| Thatcham Town
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Ground: Waterside Park, Crookham Hill, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4PA
Telephone: 01635 873934
Chairman: Phil Holdway
Secretary: Peter Woodage
Manager: Jason Braidwood
Directions to ground: 2 minutes walk from Thatcham railway station.
Club History:
Thatcham Town Football Club was founded in 1894, and for the first two seasons only, friendly matches were played at "The Marsh", Dunston Green before the Club joined the Reading Temperance League on 1896 where they remained for the next fifty-seven years. Steady, if not remarkable, progress, was made winning Division Two in 1905/06, as well as the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup in 1935/36. During this period Thatcham also won the Reading Town Senior Cup and were runners-up in the Reading & District Premier League.
After playing on two more sites in Thatcham, at Brownsfield, home of the Cricket Club, and at Station Road, the Club purchased eleven acres of land off Northfield Road in 1949. This became known as Lancaster Close. Early in 1970, seven acres were sold and the proceeds used to finance the construction of a new clubhouse and dressing rooms.
In 1953, Thatcham became founder members of the Hellenic League and won the Championship in 1958/59, 1964/65, and 1972/73, winning the First Division Cup in the latter season.
The Club's most successful season was in 1974/75, when, in addition to winning the Hellenic League Championship and the Premier Division Cup, Thatcham also reached the Final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup where they lost to Wycombe Wanderers. They were, however, awarded the Cup by default because of a dispute between Wanderers and the Berks & Bucks FA.
By 1983 floodlights had been erected and were first used when Thatcham entertained Fulham FC at Lancaster Close in January of that year. After a short stay in the Athenian League, which was disbanded in 1984, they spent two seasons in the London Spartan League before joining the newly formed Wessex League in 1986, also reaching the last sixteen in the FA Vase that season.
In 1989 Thatcham reached the last eight in the FA Vase, having been drawn away in all six rounds before eventually losing to local rivals Hungerford Town.
In order to provide improved facilities, the Club moved to a new ten acre site at Waterside Park during 1992/93. A record gate for the new stadium was set when 1400 saw Thatcham lose by a single goal to Aldershot Town in the 1993/94 FA Vase.
The ultimate success came in 1995/96 when Thatcham won the League Title and the following season saw the Club's best ever FA Cup run, reaching the Fourth Qualifying Round after defeating highly placed Southern Premier Gloucester City and Southern Division Bashley.
In 1997 Thatcham reached the Final of the Wessex League Cup for the sixth time in eight years, and won the Cup for the fourth time.
In 2002/03, Thatcham Town FC was awarded the FA Community Standard Charter, the first club at this level in the south of England to earn this award.
League stats
1896-1953 Reading Temperance League
(becoming) Reading & District League
1953-1983 Hellenic League
1983-1984 Athenian League
1984-1986 London Spartan League
1986- Wessex League
Principal Honours 1935-36 Winners - Berks & Bucks Junior Cup
1946-47 Champions - Reading & Dist. Prem Div.
Runners-up - B & B Junior Cup
1947-48 Runners-up - B & B Junior Cup
Winners - Newbury Hospital Cup
1948-49 Champions - Reading & Dist. Prem Div.
Winners - Reading Senior Cup
1949-50 Runners-up - Reading & Dist. Prem Div.
Winners - Reading Senior Cup
1951-52 Champions - Reading & Dist. Prem Div.
Runners-up - Reading Senior Cup
1958-59 Champions - Hellenic League Div. One
Winners - Hellenic League Div. One Cup
Winners - B & B Intermediate Cup
1962-63 Winners - Newbury Challenge Cup
1963-64 Winners - Hellenic Lge Benevolent Cup
1964-65 Champions - Hellenic League Div. One
Winners - Hellenic Lge Benevolent Cup
1971-72 Winners - Newbury Challenge Cup
1972-73 Champions - Hellenic League Div. One
1974-75 Champions - Hellenic League Div. One
Winners - Hellenic Lge. Prem. Div. Cup
Berks & Bucks Senior Cup - Awarded
1988-89 FA Vase (best) - Quarter-Finalists
1989-90 Runners-up - Wessex League Cup
1990-91 Winners - Wessex League Cup
1991-92 Winners - Wessex League Cup
1993-94 Runners-up - Wessex League Cup
1994-95 Winners - Wessex League Cup
1995-96 Champions - Wessex League
1996-97 Winners - Wessex League Cup
FA Cup (best) - Fourth Qualifying Round
1998-99 Runners-up - Wessex League
More stats on Thatcham
Affiliated to the Berks and Bucks FA
Members of: The Sydenhams Wessex League
The Sydenhams Wessex League Combination
The Allied Counties Youth League
The Hampshire Youth League
The Southern Region Women's League
OFFICERS OF THE CLUB - SEASON 2004/2005
Vice-Chairman Eric Bailey Chairman Philip Holdway President
Peter Gildersleeves OBE
Treasurer Ted Hyde General Secretary Tony Lawson Football Secretary
Peter Woodage
Chief Executive Steve Melledew
Youth Team Secretary Trevor Howard
Membership Secretary Dennis Smith
Minutes Secretary Jenny Wright
Manager (Bar and Functions) Lyn Jones
Social Club Chairman Charlie Heaver
First Team Manager Jason Braidwood
First Team Assistant Manager John Goddard
Head Coach Martin Ireland
Director of Coaching Jerry Smith
Physiotherapist Sally Carey
Assistant Physiotherapist Phil Hoyland
Reserve Team Manager Geoff Glasgow
Youth Team Manager Craig Adey
Junior Teams Manager Steve Berry
Ladies Team Manager Tim Pope
TT Harriers Chairman Glenn Peters
TT Harriers Secretary Steve Berry
Girls' Development Officer Karen Churchill
Caretaker and Groundsman Toby Sheldon
Programme Editors Ed Houghton and Bruce McKenzie
Website Design Steve Berry
Committee Members Steve Berry, Maurice Brown, Ian Brownlie,
Charlie Heaver, Ed Houghton, Alan Rashbrook,
Dennis Smith, Cliff Stone, Mick Taylor,
Reg Taylor, Graham Tillen, Les Winkworth,
Jenny Wright, and Peter Wright.
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