Mark Ashwell on Wokingham Town FC and the Finchampstead Road story

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It’s time to share our very first Berkshire Football Stories podcast.

It has taken me nearly two years to write that sentence, from first thinking about what a Football in Berkshire podcast might look like and be about, to pressing record and finally ‘PUBLISH’!

An awful lot has changed in that time but way back toward the end of the 2018/19 season I got to sit down with Slough Town managers Neil Baker and Jon Underwood who were kind enough to give up their time.

That conversation will be part of episode four in the next few weeks but first up is the conversation I had with Wokingham & Emmbrook President Mark Ashwell about the Sumas departure from the much loved Finchampstead Road ground in 1999.

Mark covers everything from dashing to save memento’s, all the ground shares (and there were a few) as well the battles to save Wokingham Town and how they became Wokingham & Emmbrook.

You’ll also discover the origin of the Sumas nickname!

If you don’t mind me saying, it’s just a really good chat with a guy who is clearly incredibly passionate about his football club, even now, twenty years after he almost lost it.

You can listen to the podcast here or scroll down for links to your favourite podcast app:

I would also just like to thank my co-host Rob Davies for coming in and adding a different voice to proceedings, as well as Ellis Woods at Flair Media who has kindly paid for the podcast hosting.

Coming up on Berkshire Football Stories

Forthcoming episodes include Steve Jinman on Alan Devonshire’s first spell at Maidenhead United, Neil Richards on Ascot United’s ground redevelopment and the fundamental changes at the club, the aforementioned Bakes and Unders on their Bracknell Town careers, Pete Browning and Steve Stairs on managing Sandhurst Town in AFC Wimbledon’s first ever competitive game and Andrew Batt reminiscing on his time as Wokingham Times Sports Editor.

How to listen

The Berkshire Football Stories Podcast is available on all good podding apps. Please subscribe and leave us a rating and comment if you like it:

It’s also available on a few more. Visit the ‘How To Listen’ page here.

Listen to ALL the Berkshire Football Stories podcasts on the links below

To sign off, every umm and err in the podcast is for you Duds. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Football in Berkshire has a Breaking News WhatsApp Channel where we’ll send you updates on all the latest football news from the Royal County. You can join Breaking Berkshire Football News by clicking here

Upcoming fixtures

Tuesday 19th March 2024

Binfield19:45Sutton Common Rovers
Hillingdon Borough19:45Windsor
Holmer Green Dev19:45Prestwood
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