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PICTURE: Prestwood Reserves will take on 2022 Presidents Cup winners, Hype Train, in the first Showcase Match of the season at the award-winning 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Bank Holiday Monday (midday kick off).
Prestwood F.C. Reserves will be targeting a top two finish in the East Berkshire League Premier Division following their move from the Aylesbury & District League this summer.
The team made huge improvement last season to earn promotion from Division Two as well as reach a cup competition final.
The club has since made the switch to the EBFL, with an exciting new era for the League set to get under way this week (the Prestwood first team has made the move to the Hellenic League).
Prestwood F.C. Chairman, Josh Bostock, is confident the club has continued to improve over the summer, both on and off the pitch, and he is relishing what will be a tough welcome into the EBFL.
Bostock explained: “We played in the Aylesbury & District League last season and, after not knowing if we would have a Reserve squad or not, we ended up finishing third on goal difference and were promoted. We also made a cup final which we sadly lost.
“To go from struggling for a side and forfeiting our first game of the season, to end up with the results we did, getting promoted and reaching a cup final, we were very pleased.
“We’ve moved into the EBFL as we like the direction the [new] committee want to take, and we want to be a part of that. We have our aims set on a few things this season, but the overall goal is to ensure each team at our club has success. Our aim is to be one of the strongest football clubs in our area.
PICTURE: Entry into the 1878 Stadium is £5 and £1 for concessions and Under 18s. Hot and cold food will be available to spectators. The turnstiles and the bar will open from 11am.
“We have a strong management team which meets each month to access recent results and issues, and work together to make sure that all players and teams at the club are in the best position to succeed.”
The Chairman added: “Our targets and aims are to come in the top two this season along with making at least one cup final. We believe that we have built a strong team, and with the club recently undergoing a lot of work, it has helped to attract better players.
“With our first team playing at a higher level, we will also have the players who do not end up making that side dropping down into the Reserve team, which will only make us stronger.”
Prestwood Reserves suffered defeat on their start to life in the EBFL when conceding a two goals lead to go down 3-2 to Pundit on Wednesday evening. Goals from Jake Bradshaw and Noah Johnson gave the hosts a clear advantage but, Pundit pegged them back through Ryan Partington plus substitutes Tyrone Markman and Drew Scott.
Prestwood will step up their pursuit of a first win when taking on 2022 Presidents Cup winners, Hype Train, in the first Showcase Match at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Bank Holiday Monday (midday kick off).
“We’re in the first Showcase game which is amazing,” Bostock commented. “We as a club are looking forward to seeing one of our squads in this and enjoying every moment it has to offer. Hopefully, a win for us!”
Prestwood Reserves then welcome Britwell United on 30 August before a tough trip to 2021 champions, Singh Sabha, on 2 September.
Bostock speculated: “We’ve heard a few things about Britwell and they are sure to put up a good test, but we will wait and see.
“We have a tough start to our new season in the EBFL. We have drawn three of last year's top half teams early on so it will be a good test but huge at the same time. A win early on versus the better teams will pay off later in the year and it creates that buzz within the squad that we may hit our goals this season.”
To enter the East Berkshire Football League ahead of the 2024/25 season, or for further information about the league, or an entry form for the upcoming season, please email the team at contactebfl@gmail.com
