‘Your game, your moment’ Reading FC beckon to Bracknell Town in the FA Youth Cup

Bracknell Town’s U-18 team will take part in the First Round of the FA Youth Cup and will face the Berkshire derby against Reading FC.

This match will be staged at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, home of the EFL League One team, on Monday 27 October with kick-off at 7pm.

Speaking to Football in Berkshire, manager Lee Simpson called the match ‘a great moment to create memories for these players’.

Simpson said: “I said to the players going into this FA Youth Cup tie, this is your game, your moment, go and enjoy it. We have known a lot of the players for a long time who have come through the age groups at the club. It is a great thing for us as well as the guys who run the youth section at the club, to go through some time together and make memories.”

Bracknell beat Street on penalties after what Simpson described as a cagey game at Bottom Meadow. Street had beaten Torquay United to reach the final Qualifying Round – the same opponents Bracknell faced when they reached the First Round in 2010.

It was a cagey game at the start,” Simpson said of Street’s match. “They were very direct and played a lot of long balls forward, which we dealt with very well. We started to relax and play a little at our own pace.

“They beat Torquay in the previous game so we knew it would be tough. We found a rhythm and created some really good chances. The game was very intense, and it felt towards the end both teams were a little scared of losing.”

Fatigue certainly played a role in this match, which resulted in a penalty shootout. Fortunately for Simpson and his bench, the Robins were calm enough to win the shootout 4-1, and what matters most is experience.

“They will get a lot of benefit from it”

“All of this is a great experience for an under 18 year old, isn’t it?” Simpson said. “That’s what it’s all about. It gets them ready for life in senior football, and it’s an opportunity for them to go and play for their team in a proper facility under the lights. They’re going to get a lot out of it. Whether it’s, you know, short term or long term, they’re going to get a lot out of it.”

Every FA Youth Cup game is now a bonus for the Robins. The First Round is where the academies of the Football League teams take part in the competition, taking on the best local talent.

In recent seasons, Reading City and Langley have enjoyed this competition while Bracknell have reached the First Round on many occasions over the years.

For an experienced coach and manager, it is surprising that Simpson does not play an active role in games at SLC. He said: “I’ve actually never been involved in any games, I still call it Madejski. I’ve coached teams that have been there before on the pitch and as a mascot, but personally I’ve never played there or or succeeded there. So it’s going to be a pretty cool experience!

Monday night will be a big night for some of the guys involved in youth football at the club for a number of years. Simpson’s coaching team includes Martin Verzuu, “Who I’ve known for a long time,” Simpson said. Simon Breakell is involved in the group as well as Raf Lobato and John Winston, who support the admin. “They’ve all been at this club. Their kids have been playing since they were very little, so this is a really exciting moment for them too.”

There should be a good crowd to cheer the team on Monday night. An earlier kick-off would certainly help. Simpson admitted he was surprised by the turnout at the Third Qualifying Round but added: “I remember being at college together [Goalkeeper] Chris Grace and he play for Bracknell. I went with some of the other lads to watch and they did pretty well, I don’t remember how far they got, but it was a lot of fun!”

It seems Robins goalkeeper Lyall Kennedy had a similar experience to Grace many years ago according to the Bracknell boss: “Lyall, who was our goalkeeper, all his college mates behind the goal were singing his name. They loved it. It was great. It was great fun!”

Full ticket details are available here on the Reading FC website.

2025/26 FA Youth Cup First Round matches involving the team Berkshire

• Cambridge United v Slough Town
• Reading v Bracknell City