All change at Bracknell and Binfield, Brentford away and Kajal Malhotra's footballing love
Merry Christmas to all our readers!
In this newsletter
Binfield and Bracknell Town change managers
Match of the Weekend - Ascot United
Away Days - Brentford: “The best atmosphere I think I've ever had at an away ground”
Why I Love - The Kajal Malhotra Story
Garry Haylock, Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers all depart Berkshire sides
A manager leaving a non-league club hits differently, I thought this week as I contemplated what to write in this jolly pre-Christmas newsletter.
Alan Taylor leaving Bracknell Town in the 2000s hurt, we’d all got to know him and fully got why he wanted to retire - but it was still a gut punch. He was Bracknell for me as a home and away supporter at that time. It was never quite the same. I suspect when Alan Devonshire decides his time is up at Maidenhead United it’ll feel pretty similar (although Steve Jinman and I can finally compete our podcast series).
This week we saw the departures of Garry Haylock at Binfield and Carl Withers and Jamie McClurg at Bracknell Town.
Binfield admirably released a statement a couple of months ago in full support of their manager and he’s certainly been given time.
Football is a results business, they say. I don’t believe that’s entirely true at non-league level across the board. You’re as responsible for what happens on the pitch as building a culture, community and linking the fanbase off it.
I enjoyed speaking to Garry when we did the podcast earlier in the season, he’s got a lot of stories to tell from his time in Northern Ireland and if he ever gets around to a memoir, I’ll be first in line.
In the end for Binfield time has run out and now the Moles need an immediate bounce back. It’s been nearly 40 years since they were last relegated.
For Withers and McClurg the personal reasons are clearly laid out in the club statement. They’ve achieved an incredible amount in their short, young managerial careers, something the odd sniper I’ve seen needs to remember.
This season hasn’t quite gone to plan as Kayne alluded to in his most recent video, but they reached the FA Cup First Round again and remain competitive at the highest level the club has ever played at. That’s pretty good going.
Tom Canning
Match of the Weekend: Ascot United vs Chertsey Town
Sat 23rd December / 3pm / Racecourse Ground
Prior to the double managerial changes at Bracknell Town and Binfield, how Ascot got on against promotion-chasing Chertsey Town in the post-Brendan Matthew era was top of our list of matches for the weekend.
Of course, new-boy Taylor Morgan has already got off to a flying start but this will be a big test at the Racecourse for the Yellas.
Away Days: Brentford
To celebrate the launch of Away Day Pilsner - Football in Berkshire’s collaboration with Mysterious Brewing, we’re talking to supporters of teams up and down the country about their favourite away days.
This week, Andy Gilpin, host of Wrexham’s Fearless In Devotion podcast tells us about Brentford away..
December 2011 seems a simpler time. Ryan Reynolds was busy filming The Change Up with Jason Bateman (no, me neither). Rob McElhenney was doing season 21 of It's Always Sunny.
Brentford weren't in the Premier League and Wrexham were owned by posties, bin men and Tony from down the road. The Dragons really were the plucky underdogs as the non-league, fans-owned club travelled to Griffin Park in the second round of the FA Cup.
The pre-match warm-up in the famous four pubs was pre-Christmas and rowdy. But the noise in Brentford's two-tiered away end was something else.
It was helped by a good little unit crafted by Andy Morrell with a killer team spirit. Brentford were already on the up with their exotic foreign boss (well, Uwe Rosler) but Wrexham struck the killer blow through a Jamie Tolley thunderbolt.
They rode their luck in the second half but held on, much to the pleasure of a well-oiled crowd who created the best atmosphere I think I've ever had at an away ground.
And I've been to Braintree.
Why I Love: The Team Behind The Team
A far cry from the glamour and pay checks of the professional leagues, the backbone of football thrives on the dedication of countless unsung heroes; the volunteers and selfless individuals who operate behind the scenes. The team behind the team.
As a player I've had the privilege of simply turning up to a training session or game day with no care other than the football itself. That can only happen thanks to the tiresome work of all those involved off the pitch - and lets not be mistaken, there is A LOT of work that goes on. But what I love about the game stems from how little we're reminded of the efforts involved; everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes and is fuelled simply by a passion for the game and a love of the club, rather than any financial incentive or recognition.
Click the image to listen to the podcast with Kajal in full.
From coaches who are there before I arrive and leave long after I've left, to parents sacrificing their weekends to shuttle players to and from matches. The backbone of these local clubs consists of the unpaid crew—the volunteers who maintain pitches, wash kits, and ensure the logistical ballet of match days runs smoothly.
Growing up I was likely unaware of just how much goes into running a game of football, and now that I can appreciate the work involved it only adds to what makes this level of football so special: all of the time and energy dedicated is done simply for a love of the game and a shared passion for the club.
Their efforts might not make headline news, but they are the lifeline of a sport that resonates at the community level, where the true spirit of football is cultivated. For me, I can just focus on the game, content in the knowledge that everything else is in safe hands.
Kajal Malhotra
If you'd like to be featured here, please email tom.canning@footballinberkshire.co.uk to enquire.
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: