....at Reading Football Club’s Madejski Stadium and with it United achieved a magnificent league and cup double. The treble eluded a United squad who experienced the highs, the lows and the highs again in 15 crazy days that saw the title won, the County Cup Final heartbreak of a penalty shoot out defeat and finally the BTC Senior Cup, won in the 84th minute.

A third successive Berks & Bucks FA Senior Trophy Final proved yet again too far although some succour, albeit small, can be gained from the fact that United didn’t lose the final in open play but not enough credit has been given, in my opinion, to a club who have reached three successive finals. Most clubs never achieve one so I think credit is due for this achievement, but winning the damn thing is what its all about so can United make it four in a row? Who knows but the squad certainly know the direction of travel to the final!

Back in July 2018 an agreement was struck with Marlow FC to groundshare at the ‘Alfred Davis’ and this has proven an overwhelming success for both clubs with United receiving average gates of 120, unheard of at Step 7. The Berks & Bucks FA Senior Trophy saw gates of 260 & 285 against Cookham and Newbury respectively. The advantage being that the club could charge a small admission fee which while not completely covering match day costs certainly contributed to them and we are grateful for the support received from both spectators and Marlow FC.

With a new ground a new manager was required and United became James Pritchard’s United during July 2018, James immediately moved for Yash Romeo (assistant) and Adam Dickens (coach) and a new management team was in place.
An influx of new players strengthened United’s existing squad and the rest as they say is history.

After an exciting season which was, perhaps fittingly, won on the last game of the season at the ‘Alfred Davis’ against a much-strengthened Woodley United team who were put to the sword in the dying, exciting moments of the league season.
The race for the title was an exciting affair which eventually culminated in a four-horse race which became three when Mortimer eventually fell away as did a good Woodcote team but not without producing one last salvo against title rivals Cookham Dean. Indeed Cookham led the race for much of the season and it took a 10 match winning sequence to haul our neighbours in but great respect to our local rivals, at times the race was fraught, as one might expect, but now the dust has settled it would be churlish not to respect their title charge which was remorseless right up to their last game of the season and we wish them, and all of our former rivals, success next season.

But for United the even bigger prize is a return to Step 6 which is now confirmed will be the Hellenic League Division One East. This isn’t new ground to United having spent 4 seasons in the Hellenic League One and Premier Division 2007-2011 with some success. However, it’s a new challenge to look forward to and I’m sure the players will relish it.

The end of season presentation awards resulted in Josh Fox receiving the ‘Players player of the year’ award with Qwam Thomas the ‘Managers Player of the year’ and James Namyslak ‘Clubman of the year’, Ollie Flint Sponsors ‘player of the year’ while Matt Cannings was awarded the ‘Chairman’s player of the year’. 31 goals deservedly saw Chris Hurst receive the ‘golden boot’ award. Congratulations to those who received an award which if you include the league title and BTC Senior Cup was all of them.

The reserves avoided relegation last season but unfortunately not this and will be relegated to the Third Division. Despite this, Kevin Draper who had a thankless task persevered to the bitter end when it may have been easier to walk away. Kevin, has resigned his position but will be staying with the club.

Presentation awards went to Lewis Draper ‘Players Player of the Year’ Kieron Hawkins ‘Managers Player’ ‘Reserve Clubman of the Year’ Delroy Howell and the golden boot went to Adam Rawling.

Matt Letts returns with Joe Da Silva and Jake Braim to take over the rebuild for the 2019/20 season.

The players and management teams received their plaudits and deservedly so but there is of course more to a football club than its players, as critical as they are!

United have a small committee and very few sponsors but the people who run and support the football club really are the life blood which the club depends on. Also not forgetting the various social media platforms that enable the club to get itself ‘out there’ So, a great big thank you to Adela Hollingsworth and her ‘It’s a Marlow thing’ team, Vince Steptoe of ‘Marlow Legends’, Dave Pering of ‘Events in Marlow’, My Marlow.co.uk, Marlow FM and Ollie Bayliss’s 3 Counties BBC Radio and the Thames Valley Premier League twitter platform as the exposure we receive is instrumental in helping the club increase its supporter base, which is ever growing.

To those supporters who turn up for home games pay their three quid and hopefully are well entertained for 90 minutes. Please be assured your £3 isn’t profit and it certainly isn’t banked. It contributes but doesn’t completely cover the cost of a match. We are a club of very few means and it helps tremendously to have a revenue stream to help cover the cost of home matches and we hope to see even more of you next season as we step up one level.

Our sponsors are a significant entity without which we would struggle to continue so to this seasons match day sponsors, Ray & Sandy Wiltshire, Mark Corrick, Jeff Kisbee, Sanj’s friends from the USA we also say thank you for your support.
We also have program sponsors and we thank SK Direct Motors, Four Seasons Ltd, Tip Top Ovens and Ross Stonecraft for their continued support.

Sanj Krishnasamy whose SK Direct company continue to assist in funding the club as well as Sanj providing personal match day help and serving on the committee as Deputy Chairman.

Polaris Groundcare whose Director Simon Tickner has personally looked after and maintained our pitches for many years and whose contribution is priceless.

Without the contribution and generosity of these sponsors United couldn’t function in the way that it does, so please accept our gratitude for your continued support.

Not forgetting of course our match day volunteers who man the bar for our home games led by former club captain Martin Flint who along with former players Andy Greig, John Foster and Mark Love and very much including Allan Maddern, give up their Saturday afternoons to support the club.

Every club needs a committee even one as small as United’s and in Sanj Krishnasamy we have a sponsor turned club stalwart who can be seen emptying bins on a Saturday afternoon or simply supporting the team. Dan Carvell, former player who selflessly mans the turnstile at our home games. Ollie Flint our Club Captain and Kevin Draper who are covered elsewhere in this blog.

Bernard Carvell, United’s Club Secretary/Treasurer/Kitman/Physio etc. etc.! Bernard’s contribution is immense and without his major input the club simply would be very the much poorer without him, so a big thank you to Bernard for his tireless effort along with everyone else who supports this football club.

Mustn’t forget the Thames Valley Premier League and its band of volunteers who are often under appreciated and often meet with disagreement but without them there would be no league and any success enjoyed by any club wouldn’t happen without them, well done guys. United will not be leaving the league as the reserve team will remain members.

I really do hope I haven’t forgotten anyone, if so my humble apologies!

The club now breaks for 6 weeks returning in July for pre-season fixtures before embarking on another chapter in its history with its return to the Hellenic League.

Happy Summer everyone!!