re all chuffed to bits. It was very important for us that we got a result from the game. I think people will have looked at the table and thought of us as the surprise package this season so it was vital for us to get a win against one of the top teams. Everyone expects us to beat the teams at the bottom but when you beat the sides at the top, people start to take notice.”

He added: “We lost to Newbury a couple of weeks ago which was very disappointing and that made this result even more important. Kintbury were our sternest test so far, they’re very experienced and have some players who have played at a much higher level. So to win and keep a clean sheet was very pleasing. The boys were excellent and Kane Roberts in goal didn’t really have to make a save, especially in the second half.”

This Saturday Wokingham travel to Reading Senior Division outfit Highmoor/Ibis for a Reading Senior Cup second round clash. The Satsumas are still smarting from their County Cup exit against Reading League side Westwood United a couple of weeks ago and Herridge is adamant lessons have been learnt from that game.

He said: “We put a weaker side out against Westwood and we won’t be doing that this time. We want to win this cup, the final is at the Madejski Stadium which is a real carrot for everyone.”

Seize The Chance - 6th November

Wokingham and Emmbrook boss Wayne Wanklyn has urged his side to seize their chance to go back to the top of FTL Futbol Hellenic Division One East on Saturday.

The Satsumas are the only side in the top five of the division in league action this weekend and a win against Eton Wick will send them two points clear of current leaders Ascot.

Wanklyn knows the importance of getting points on the board to put pressure on the teams around his side in the table and wants to see a ruthless display from his players. He said: “We lost a bit of ground last weekend in the league so we need to get the pressure right back on those around us. I think we are the only one of the top five who are playing in the league this weekend so a win will put us back on top. It’s all a bit snakes and ladders at the moment – teams are going ahead and then slipping back. It looks like there is going to be five teams fighting it out and we need to make sure we get as many points on the board as we can.”

Wanklyn should have almost a fully fit squad to choose from for Saturday’s game, with Sam Whiting the only exception.

Eton Wick have won just once all season but the Satsumas boss insists their threat will not be taken lightly. He added: “We’ll certainly expect to win the game and are confident enough to say that, but we won’t be taking it easy, not a chance.”

Commenting on last Saturdays meeting in the SBJ Cup against Premier Division Milton United, Wanklybn added. “It’s probably the most pleased I’ve been in defeat for a long time. Our main objective was to win the game but the other was to see how we would cope against a strong Premier side. After what I saw on Saturday I now have no doubt we can compete in that league. The result wasn’t to be but I was so pleased with the performance and how we conducted ourselves.”

Two Stars Missing, But The Manager Can't Wait- 30th October

Wayne Wanklyn can’t wait to see how his side handle playing against a Premier Division side this Saturday.

The Wokingham and Emmbrook boss has seen his team start the season in superb style in Division One East, winning eight of their opening 12 games. They sit second in the table, just one point behind leaders Ascot United, and with promotion a real possibility Wanklyn wants to see how his hide handles Premier Division opponents Milton United in the SBJ Sports Insurance League Challenge Cup.

He said: “We’re looking forward to it. Milton are a Premier side so it will give us an opportunity to have a good look at that standard. You always want to test yourselves against teams who are above you so it will be good to see how we handle it. Milton are about mid-table, they’re not having a fantastic season but we know they will still be a strong side. We will just go there and give it our best.”

Wokingham will have to make do without David Bellis (left) and Alex Walton for the trip as the duo are away at England Schoolboy trials. But Wanklyn added: “I’m happy for them to miss Saturday’s game as the trials are really important for them. The trials are on Sunday and I want them to be in the best possible shape.”

Big Hitters - 24th October

Satsumas' boss Wayne Wanklyn says his team are still punching well above their pre-season expectations despite their 2-1 home defeat against Newbury last weekend.

 

That loss, which was only their second of the campaign, saw the Satsumas slip from top spot in the league to fourth. But with the top five places all separated by just a single point, Wanklyn says his side are still in a very good position. He said: “Going into last weekend’s game we were top but now we’re fourth, that’s how tight it is. It’s turning out to be a very interesting battle, but there’s still a very long way to go. When you look at the top five I think we are probably the surprise team in it so we’re all really happy with the progress we’re making.”

Wokingham will be looking to get back to winning ways this Saturday when they travel to lowly Prestwood. Wanklyn added: “They’re the games that you know you need to win if you are to compete for the title. But we have to respect Prestwood. They’re not going to just give us the points so we’ll have to play well.”

There was a blast from the past at Emmbrook on Sunday morning when two veteran teams from Wokingham & Emmbrook FC and Finchampstead FC graced the field of play.  Still displaying plenty of skill if not pace, the game finished in an honourable 4-4 draw, with a return match at Finchampstead threatened for later in the season.

Wokingham & Emmbrook
Back row:  Tony Wood, Mark Rivers, Roger Herridge, Mark Walkington, Martin Marriott, Craig Osborne.
Front row:  Mark Ashwell, Jason Walkington, Neil Van den Dungen, Ty Andrews, Glenn Duggleby, Andy Pettit.

Finchampstead
Back row:  Dave Douglas, David Read, Richard Bradley, Kevin Clacey, Peter Amor, Robin Ings.
Front row:  Ian Saunders, Nigel Neville, Steve Richardson, Michael Shaw, Nobby Clarke, Andy Strange.

