Fairford face a huge game at Bracknell tomorrow as both relegation candidates continue their fight for survival in the Uhlsport Hellenic Football League Premier Division.
Paul Braithwaite's side have 16 games to save themselves and are currently eight points away from guaranteed safety.
Bracknell are the only side below Fairford in the league and being seven points behind the Cinder Lane side, look doomed even at this early stage.
But they could still have a considerable impact on Fairford's bid to remain in the Hellenic Premier, should they avenge their 2-1 August defeat to the Gloucestershire side.
Late Present Hoped For - 23 December
Paul Braithwaite will be hoping his Fairford players can deliver him a late Christmas present and wrap up three points against Shortwood on December 27.
Town sit second bottom in the Uhlsport Hellenic Football League Premier table while Shortwood are flying high in fourth, but Braithwaite is expecting his side to give them a good game. "Three points would be great from this game, and I would like a hard working performance from our boys playing the way we want them to play," he said in the Swindon Advertiser. "It will be a tough game because they are doing well in the league, but any game is winnable in this league, we proved that by beating Oxford City Nomads. It is down to who wants it on the day and who gets the rub of the green. We have been on the wrong end of some unfortunate decisions recently, and hopefully that can put itself right this time."
Braithwaite has been pleased with the reaction of his players after they chose to prioritise the game instead of over-indulging at Christmas. He said: "Christmas is a hard one, but we had a talk to the boys and told them they could either be sensible and have a couple of drinks and relax on Boxing Day while focusing on the football, or they could really enjoy Christmas. To a man they have all indicated they want to concentrate on the game, and that will stand us in good stead. They have all said it is a game we must win, and to hear that coming from the squad is great for us. They all knew my feelings about it, but we wanted them to be honest with us, and they were."
Double Dream - 9 December
Fairford are hoping to complete an unlikely double over The Nomads when they travel to the "City of Dreaming Spires" tomorrow.
The Cinder Lane outfit shocked the Hellenic Premier high-flyers Oxford City Nomads in mid-November, and a win this weekend would give them valuable points in their battle against the drop.
"We beat them 2-1 at home a few weeks ago and I'm sure they will be looking for revenge," said Fairford boss Paul Braithwaite.
"They went into that game moaning about the pitch and our work ethic was enough to turn the game our way. Oxford are a funny side. Half the problem is you never know who they are going to be playing because it depends on which players their first team want, but we will take it as it comes."
Midfielder Henry Trass is available but Richard Knox has just signed after returning from coaching and playing in the United States. Jack Williams is still out.
Swindon Town Player On Loan To Fairford - 27 November
Swindon Town midfielder Abdul Said has joined Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division club Fairford Town on a one-month loan deal.
Said has signed for the Gloucestershire side until 28 December and made his debut in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Henley Town. The midfielder played 90 minutes in Saturday's game, with Jon Gabilondo - brother of Swindon winger Lander - coming off the bench for the Cinder Lane side.
A midfielder of Somalian descent, Said joined Swindon from Coventry City on a two-year scholarship in July 2009. A lively character on and off the pitch, central midfielder Said made a number of appearances for the reserve team during the 2009/10 campaign. He was awarded a six-month professional deal in the summer of 2011, but sustained a serious knee injury sustained in the closing stages of the 2010/11 season in a cup fixture at Chippenham Town.
Ater a summer of dedicated rehabilitation, Said returned to action with 45 minutes for the reserves in a friendly against Cardiff City in early November. He then signed a one-month loan deal with Fairford and is available for Tuesday night's cup clash with Shire Hampton at Cinder Lane, kick-off 7.45pm.
Reaction Hope - 26 November
Paul Braithwaite is hoping for a reaction from his Fairford players when they travel to Henley in the uhlsport Hellenic Premier fixture today.
Fairford lost 2-0 to Kidlington last weekend, a result which dealt a blow to their survival hopes. Braithwaite said: "It's an important game for us after last week, the Kidlington game was a poor football performance from everyone. We want a reaction from the players and it's definitely a game both teams are looking to win."
Midfielder Steve Hall is away on holiday while fellow midfielder Jack WIlliams is still an injury doubt. Fairford welcome back Luke Adams in goal, while striker Charlie Grabe is available again.
Positive Aim - 18 November
Fairford will aim to follow up their excellent 2-1 win against Oxford City Nomads in midweek with another home triumph against Kidlington.
Paul Braithwaite has recently bolstered his squad with the signing of Spanish striker Javier Evrita, while he hopes to welcome Jack Williams, Ryan Merchant and Toby Clapton back from injury. The boss said: "It's definitely a football game we should be looking to win, but so will Kidlington. It would be nice to get back to back wins, and in all honesty it's probably going to be our best opportunity to do that."
Gambling Form - 11 November
Paul Braithwaite is hoping striker Nathan Gambling will continue his good goal-scoring form, and fire his side up the Hellenic Premier League table with victory over Shrivenham tomorrow.
The 18-year-old (pictured) has scored eight times so far this season, including a hat-trick against Cheltenham Saracens on Tuesday night, and Braithwaite is keen for the youngster to keep his mind on the job and find the back of the net even more regularly. "Nathan has been very good for us so far this season, but we need to remember he is still very young, and is still finding his feet and learning what Hellenic football is all about," he said. "When his mind is on the game in hand he is very difficult to play against, and we need him to try and be like that every week. We want him to carry on doing what he is doing, and if he does, he will be a very good player."
