BRACKNELL Town FC have been forced to delay the opening of their new-look ground at Larges Lane, writes Dave Wright.

The Robins were hoping to use their 3G pitch for the first time in the Uhlsport Hellenic League for their attractive fixture with high-flying Thatcham this Saturday, but were unable to meet the ground-grading deadline.

That game will now be played at Sandhurst FC’s Bottom Meadow.
Chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse said: “The FA are blown away and their head of facilities man Dylan [Evans] really likes the ground and what we are doing this week.

“But the league says they need to grade the ground five days before the fixture and unfortunately we were never going to be ready by Tuesday.

“However, we are sure there will be no further problems. Work is on schedule, seats are being put into the main stand this week and the pitch will be open for use by the end of this week.

“That means we will be using it for training, every team will be playing and training there – the under-18s, youths and women.”

Steinborn-Busse believes the next slot for ground grading will be towards the end of this month and the aim now is to stage the opening game on Tuesday, December 6 when the visitors will be local rivals Binfield.

The Bracknell chairman continued: “The delay is disappointing, but in the grand scheme of things, we can wait. Remember, we’ve wanted this [new ground] for 20 to 30 years or more, so another two or three weeks makes little difference.

“So Bracknell will continue to use Bottom Meadow for the rest of this month.

“Sandhurst have been fantastic right from the summer,” commented Steinborn-Busse.

“I cannot praise and thank them enough for their support.

“[Chairman] Tony Dean has been absolutely first class. To accommodate this Saturday’s fixture, he has put his reserve team onto another pitch so we can play on the main pitch.”

Bracknell Town's only fixture in the past week proved to be a memorable one.

They became the first side to defeat Thame United in the Hellenic Premier this season thanks to a 2-0 victory at Sandhurst Town on Tuesday night.

The Robins are away to struggling Henley next Tuesday (7.45pm ko).

This is the first of four successive away games, while the fixture with Binfield will start a run of five home games in a row.

  • BRACKNELL have elected Steve McClurg as their new president. He is in his fifth decade at Larges Lane, having started as a player in the 1970s, and then going on to manage the first team. He is the current boss of the club’s under-16s team.