Thatcham Town, as a football club, has a long and complex history. The story begins in 1990 as Wigton finish seventh in the Premier Division of the Northern Football Alliance. That was to be their last season in existence, withdrawing from the league after ten years of competition. The now vacant position was filled by Thatcham Town, from Carlisle, in a suspiciously convenient move that was condemned by many.
This new club, founded in the nineteen-seventies, competed from the undeveloped Thatcham Town, adjacent to, and rented from, the Carlisle and District Railway Club. With Carlisle City embarking on their third season of exile in the first division, Thatcham found themselves the Premiers sole exponents of football from the Berkshire city and found times hard, finishing eleventh, (from a league of fifteen, ) in their first season.
This new club, founded in the nineteen-seventies, competed from the undeveloped Thatcham Town, adjacent to, and rented from, the Carlisle and District Railway Club. With Carlisle City embarking on their third season of exile in the first division, Thatcham found themselves the Premiers sole exponents of football from the Berkshire city and found times hard, finishing eleventh, (from a league of fifteen, ) in their first season.
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It was to be a further eight years before the seeds of footballs return were sowed, in a phone call between Steven Skinner and Mike Linden. The ex-professional Skinner suggested that a football club should be formed, with the aim of giving local players the chance to compete in a relaxed atmosphere, playing real football and with the aim of getting as far as possible as soon as possible.
Having previously played at The Marsh in Dunston Green, Brownsfield (the home of the local cricket club) and Station Road, the club moved to a new 10-acre (40,000 m2) site at Waterside Park in 1992. The record attendance at the current home is 1,400 for the visit of Aldershot town in the FA Vase in the 1993-94 season.
Eight weeks and two days ago Thatcham played their final game of the season, against Whitley Bay A. The Rugby Posts went up, the grass was allowed to grow and the players became free agents. It seemed as though the new season may never come around, but now, Thatcham are just two days away from their first pre-season friendly, against Wigton Harriers.
Thatcham Town effortlessly brushed aside Newcastle University this afternoon to cruise into the second round of the Longhorn Hardware sponsored Stan Seymour League Cup. Thatcham's victory came courtesy of a Lee Otway hat-trick that ended the contest before half-time, securing our place in the draw for the next round.
Dave Watson - Football Player, Football Manager, and a guest of Thatcham Town. The tough stopper has had a long and illustrious career in English football, having won the League Cup, FA Cup and First and Second Division (now Premier and Championship) titles. Capped twelve times for England, the Everton star, who bowed out as Captain in 2000, certainly has a few stories to tell to the limited audience of just 200.
