UPDATED: SUMAS FOLLOW SANTA IN FESTIVE FIXTURE WITH JD SET FOR DOUBLE-TON / ONLINE PROGRAMME

Ascot United entertain Wokingham and Emmbrook in a local league derby on 27^th December (1.30pm). With many games kicking off at 11.30am, the two sides agreed to push the start time back from two hours in the hope of boosting the attendance – including those who are speedy enough to try to ground hop from an early kick-off to the later one! An online programme is now available here

The match is also set to be Ascot United stalwart Jonny Denton’s 200^th for the club since it joined the Hellenic League. “JD” has, of course, been with the club since a ‘nipper’ and from the photo had a spell when the ‘nipper’ lost his ‘clipper’ judging by the flowing locks on his head! We’re also not sure whether he has gained or lost pace since then, but either way with 22 goals from 199 appearances since his debut in 2013/14, he has been a staple in the squad (either side of a spell in the US) and remains a role model for those around him. The matchday programme also contains a feature on the man himself!

And, we’ve even managed to get a few special words from one of his managers when he was passing through the ranks, Steve Chell:

“Well who’d have thought when you joined us at U13s you’d still be going strong 14 years later. The sole survivor from one of the most successful junior boys teams Ascot have had.
A great lad as well as a great footballer with a wand of a left foot whom it was an absolute please to coach, manage & see develop and grow as both a footballer & a fabulous person.
Good luck with your 200th game today & here’s to 200 more.
Sorry we couldn’t be there.
Steve“

Back to Monday, and the Sumas arrive in search of much-needed points having won just 3 of 17 league matches this season, leaving them one point off the bottom. Earlier this season, Ascot toiled to a 2-1 victory at Lowther Road and whilst the surroundings are a far cry from the Finchampstead Road stadium they played at until 1999, the fan base still exists and we welcome them back to Ascot having last played here a few seasons back in a mix of Hellenic League and Cup fixtures. But remember to bring your plastic as it is a cashless site!

Neither side are in brilliant form. Ascot have one win in four, whereas Wokingham are winless in five since a 3-2 win at Reading City – where Ascot lost by the same scoreline last time out.

The festive programme is below. Ordinarily it would be feasible to ground hop from Stag Meadow to The Racecourse for kick off, but there will no doubt be at least 20 minutes of added time in the Virginia Water v Windsor match plus we advise being sensible…and also avoiding exposure to COVID!!!