Both Henley Town and Reading Football Clubs were formed in 1871 and on Sunday 13th November 2011 a team of Former Henley Town Stars meet the Royals Legends at the Invesco Perepetual Triangle ground, in Mill Lane Henley-on-Thames kick off 2.00pm to celebrate the clubs 140th birthday.

The clubs were formed during the great explosion of Association Football along the Thames Valley in the 1870’s but whilst Reading have progressed through the League system over the years to reach the heady heights of the Barclays Premier Division in 2006 Henley Town have stayed in the non-league system throughout its history. Henley Town Football Club is the oldest recognized club in membership of the Oxfordshire Football Association and first entered the FA Cup in the 1879-80 season.

Henley Town  have mostly lived a up down existence throughout it lifetime playing in the Reading Temperance  and Reading & District League’s in its formative years before  moving up to the Spartan League in the 1931-32 season. After the Second World War Henley dropped down to the Great Western Combination and back to the Reading & District League. A bold decision to join the Hellenic League in 1957-58 quickly was quickly rewarded in an upsurge in fortunes by winning two major cups and championships.

Just as the club was about to celebrate its centenary it was struck by a series of major disasters culminating in the loss of the Reading Road ground it had occupied for 70 years. Despite only running a Youth team on a regular basis during this period  the club played 3 centenary matches on a borrowed pitch one of which was against an FA eleven. Although they fielded a regular team again from 1973 the clubs facilities were not up to the required standard to allow them to climb the non-league pyramid ladder until the club moved to the Triangle ground. The clubhouse was built in 1995, a little latter floodlighting was installed and a 52 seater stand was erected which enabled the club to start moving forward again. Now the Club has moved up to the Hellenic League Premier Division the facilities must be upgraded again, the seating accommodation must be increased to at least 100 and standing covered accommodation for 100 erected by the 31st March 2012.

The Former Henley Town Stars squad:

David Lyons, Paul Hawkins, John Wylie. Paul Trendall, Mark Summerwill, Paul Ilsley, Adam Markwell, Gary Kingston, Peter Bryan, Paul Wylie. Clyde Masson, Luke Harris, Mick Kenyon. Olly Maskell, Justin Yorke, James Hollidge, Robbie Wright, Martin Morrin, Andy McIntosh and Guest player Dave Tuttle the current Town Manager who formerly played for Tottenham Hotspurs.

The Team will be managed by to previous managers Albie Stevenson and Andy Bryan. Physiotherapist Neil Archbold may be the busiest man of the afternoon looking after the old limbs.

The Reading Legends squad will be: Charlie Stallard, Mick Gooding, Adie Williams Martyn Williams, Barry Hunter, Simon Osborne, Michael Gilkes, Keith Scott, Andy Gray, Mark Holzman, Matthew Stowell,  Ross Harrison, Darren Brett, Jordan Norris, Graham Kemp, Phil Wilkins, Radio Berkshire’s Tim Dellor and Evening Post reporter Jonny Fordham

The officials for the match are: Referee Chris Boyles (Woodley), Craig Boyles (Woodley) and Steve McMahan (Caversham) 4th Official Geoffrey Biggs (Caversham)

Besides celebrating the 140th Anniversary the match will also raise funds for The Duchess of Kent House (the Royal Legends preferred charity) and the Henley Town Football Club ground development fund. Please come along and support this worthy cause. The match kicks off at 2.00pm but the  clubhouse and bar will be open from around 12-30pm. Admission for the match is Adults £5, Concessions £3 Children under 16 accompanied by an adult free.

Before the kick off of the main match young players from AFC Henley will have a penalty shoot out competition.

If you are unable to attend the match but would like to donate please send your cheque to Tony Kingston, 50  

Birdhill Avenue, Reading RG2 7JU made payable to the ‘Friends of Henley Town FC’

Henley Town Football Club are most grateful to Graham Harris of the ‘Out to Lunch Catering Company’ of 23 Queen Victoria Street Reading for supplying and sponsoring the after match buffet