Fairford trail Shrivenham by six points in the league, and Braithwaite knows his side need to pick up back to back wins for the first time this season if they are to stay within touching distance of the sides in mid-table. "That has always been our aim," he said. "We want to keep in touch so we can give ourselves a chance. We know that if we lost too many we are in danger of cutting ourselves adrift, and this game is no different. Anyone can beat anyone in this league, so we have a good opportunity on Saturday, we are an improving side so I expect us to do well."
League Hopes - 14 October
Fairford boss Paul Braithwaite is hoping his side can transfer their cup form into the league when they welcome Ardley to Cinder Lane.
Fairford are currently second-bottom of the Hellenic Premier but have had considerable success in knockout football this term. Braithwaite said: "The cup games have been going well but it's been different in the league.It will be tough but when you look at results in this league, on their day anyone can beat anyone."
Jack Williams will be missing from the Fairford midfield tomorrow due to a groin injury, but Henry Traff could come back from a broken ankle.
An Evening With Jan Molby - 22 September
Fairford Town Football Club will hold its first ever sporting evening on Saturday 12th November 2011, with tickets for the Jan Molby event just £15 each!
Former Liverpool player Jan Molby, a superb football pundit and after-dinner speaker, will be the star guest alongside host for the evening - former Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town defender Phil King.
Molby was a Danish international and played in the Mexico World Cup. He signed for Liverpool from Ajax in 1984, becoming popular on and off the field, quickly becoming a fluent 'scouser'. He played 292 games for Liverpool, scoring 61 goals and winning two League Championships and two FA Cups.
A limited number of tickets are available priced at £15 per person and include a curry with doors opening at 7pm. To purchase tickets please call Mike Tanner on 01285 713030, or please reply to this email for further information.
Braithwaite Replaces Dryden - 1 September
Paul Braithwaite (pictured) takes over at Fairford Town as the football club have parted company with manager Tommy Dryden.
This following a disappointing start to the season which has included a 7-1 reverse at Cheltenham Saracens which was Tommy's last game in charge before departing on holiday. Further, work commitments were making it difficult for him to spend the required time with the club. His efforts over the last ten months are greatly appreciated and Fairford Town Football Club would record their thanks in this regard.
Assistant manager, Paul Braithwaite, has now been promoted on a permanent basis to manager and is wished every success in his new role. He will be aided by vastly experienced club coach and former Fairford Town player, Steve Bennett, until a new assistant manager is appointed. The club is now looking to build on the promising results of the Bank Holiday weekend and looks forward to this weekend's FA Cup encounter at Cinderford.
Gate Person Required - 10 July
Fairford Town seek a reliable person to carry out gate duties at Cinder Lane.
This will involve being available every Saturday from 1.30-4.00p.m. and most Tuesdays from 6.30-9.00 p.m.during the season. Position could be shared if suitable people are found.
Please contact Mike Tanner on 01285 713030 if interested.
Neck On Block - 7 July
Fairford boss Tommy Dryden is happy to put his neck on the block ahead of the forthcoming Hellenic Premier campaign, urging local football fans, 'judge me on this season'.
Dryden (pictured) came on board at Cinder Lane in October last year but struggled to guide his side up the league and bring in enough quality players to affect that change. Fairford only retained their Premier Division status after Wootton Bassett were demoted for failing to meet required ground improvements by a specified date. Whilst Dryden freely admits that last season was a disappointing one, he believes that a fairer measuring stick of his skills and those of his management team will be borne out in results this campaign.
"When we came in last year we inherited the side, and as it was midway through the season, other players were established at other clubs," he explained to the Swindon Advertiser. "We were sat rock-bottom and all we could offer was Premier football, but we can put our own stamp on it now. People can judge us now. We're still in the Premier and people can judge us on how we shape the squad and how we play football. It's results that matter and if they go well then good, and if they don't we have to think about how we put it right. Realistically if we got the side we wanted, if we finished mid-table it would be great."
Dryden is currently in the process of shaping his squad for 2011/12 and has been pleasantly surprised by the number of possible new players stepping forward to train. "We've got a good influx of players who have come in to have a look," he explained. "There's a few players we asked to come over and you're always going to get that group of players that go round the various clubs to see what they are like. There's about eight or nine of them and if we sign maybe half a dozen then that would be good. If we can talk the talk then hopefully they will sign. What we don't want to do is bang the form under their noses and scare them off. We'll sell the club to them and see what their reaction is. If we do sign the ones we've asked to come it will be a big bonus for Fairford."
Meanwhile, Dryden has revealed that the rest of the Hellenic Premier will see a fitter, leaner Fairford side this term after he decided to crank up his side's training. The boss felt his squad were not fit enough in last year's dismal campaign, something the players admitted, and Dryden said: "We've stepped up the training a bit because I don't think we were fit enough last season. My assistant Paul Braithwaite likes that sort of thing so I've left that to him."
Late Present Hoped For - 23 December
Swindon Town midfielder Abdul Said has joined Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division club Fairford Town on a one-month loan deal.
An Evening With Jan Molby - 22 September
Dryden (pictured) came on board at Cinder Lane in October last year but struggled to guide his side up the league and bring in enough quality players to affect that change. Fairford only retained their Premier Division status after Wootton Bassett were demoted for failing to meet required ground improvements by a specified date. Whilst Dryden freely admits that last season was a disappointing one, he believes that a fairer measuring stick of his skills and those of his management team will be borne out in results this campaign.