By Lewis Rudd –
ROGER HERRIDGE believes exciting times lay ahead for Binfield Football Club.
While the Moles are bang in form on the pitch, off it things are about to get a great deal better for the Hellenic Premier Division side, as work to modernise Hill Farm Lane will begin in earnest next week.
And boss Herridge could not be any prouder at being the man to lead club into the latest chapter of its 125-year existence.
Through grants totalling more than £315,000, Binfield’s home is to go through an extensive refurbishment project which will see the venue given new changing rooms and better access arrangements for disabled supporters, among other improvements.
Money for such work was secured last summer from the Premier League and Football Association’s Facilities Fund, the Premier League through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, Binfield Parish and Bracknell Forest Borough councils respectively.
It will also be used to install a physio room, spruce up the clubhouse, PA system and areas around the first-team pitch.
Kind volunteers gave up part of their Christmas holiday to help with some preparation work, which included removal of a viewing area known as the ‘Shed End’, ahead of contractors moving in on Monday, January 9.
This revamp comes during what is an invigorating time for local football in the area, with
neighbours Bracknell Town seeing their Larges Lane base undergo a complete overhaul, which included the laying of a 3G pitch.
Wokingham and Emmbrook are also working on plans to add a 100-seater stand and floodlights at Lowther Road after eventually receiving planning permission from the borough council last year.
Town, managed by former Binfield head honcho Mark Tallentire, also lead the way in the standings, yet Herridge, his former assistant, knows where he would rather be.
He said: “I think I said when manager of Wokingham [and Emmbrook] that Binfield has always been the club in the local area where you want to be.
“At the end of the day the resurgence from Bracknell [Town] doesn’t change my opinion of that. This is a well run club which lives within its means and does things properly.
“There is going to be a lot of headlines and fireworks coming from our neighbours just down the road, and rightly so because they are top of the league, but we are quite happy with our
own plans and our development and I look forward to seeing the changes at Hill Farm Lane.
“We have our own plans and aspirations, but without wanting to use too many cliches, it’s like a child – they don’t run before they walk.
“The funding has come through a lot of hard work and it is exciting times for Binfield Football Club.
“Over the last 10 years or so the club has come on leaps and bounds and I think the plan is to continue developing on and off the pitch.
“It is an exciting club to be manager of.”
Herridge can lay claim to carrying out a rebuilding job of his own.
Victories over Ascot United and Brackley Town Saints not only made for the perfect Christmas, but means the Moles have won seven of their last 12 games in all competitions, with the club sitting seventh and within striking distance of the top five.
This is following a difficult Autumn which saw his charges endure an eight-game winless streak and way behind the chasing pack.
Such a resurgence, though, means Binfield’s destiny this season is now back in their own hands ahead of crunch games against Ardley United this Saturday (3pm) and Thame United and Thatcham Town in the coming weeks.
“Going back to that lean spell, I got together three or four key players and we had a conversation and aired a few views,” he said.
“Since then we have gone back to basics, played a 4-4-2 and no excuses.
“The new players we have brought in have also been a difference to us and the goalkeeper [Munoda Nyamunga] has come in and done really well.
“He has made a few saves, kicks the ball well and is a good character. Anyone who was played along the back four in the past month or so has certainly played better with him behind them.
“We can now look forward to games against Ardley, Thame and Thatcham.
“If we are going to push on for the top six then we need to beat those sides who are there or thereabouts.”
