11:57AM, Wednesday 21 June 2023
Windsor & Eton FC are set to kick off an exciting new era at step 7 of the non-league pyramid after being handed a place in the Thames Valley League Premier Division.
The decision to place Windsor & Eton at the top level of the Thames Valley league was announced last night (Tuesday) after being ratified at the league's AGM.
They've been placed in a 14-team division alongside the likes of Henley Town, Holyport Reserves, Hurst, Maidenhead Town, Wargrave and Slough Heating Laurencians.
Promotion, and winning the title, will surely be the aim of manager Matt Angell and assistant manager Rob Webb, however, Football in Berkshire reported last night that promotion to step six can be applied for, even if a side doesn't finish top of the league. They would though have to finish above clubs that may also apply for promotion and pass a ground grading inspection, which Stag Meadow undoubtedly would given it staged step five level football last season.
Reacting to the news, the club's owner and chairman, Mark Cooper, said the Premier Division would be a terrific place to start Windsor & Eton's 'journey'.
“We're absolutely delighted to be put in the Premier League of the Thames Valley, it’s a great place to start our journey, it really is,” he said.
“I met the guys at the league there a month ago and explained what we were trying to do, and they've been great to deal with. Tonight, it was confirmed that we'd got our spot in the Premier Division.
“They've got five divisions and it was the best outcome we could have hoped for.
“It's a great place to start this exciting journey with some great local games as well. It's going to be a great first season.”
The club are set to play their home matches at Stag Meadow after agreeing a 25-year lease for the ground with the Crown Estate. Consequently, Windsor FC will have to vacate the ground after their rolling monthly lease with the Crown Estate was ended and they're currently exploring groundshare options to continue playing in the Combined Counties League.
The full constitution of the Thames Valley Premier Division is as follows:
AFC Winkfield (promoted from Div 1)
Burghfield
Finchampstead
Henley Town (elevated from Div 1)
Holyport Reserves (promoted from Div 1)
Hurst (promoted from Div 1)
Maidenhead Town
Reading City U23
Reading YMCA
SB Phoenix
Slough Heating Laurencians
Wargrave
Westwood Wanderers
Windsor & Eton (new club)
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