Page 4 - WS Anniversary of Wokingham Town Football Club in the Cup (Amended)

In 2004 Wokingham Town merged with Emmbrook Sports, so 1987 represents the
pinnacle of Wokingham Town’s FA Cup history.

The context of the game against Cardiff City was captured in the then manager, Roy
Merryweather’s notes in the “Official Match Day Programme”

“Our small ground bordered by railway lines and terracing made from discarded
sleepers is a far cry from the lavish surrounding of Ninian Park but that is cup
st
football. Wokingham Town Football Club are in the 1 round proper of the FA Cup
for the first time in our 107 years of existence.”

Ninian Park had a capacity of 42,000. Cardiff City had won the FA Cup in 1927 and
five years prior to the Wokingham cup tie they had taken part in the European Cup
Winners Cup.

The trip to Wokingham was their second visit to Berkshire in November 1982 as they
had visited Reading in a Division Three fixture which they won by two goals to one.

Route to the Cardiff City game.

Wokingham Town had already played 8 games to arrive at the First Round Proper.
These were as follows]:-

PRE ANDOVER H 6-1
1Q WHYTELEAFE A 0-0
1Qr WHYTELEAFE H 1-0
2Q STAINES TOWN A 2-0
(Played at Wokingham Town)
3Q KINGSTONIAN H 2-2
3Qr KINGSTONIAN A 1-1
3Qr2 KINGSTONIAN H 2-0
4Q LEATHERHEAD H 1-0

Pre-Match Build Up

I have some strong memories of arriving at the ground that day. Firstly I bought my
programme from a senior manager where I worked. His son was on the Town’s
books and it was so strange seeing him out of context. The next shock was seeing
the temporary stand that had been built behind the goal and the terraces packed.

There was pre-match entertainment provided by the Under 10 sides of Sperry
Dynamo and Sandhurst Town, or you could always read the Programme, where the
adverts now look a bit dated. There follow an example advert page, pen pictures for
Wokingham, pen pictures for Cardiff City and the Wokingham Team picture.

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SOUVENIR PROGRAMME – 35 YEARS – FA CUP 1 ROUND Page 4