COMMUNITY UPS AND FOOTBALL DOWNS

 

To be printed in the re-arranged National League South game v Ebbsfleet United Tuesday 29th September 2026

I don’t want to dwell on the football. We’ve hardly had a shot in the last two games, limped out the FA Cup and are already starting to be cut adrift down the bottom. We’ve been upwardly mobile for 13 years so this has come as a shock to the system. Or maybe not; we knew this season was going to be hard but that doesn’t make losing all the time anymore palatable. The supporters are still behind the team and managers – the youngsters, well those that can navigate how to get in – keeping up the noise. I’ve been enjoying the hospitality of the Wheatsheaf pre and post match trying to not let 90 minutes on the pitch spoil a good day out, while supporting the Great British Pub. Someone has to do it, and I don’t mind taking a beer or two for the team.

The international break gave the club the opportunity to boost dwindling crowds. A few season ticket holders had a grumble but I like the 50% off tickets and drinks deals. It certainly boosted the numbers and encouraged new people through the turnstiles.

Finances are never far away from football. Today’s opponents Ebbsfleet got themselves into a bit of a financial pickle to put it mildly and we missed out on an opening game of the season after they had their first few league games suspended. Man City have finally been charged with 114 cases of breaking the rules - which has opened up a Pandora box of conspiracy theories, counter claims and threats of court from clubs who feel this rule breaking has affected them. Football lawyers will be rubbing their hands with glee.

Behind the scenes the club have been very busy.

Sue has finally got her clubshop which also doubles as a sauna which is maybe part of the clubs well-being drive.

But the big announcement was what’s happening at the Slough rugby clubs ground in Upton Court Park. I used to love wandering round that big old park, with views of Windsor Castle, sometimes bumping into my nan and grandad walking their dog. Sometimes getting up at stupid o clock to pick shaggy ink cap mushrooms for breakfast and blackberries for tea. The place housed the legendary Slough Music Festival – the ‘Shoegaze Woodstock’ for 3 years. I hadn’t been to the old rugby clubhouse for 30 years ago but it looked on its last legs even then. At one point, when Arbour Park was just a twinkle in our former chairman's eyes, we thought it might become home for the Rebels.

Well now it has, sort off, with the announcement that Slough Town have secured a 30-year lease on Tamblyn Fields to create a Community Sports Hub.

“The development has two key objectives: to increase participation in junior football for boys and girls, and to deliver a wide range of sporting, fitness and wellbeing opportunities for people of all ages.

The Club is also exploring opportunities to introduce a range of activities beyond football, with discussions already taking place with potential padel and pickleball, catering and digital sports providers. There are further opportunities for alternative sports, a gym and a wellbeing partner.”

Ashley our CEO said:
“Our ambition is about much more than football. We want Tamblyn Fields to become a sporting destination that the whole borough can benefit from.
We would like to thank Slough Rugby Club and Slough Borough Council for their cooperation in helping us reach this important milestone. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners as we bring this exciting vision to life.”

Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Regeneration, Environment and Planning at Slough Borough Council, said:

“Today’s announcement is a hugely significant moment for Slough...which has historically lacked sporting facilities and has low levels of participation in sport, which contributes to the borough’s poor health outcomes. The leasing of Tamblyn Fields by Slough Town Football Club creates an opportunity for significant investment in new sporting facilities and, importantly, provides a focus for the ongoing regeneration of the borough.

“Personally, I am very proud to have been involved in helping to get this exciting project off the ground, and I look forward to seeing the benefits it can bring to Slough in the years ahead.”

This is all part of the Slough is Now vision with the football club playing a significant role. It aims to promote, regenerate and bring investment into a place that let’s be honest doesn’t get the best reviews. It’s great to see the council and football club working closely together to make a difference – this hasn’t always been the case as our homeless pleas where often met with a shrug by local councillors. There needs to be room for the rugby club to return, but this can only be a good thing for the town.

As for on the pitch, its probably good that we have a free weekend coming up for everyone to regroup while I go off in search of some less stressful county league football. Visiting a pub or two on the way of course as part of my Saturday well being strategy.