Nightingale Milestone - 18th August

Woodley Town's match at Chalfont Wasps on 21st August 2010 will see long standing captain, Jim Nightingale make his 300th competitive appearance for the club.

Jim signed for Woodley on 27th February 1999, making his debut in Woodley Town Reserves' Reading Football League Division Three Kennet match at Englefield where the team lost 5 - 3. Since then Jim has scored 28 league goals and 9 cup goals to date for the club.

Woodley Forced To Replace Keeper - 13th August

Woodley Town have signed goalkeeper Imran Cooke-Chowdhary (pictured) from Henley Town.

A new No. 1 became a priority after hearing that last season’s star keeper Oneal Garnes needs an operation on his knee. Woodley start their Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One East campaign at Penn & Tylers Green tomorrow. They go into the new season in a confident mood after winning five pre-season friendlies. The last was a 3-2 win over Cricklade last weekend.

Woodley In Promotion Bid! - 7th August

Woodley Town manager Cyril Fairchild is looking to push his team on even further this season following their impressive debut in the Uhlsport Division East last year.

Woodley punched above their weight last season finishing just a point behind Holyport in fourth place but boss Fairchild has hopes of a title-winning campaign this time round. “Last season we had a great season,” said Fairchild. “I think it was a tremendous effort from Woodley Town and a lot of people took notice of that. This year we really want to do well. We are going to try and win the league. We are really looking forward to the season.”

Woodley have retained most of last season’s squad with only a few changes of personnel. Fairchild commented: “We’ve kept most of the squad from last year, we’ve only lost two players but we’ve brought in three. “When you have a good season you could lose most of the players.” Woodley continued their unbeaten streak with a 4-1 win over Sandhurst Devels last Saturday with Tom Williams, Jamie Fairchild, Warren Baxter and Luke Williams all on the score sheet.

Reading Chronicle

Williams Boost - 30th July

Woodley Town have been boosted by Luke Williams’ decision to stay with the club despite several offers from leading clubs in the area.

Retaining the highly-rated attacker is a major coup for Town following the departure of last season’s top goalscorer Carl Davies to Binfield. Williams, 21, joined Woodley seven games into last season and scored 13 goals in 19 appearances.

The former Reading Academy player attracted plenty of suitors with his performances including football league clubs Wycombe Wanderers and Aldershot as well as Reading Town, Binfield and Wokingham & Emmbrook. Delighted Woodley manager Cyril Fairchild said: “I think it’s great for Woodley Town. Luke is an exceptional player and capable of playing at a higher level. But he chose to stay at Woodley because he liked playing for the club. He liked the setup and all the players he played with last season.”

He added: “We had a lot of pressure thinking he was going to leave and I thought he was going to but he decided to stick with us, which I think is fantastic.”

Woodley have also strengthened their side by signing experienced striker Danny Isaiew from Milton United, Westwood United’s Ryan Adams and midfielder Ryan Whitt but have lost Chris Hatton to Reading Town. Isaiew has started well scoring twice on his debut in last Saturday’s 3-2 win over Reading YMCA. Town have a 100% record so far beating Emmer Green 4-1 and Thame United 2-1 in their first friendly. Town play Sandhurst Devels on tomorrow at Cantley Park (ko 12pm).

Kestrels Soar - 22nd June

Woodley Town Kestrels U13 Colts football team have returned from their first European competition, and they brought home some silverware !

They were invited to take part in an international football tournament held in Bruay-La-Buissiare, a small town in the Calais region of Northern France, and 12 players, 2 coaches and 8 parents spent the weekend of 11-13th June as guests of the town council. This was the first exchange between the two towns in what is hoped may become a closer link involving other community groups. The Mayor of Woodley, Councillor Coling Lawley, was up early in the morning on Friday to wish the team well as their coach left Woodford Park.

The tournament included teams from many regions of France, including teams representing top French club sides such as Lens and Bordeaux. Teams also came from Germany, Poland and Canada where Bruay already have long established connections. The standard of football was very high and all games were 9 a side and played on half a full size football pitch. This is a format that the Kestrels boys had not played in before but they soon adjusted and they only lost their first game to a powerful Lens side thanks to a goal scored with the last kick of the game.

The boys bounced back from this first defeat to win one and draw one of their remaining group games, securing second place in the group and entry into the main event on the second day. This became even more competitive as the format of the event meant every team received an overall ranking based on their results. Kestrels won their first game, lost the second on a penalty shoot out, won the third on penalties and then secured a memorable win in their final game to end up 13th out of 32 teams.

The party was looked after extremely well by their French hosts and friendships were forged between the boys and players from various other teams. Kestrels team coach Tony Palmer commented that the trip had opened his eyes up to the standard of football being played in France and given the boys a real incentive to improve for next season. As well as enjoying top class football the trip was a great learning experience for all involved and Woodley Town would like to thank the people of Bruay for their hospitality. Plans are already being discussed for a tournament in Woodley involving a team from Bruay and there are likely to be opportunities for other sport and art groups to meet up with their French counterparts."

Woodley Appointment - 21st June

Woodley Town announce the appointment of former first team player Stuart Hamblin as Assistant Manager to Cyril Fairchild, Stuart found his first team chances dented by a series of knee injuries a couple of seasons back but has returned to the club since passing his FA Level 1 and is aiming to take Level 2 in due course and we are sure will prove to be a valuable asset to the first team.

Woodley Town's pre season training commences on the 30th June and are then held on every Monday and Wednesday evenings starting 6.45pm at Earley Home Guard Social Club, Pitts Lane, Earley. Berkshire. All players old and new are welcome to attend as Town aim to build a squad to better last season's debut finish of 4th place.

Directions to training venue

The club is a FA Charter Standard Development Club with a proven track record of coaching and helping to develop teenagers to maximise their potential and are able to provide football at various levels from Hellenic League Div 1 East through to teams in the Premier, 2nd & 4th Divisions of Reading Football League. Coaching is conducted by FA Qualified Coaches.