FINCHAMPSTEAD ROAD:
A TRIBUTE
To hear a sound snippet from the last day
at Finch Rd click here
Finchampsted Road is the home of the great
Wokingham Town FC; no longer.
In July this ground will be redeveloped
after the club was forced to sell the site to pay off short term loans.
Developers will turn the hallowed turf into a mass of houses, road and
gardens to help our cash strapped club. This was brought about after the
club amassed over half a million pounds in debt since the beginning of
the nineties. During the 1988/89 season Town very nearly clinched the Premier
league title, ground improvements were needed if they were to get promotion
to the Conference. It was decided at the time to risk making the nesscercary
improvements and work began on a stand, seating and terracing.This proved
ten times more expensive as the club anticipated as problems were experienced
during construction and it was from here that the financial difficulties
began. Loans were taken out to pay for the extra work and this spiraled
into a crisis in the following years, culminating in the bailiffs knocking
on the door on more than one occasion. The descsion was taken to sell the
town centre location ground to pay off the debts and to build a new ground
on cheaper land on the edge of town. However all has not gone to plan as
no site has been found for a new stadium and Town may have to undertake
an expensive ground sharing agreement with a local Ryman club until a new
ground is built. This may leave the club with not enough money to buy the
land for a ground let alone build a stadium, fans are worried. The end
of the 1998/99 season also sees the end of our ground, Wokingham v Bedford
on the 2nd May 1999 will be the last two teams to grace the pitch.
v Abingdon, last game of 97/98 season.
Over 90 years of history will be lost in
one fall swoop, a part of every Wokingham fan going with it. Town moved
to Finch Road in 1906 after moving between Oxford Rd, Wellington Rd, and
Langborough Rd in the previous years. A new grandstand was opened in 1939
in front of 900 people against Chelsea and in 1966 the floodlights were
installed. In its current state it is a class A ground that can house Premier
division football. The grandstand remains on one side of the ground together
with the bar and dugouts, the opposite side has an impressive covered terracing
and seating area, not forgetting the tea bar. The railway station end has
uncovered terracing behind the goal and the club shop raised above at the
back, the other end has no stand of any description.
I'm sure that all Town fans have fond memories
of the ground and I would like to hear what they are. Whether it be a certain
game, incident, season or moment at the ground it will live with us forever.
I only really started supporting Town properly 2/3 years ago so due to
our slow demise over this period I don't have an enormous amount of good
memories to draw upon. I always liked the big games myself with the big
crowds. Being part of the Band I always like to make noise and have a bit
of banter with the opposing supporters. My favourite times at Finch Rd
was the F.A Trophy match v Woking in January 1997. Around 1500 colourfully
clad Woking fans turned up and Wokingham held their own against the high
flying Conference side and were unlucky to go down 1-0. If only Andy Gray
had put away that great chance in the second half to bring us level. But
perhaps my favourite game at Finch Rd was the game against top of the league
Aldershot on Easter monday 1998. Town were fighting against relegation
and The 'Shots' were going for the title. Although we went down 3-0 Town
enjoyed their loudest and best support for recent years. 30 Wokingham fans
out sung 1500 Aldershot supporters and the atmosphere was brilliant.
I would like to hear from any Wokingham fans
about there Finch Rd stories and perhaps any other non-league supporters
who have been to the ground. All stories will be added to this page and
will remain here forever in tribute to this wonderful ground. Email your
thoughts to Chris Atkins at chrisquinze@hotmail.com
In and around Finch Rd
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Memories of Town Fans :
Memories, like the ones we used to know.
A supporter of Wokingham Town football club
since the days of my youth, I
am now a university student and my support
of the mighty Town only
took on a new meaning as a member of the
Wokingham band in the last three
years. Unfortunately this has not seen W.T.F.C.
in it's prime, and has
instead been dominated with financial difficulties,
boardroom mix-ups, and
subsequently a poor standard of football.
However, I have my own memories
of special performances at Finchampstead
Road.
Obviously, the greatest moments for the
band were shared when there were
crowds to play to. The Woking game saw a
packed ground and a superb
atmosphere. Undoubtedly, the game was hard
fought and we were unlucky not
to get anything out of the game, but just
to see a non-league ground
filled, almost has a better atmosphere than
the average Premiership games.
I felt I was part not only part of the crowd
but part of the game at
Finch.Rd. especially when Aldershot visited
us near the end of our
relegation season last year. Aldershot were
in a way our rivals although
financially and skillfully they outclassed.
But to see so many Aldershot
fans get out sung by the Wokingham band
for much of the game, emphasized the
spirit of Wokingham Town Football club.
