Football club back home after six years away

Newbury (in the orange and black shirts) currently play in the Thames Valley Premier League

A football club has returned to its home ground after a six-year absence.

Newbury FC was evicted from council-owned Faraday Road ahead of potential redevelopment work in 2018 and most of it was destroyed in an arson attack in August 2021.

West Berkshire Council’s previous Conservative administration wanted to use the site for something else but the Liberal Democrats, who have controlled it since 2023, helped the club’s return.

Lee McDougall, from the Newbury Community Football Group, said getting to Saturday’s match had been a “really long journey”.

Supporters turned out to watch the first senior men's match at Faraday Road since 2018

“Many times over the last eight years we thought this day would never come so that we are here is just amazing,” he added.

“There’s been a Newbury team playing in this location or nearby for more than 100 years.”

The Thames Valley Premier League side took on Abingdon Town in the Berks and Bucks Charles Twelftree Trophy but lost 3-0.

An under-8s match was played last November, the first time the site had been used for a game after the football club and youth groups were evicted.

Much of the former Faraday Road site was destroyed in an arson attack in 2021

Portable changing facilities and a clubhouse can be reused elsewhere once further development takes place at the ground.

Nigel Foot, the council’s executive member for culture, sport, leisure and countryside, said: “It’s hard to overestimate the value to the community because having a football club in the heart of your town really is the heartbeat of the place. All the residents have a sense of pride of it.”

The club’s Ben Wickens said: “It’s been over six years so we’ve all been looking forward to this day and a lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes.

“It’s not just a day for Newbury Football Club but for the whole community.”