MEMORIES came flooding back for veteran Reading referee Geoff Withers when he reported for duty at Bracknell Town FC last Friday.

He used to play for the Larges Lane club and brought along an old team photo from the 1960s – "those were the days when I had hair" he commented.

Geoff was one of the ref's assistants at the Bracknell & District Sunday League Senior Cup final which saw Finchampstead, inspired by Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth, beat holders FC Fernhill 3-1.

TALKING of Bracknell Town, their new manager, Sam Lock, played for Reading FC Academy in the days when Brendan Rodgers, now the Leicester City manager, was in charge.

Lock, previously No. 2 to Alan Devonshire at National League club Maidenhead United, will have John Madejski Academy coach Michael Butcher among his assistants.

Bracknell are also planning a big changes to their playing squad, but hoping Reading-based striker, Liam Ferdinand, will stay with them.

Another ex-Reading Academy coach, Nas Bashir, was at Ascot races last Friday to see the horse he part owns, Vegas Boy, finish second in the Montfort Handicap, half a length behind Louie De Palma, owned by retired Berkshire businessman Peter Ridgers.

The next race on the card was won by Aweedram, owned by Sonning-based company owner Max McNeill along with family members as well as Niall Farrell.

READING & District Table Tennis League boasts one of the best on-line newsletters of any sport in this country.

So players and club officials will have been disappointed to hear that editor Derek Wavell is giving up the role he had held for 12 years. He will be a hard man to follow.

The league are also looking for a new registration secretary to take over the position vacated by Nick Lean.

I HEARD an amusing true tale this week about a newcomer looking to join a walking football team and immediately inquiring 'can I run?'

He was told to check the name of the game for the answer.