Earlier that year I had got tickets to see
England v. Cameroon at Wembley,
and to get there in time for an evening
kick-off, I had to leave
Finchampstead Road at half-time. The comparison
could then be made. At the
Town game, we could watch OUR team play
and feel that our presence along
with the drum, trumpet and cowbell, could
be felt. At Wembley, I could
shout till I was blue in the face and Shearer
wouldn't bat an eyelid. There
is something about being able to touch the
goal net, chat with the linesman
and attempt to annoy the opposition's keeper
that gave Finchampstead Road
it's appeal for me.
.Mark Bradley
When Bar manager and ex-player Kevin Merryweather
was asked about his Finch Rd memories he remembered his playing days most
vividly. Although he only made 12 appearances on the hallowed turf he says
he will never forget his game against Aldershot Town when he got sent off
7 minutes after coming on as a substitute. He was booked after 2 minutes
and then was sent off by famous referee Phillip Don 5 minutes later. Kevin
also went on to talk about the most famous players to have graced the Finch
Rd pitch. Pat Jennings, Tony McIlvoy, Vinny Jones, Kenny Samson, Stan Collymore,
Andy Townsend, and many more. Here's a picture of movie star Vinny Jones
playing for Chelsea against Town in a preseason friendly in the early nineties
:
I have been a supporter of WTFC for over
46 years. I remember one game in the 50's where we played at home
to Haywrads Heath, they had the great Ronnie Rooke of Arsenal playing
for them. We were 4-0 down at half time, pulled level at 4-4, then Ronnie
Rooke scored from 40 yards out beating Town keeper John Runnacles to win
5-4. Afterwards the entire team went to the Ritz cinema only to find young
members of WTFC waiting outside for autographs. I also remember in the
60's we played at home to Cheshunt in the last game of the season, needing
a win to avoid relegation. We were winning 2-1 with about 5 mins left when
Cheshunt equalised. With Town supporters leaving the ground absolutely
dejected, we scored with virtually the last kick of the game to win 3-2.
Terry Morris
Most memorable game : V Cardiff City F.A
Cup 1st round, early 80's, great game, 1-1, a replay (lost 3-0), crowd
approx 4,000 +, crowd trouble, game stopped for 10 minutes, Roy Merrywheather
tried to restore calm by walking onto the pitch and addressing everyone
with a megaphone ! Other memorable games : Slough at home 1988/98,
the year we nearly made it to the conference. V Hendon last game of the
season to decide between us and Slough for the title. 0-0 as I remember,
Slough won anyway so it was academic.
Bill Kerry
Speaking of the last game at Finch Rd V
Bedford :
' This is one of the saddest days of my life.
After working for and supporting the club for 41 years, to think it has
come to this. Although the directors won't agree, I believe the club cannot
return to the town. Still I have some wonderful memories of a once great
club. '
Nene Nott
Having followed the club for 30 years, since
moving to Wokingham, I've seen many memorable games and goals. But being
a season ticket holder at Reading I have to divide my loyalties between
the two, a football league team and my own local non-league club.
Having seen Elm Park's final game against Norwich,
I shall be here today supporting the Town. Whilst it was sad to see Elm
Park knocked down, the prospect of watching Reading at the Madejski stadium
was a new era of greater times ahead. Today I feel sad as although we are
playing at Stag Meadow for three seasons, I can't ever see the team returning
to the Town.
David Johnson (Scores)
An Ode to Finch Road
Finch Road is the
home,
To the Wokingham
Football Team
It has that special
something,
of which others
can only dream.
It may not be a
spectacle,
it may not be a
sight,
but Finch Road
is the home,
it makes me feel
just right.
You can hear the
cheer for miles around,
when the amber
and black appear,
the crowd will
shout and leap about,
it fills their
players with fear,
Memories of our
Finch Road,
we always will
remember,
for this day now,
till that day then,
it will never be
forgetten.
Edward Balch
I reckon Bobby Purser's goal against Hayes
(can't remember the year) but it must have
been in the early 90's.
It was 0-0 with only a few minutes to go
and Bobby (the left back) hit a screamer from 35
yards which ended up stuck in the triangular
stanchion of the net.For a split second
nobody realised he had scored.
All the best to WTFC
From an exiled fan in Northampton
You have to include the Wokingham town win
against Barton Rovers at
home where we won 4-1 or 4-0. This
game is special as it was Matty
Miller's first hat-trick for the club.
Also there was the famous win
against Grays in the cup where Andy Gray
scored a screeaaaaameerrrr.
That is my contribution to the high's and
the lows for WTFC
Adam Murphy
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