Page 3 - WS Anniversary of Wokingham Town Football Club in the Cup (Amended)

The year 1928 was another important milestone in Town’s history, for not only was
the league championship won for the second time, but also the purchase of the
Finchampstead Road ground was completed. The new grandstand and pavilion were
built at a cost of £630, and they were officially opened in April with a special match
against Chelsea F.C. who won 5—2 before a crowd of 900.

In 1949 the supporters’ club was founded and its remarkable talent for raising funds
was largely responsible for Town’s mercurial rise from junior to senior football in the
years that followed. In 1953 the final of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup was
reached for the first time, and the stage was set for entry into senior amateur
football.

The club joined the Metropolitan League and subsequently transferred to the
Delphian League.

The 1957-58 season brought a memorable Amateur Cup run, which saw the club
reach the quarter finals, before losing 3—2 at Crook Town in front of a crowd of
nearly 10,000. In 1959 Wokingham were admitted to the Corinthian League, in 1962
the switch was made to the Athenian League, and then to the Isthmian League in
1973.

The year of 1969 saw the club’s first success in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup,
when a strong Slough side was defeated in the Final at Loakes Park, High
Wycombe.

The club’s first floodlights were installed in 1966 and the season was marked by a
testimonial game with Fulham. These lights were eventually replaced at the start of
season 1980-81. The 1981-92 season saw Wokingham win the Isthmian League
Division One title by a clear-cut 13 point margin, thereby gaining promotion to the
Premier Division.

In its first season in the top flight in 1982-83, Town finished in 17th position, but
marked another milestone in their history by reaching the first round proper of the
F.A. Cup.
After drawing 1—1 at home to Cardiff City, they eventually lost the replay 3—0 at
Ninian Park.

It is the home game against Cardiff City that is the subject of this publication.

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Following that cup run Wokingham got to the 4 Qualifying Round on the following
occasions but did not progress any further :-

1983-84 WATERLOOVILLE A 2-3
1987-88 CARSHALTON ATHLETIC A 1-2
1989-90 WOKING H 1-3

In 1999 the final whistle was sounded on league football at Finchampstead Road
after 93 years. Wokingham Town had been forced to sell the ground to developers
because of spiralling debts.

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SOUVENIR PROGRAMME – 35 YEARS – FA CUP 1 ROUND Page 3