Tomorrow will be the first time that we have met the merged club of Hayes & Yeading United. Prior to the merger we had never met Yeading but had met Hayes three times competitively, all of them being FA Cup games though they were all over 65 years ago! The first game between Banbury Spencer and Hayes is a famous one in our history. Over 82 years ago it was the club’s first ever game as a senior club, the club’s first ever FA Cup game and the first competitive game we ever played at what is now the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium. This was an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round game played on 1st September 1934. Not surprisingly, this game is well covered with an article or two in tomorrow’s matchday programme.

Moving more up to date Hayes & Yeading United have had a mixed start to life as a merged club. Initially they tasted success earning promotion to the top tier of non-league football but with ground issues to the fore they have since fallen two levels. Their start to this season has been disappointing and they currently sit in the relegation zone. This can partly be attributed to having problems with their new ground which is currently unusable. This means they have played a lot more games away than at home due to having to currently ground-share with Beaconsfield. Tomorrow’s game was indeed scheduled to be at Hayes but the fixtures have been switched so we will go to their new ground in April, hopefully they will be in and playing games there by then.

As for ourselves our victory over Stratford Town last Saturday ended a run of three consecutive defeats. We were rather fortunate, things went for us on the day but hopefully the win will be a confidence boost ahead of our two home games prior to Christmas.

Community Benefit Society Membership Secretary Mike Seaton will be in the clubhouse tomorrow and supporters can see him to become a member of the CBS. Gold Members of the CBS can also see Mike to pick up their complimentary drinks vouchers if they have not already done so. You can also pick up Christmas Raffle tickets from Mike or from Sharon behind the bar, please help the club by buying some in what is an important fundraiser and if you can take some away to sell to family, friends and work colleagues that would be excellent, the draw will be after the game next Saturday against Cinderford so tickets need to be back for then.

The Club Shop will be open as usual inside the Clubhouse and they have a couple of new lines that would make good Christmas stocking fillers. So why not pop along and have a browse.

Would supporters please note that there is a re-arranged charity wrestling event on in the Clubhouse in the evening so part of the clubhouse will be taken up by the ring which needs to be put up in advance. Please note we must emphasise that the ring is out of bounds to supporters who fancy themselves as the next Kendo Nagasaki, Hulk Hogan, Big Daddy or Klondyke Kate!

Finally, a rarity, due to the late switch in fixture, the small bar is not in use for sponsors tomorrow so supporters may use that bar throughout the afternoon.

Away supporters are advised to use OX16 5AB for their Sat-Nav as the club’s official postcode may well take you elsewhere!

Admission Prices: Adults £10, Concessions (Over 60s and Full Time Students) £6, Under 16s £1.

Programme: £2

Kick-off 3.00pm

Free to sit in the stand

Hot Food available in the Clubhouse.

Free parking

Supporters should note that the old Chiltern Railways Car Park on the Tramway Industrial Estate is still available for parking free of charge. This will provide a quick getaway after the game, avoiding the problems of getting out of Station Approach and help ease possible parking congestion at the ground. Entrance is via Swan Close Road and car park is at the bottom on the right, it is free to park there, thanks to Chiltern Railways. Post Code for the Chiltern Railways Car Park is OX16 5TB. Turn right out of car park, through the bollards and turn right down Station Approach – ground is 300 yards on the right.