Welcome to a slightly different Football in Berkshire podcast. This weekend (Sunday 27th July) is the inaugural PLAION Launchpad Berkshire 5s, a charity five-aside competition raising money for Launchpad, Reading’s homelessness charity.

We have been sponsored by Plaion, a worldwide video games distributor with a UK office in Theale and we say a huge thank you to them for putting up the funds to get the tournament on.

To celebrate, we've recorded a short series of podcasts asking some of our friends in non-league football to pick their five-aside teams.

If you enjoy the episode, please consider making a donation to Launchpad, which you can do at donate.launchpadreading.org.uk

Writer and host Paul Watson joins Tom Canning to preview the forthcoming Berkshire Football Awards (for about 7 minutes - then it takes a whistlestop tour around the world).

Hopefully you enjoy the episode!

Eversley & California upset the odds in the Combined Counties League Division One play-offs at the end of the 2024/25 season, beating Penn & Tylers Green in the semi-finals and division runners up Westside in the Final.

The Boars now go into a Step 5 season for the first time in the clubs history. Co-manager Darryl Jelly talks to Tom Canning about the clubs unique challenges ahead and the debt they owed Woodley United.

More on Eversley & California FC: https://footballinberkshire.co.uk/eversley-california-fc/

Football in Berkshire is proud to launch ‘Hitting The Road’, a celebration of community football in the Royal County.

Taking a hint from the brilliant East Berks Football League’s regular SHOWCASE games, the FiB team will be picking a game or two each season across the men’s and women’s season as a ‘Hitting The Road’ event, and we’d love you to come and join us.

As a trial run, we thought where better than Reading YMCA – winners of the 2024 Berkshire Football Awards Matchday Experience trophy – to host our first Hitting The Road event.

The Thames Valley Premier League side play out at Padworth Village Hall off the A4 Bath Road near Reading and will face AFC Winkfield.

Entry is usually free – and will remain so – but Football in Berkshire will be producing a limited edition matchday programme – which can be purchased in advance – to mark the event with a few words from our special guest, Paul Watson.

Paul kindly hosted the Berkshire Football Awards in 2024 but will be most well known as a panellist on Guardian Football Weekly, co-host of The Sweeper podcast and author of the brilliant football book ‘Up Pohnpei!’.

Buy your programme and/or make a donation to Reading YMCA in the FiB ticket store:

Buy your programme

Bracknell Town have a new manager in Jon Underwood. The former Slough Town joint-manager knows expectations are high, but stability is required after what has been an unsettling time.

Football in Berkshire were granted a sit down with the new boss ahead of his unveiling and 'Unders' doesn't disappoint. From what he learned during his first stint with the club to going it alone with the Robins - and how important his National League South network will be in the new job.

Watch the full Jon Underwood interview or read it in full here.

Episode presented by Tom Canning. The Berkshire Football Stories theme tune is 'Space Camp' but Reading-based ukulele band Rocket Kings.

If you would like to sponsor the podcast this season, please get in touch.Find out more about Rocket Kings: rocketkings.bandcamp.com (they are a side project of our awards night 'house band' The Small Strings.

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There are loads of ways to connect with Football in Berkshire and make sure you stay up to date with everything.

If you enjoy Football in Berkshire’s content, we’d love it if you could help spread the word and there are some options on how you can do that below:

Join Paul Watson and Tom Canning for a Berkshire Football Awards ‘debrief’.

Awards night host Paul reflects on an event he clearly loved being a part of, his favourite moments and who he’ll be keeping an eye on this season.

There’s his Darren Barnard connection (Wokingham Town fans you’ll enjoy this), kit chat, and Kitson chat, plus Greenland football and what he means when he said ‘Chris Ellis knew exactly what was coming’.

Then there’s also a proposed stay at the YMCA (Reading-branch). But you’ll have to listen along to find out more.

Berkshire Football Stories is available as part of this Substack newsletter or wherever you get your podcasts.

Find Paul's podcast 'The Sweeper' at https://linktr.ee/SweeperPod

Coming up:

We’ve got Mark Ashwell talking about the rebirth of Wokingham Town and Emma Hopkins on her new role with Reading FC Women as part of the Community Trust. Neither episode has been recorded yet so do get your questions in in the comments - and do let us know your thoughts on this latest edition with Paul Watson.

Episode presented by Tom Canning. The Berkshire Football Stories theme tune is 'Space Camp' but Reading-based ukulele band Rocket Kings.

If you would like to sponsor the podcast this season, please get in touch.Find out more about Rocket Kings: rocketkings.bandcamp.com (they are a side project of our awards night 'house band' The Small Strings.

Get Connected

There are loads of ways to connect with Football in Berkshire and make sure you stay up to date with everything.

If you enjoy Football in Berkshire’s content, we’d love it if you could help spread the word and there are some options on how you can do that below:

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