Bland Move - 15th October

Wayne Wanklyn admits he is delighted to see his Wokingham and Emmbrook side back at the top of the league following their fine 3-0 win against Holyport last weekend. Those three points, combined with Ascot United’s 2-1 defeat at Kintbury Rangers, saw the Satsumas climb back to the summit which they had made their own during a faultless first five games of the campaign.

The first five games were then followed by a run of three without a win but Wanklyn insists his side are now over their slump and back in form. He said: “I’m very pleased with how we’ve responded to that. We’re back at the top now which is where we want to be. I said before last weekend’s game that we had two very important matches coming up against Holyport and Newbury and we’ve won the first one. Now if we can get three points again on Saturday that would put us in very good shape before we go into our next two games which, on paper, we should be winning.”

Wokingham preparations for Saturday’s home game against Newbury have been hit, however, by the news that top scorer Richard Bland (pictured) is joining Camberley Town.

The Combined Counties Premier Division outfit put in a seven-day approach for the striker at the end of last week and Wanklyn is already planning for life without the man who hit seven goals in the first four games of the campaign. The Wokingham boss said: “Camberley put in a seven day approach for Richard which they are entitled to do. Richard then indicated to me on Saturday morning that he was keen on the move and wanted to speak to them so he wasn’t included in our squad. I didn’t think he would be in the right frame of mind. It’s a shame but he goes with my blessing. He’s a great lad and has been a good player for us. Whether I think he’s making the right decision or not? I don’t know.”

Wanklyn admits the loss of Bland will be a blow but the Satsumas boss is keen to point out that his side has had to make do without the striker for much of the season as he has been sidelined by injury. He said: “We will miss him but we did alright on Saturday without Blandy and we’ve played without him for six games this season yet we’re still top of the league. What this does is give opportunities for others to step up and fill his shoes. I’m always on the lookout for new players but I feel I already have players here capable of getting goals.”

Sean Wanklyn will also be absent at the weekend as he starts a three-game ban but goalkeeper Stuart Harris returns after a spell on the sidelines.

Learning Curve - 9th October

Wayne Wanklyn says he learnt a lot about his squad following his side’s 4-2 Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup defeat against Reading Senior Division outfit Westwood United at the weekend.

The Wokingham and Emmbrook boss used the clash to give a run out to some of his players who have not featured so much in recent weeks, but a number failed to impress.

Wanklyn was left disappointed by the manner of the defeat, although he does admit that the County Intermediate Cup was the one competition he wasn’t really focusing on. He said: “I wasn’t too bothered about going out to be honest. I made five or six changes so that I could have a look at a few different things. They didn’t really work but that was the purpose of it. I learnt a lot on Saturday. I learnt a lot about the players I have in the squad and a lot of it I didn’t like. I’ve got a clearer picture now of the capabilities within the squad.”

Wanklyn admits he is still on the lookout for new players and just last week he left Roger Herridge in charge while he went to cast his eye over potential new recruits. He said: “I’m always looking to improve the squad but it’s difficult at this level to attract players. When we get up to speed with our facilities at Cantley and become the leading club in the area then it will be much easier.”

This Saturday Wokingham host Holyport and Wanklyn knows his team will have to be at the top of their game to get maximum points. He said: “Our next two games are Holyport and Newbury and they will both be tough, but if we can come away with two wins we will be in a very good position.”

No Complacency - 2nd October

Wokingham and Emmbrook assistant manager Roger Herridge has warned his players against complacency when they take on Reading Senior Division side Westwood United this Saturday.

United, who won the Senior Division title last season, will make the journey to Cantley Park to take on the Satsumas in the first round of the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup.

They will meet a Wokingham side bang in form following their impressive showing against Easington Sports last weekend, but Herridge says his team must approach the clash as they would any other. He said: “When you play sides from the Reading League you know they will be a decent team who will fancy causing an upset. So we need to respect them and treat them as we would any side from our own division. They won the league last season so they are a good team and it will be a real test for our players.”

Herridge added: “We’ve got a few players missing and a few coming back so there will be a few changes. The game will give us a chance to rotate the side a bit but we are still looking to progress in this competition so will be taking nothing for granted. We want to go a long way in all the cups. It’s a tricky game for us but it’s one we’re confident of winning.”

England Trials For Satsuma's Stars - 6th August

Wokingham & Emmbrook members of the FTL Futbol Hellenic League are proud to announce that the skills and dedication of two of the club's rising stars have been recognised by England and the F.A.

David Bellis (left) and Alex Walton (right) will be travelling to Keele University in Staffordshire to join up with other talented lads from around the country for the England Schoolboy trials at the end of August for a 5 day trial for the England squad.

David and Alex were star performers in last season's Championship winning Allied Counties under 18 squad and this season will again form the 'backbone' and now also the experience for the 'journey' into the challenging Allied Counties Premier Division.

In addition to performing for the achieving Forest School and County side's, last season David and Alex also effortlessly made the transition from youth football into the Wokingham & Emmbrook 1st team, where they regularly turned in 'man-of-the-match' performances ifor the club's young and developing side under manager Wayne Wanklyn. Both players are again expected to play a big part in this season's senior campaign with the club looking to progress with
the Hellenic League.

All at the Club wish them all the luck at their trial with the England Schoolboys set-up and hope to bring you the news about how they get on.