Beginning on October 28th with a draw at Bracknell Town, the Kingfishers embarked on an incredible 6-month unbeaten run of 40 matches. After 20 successive victories, Windsor drew at Waterside Park in February, before Thatcham won a further 18 games. The club won the Hellenic League Premier Division with 98 points and a goal difference of 104 from 38 fixtures - though remarkably Bracknell finished level on points with a goal difference only 2 inferior!

The real highlight came on 20th May 2018 when Thatcham Town walked out at Wembley Stadium, and defeated Stockton Town in the FA Vase Final to complete a memorable double. Below are the match reports from Thatcham's FA Vase ties as they made memories that will last a lifetime.

First Round : THATCHAM TOWN 2 – 1 HORSHAM YMCA

Substitutes Anthony White and Jemel Johnson came to Thatcham’s rescue with goals in the final twenty minutes after Southern Combination side Horsham YMCA led through Mark Cave’s opener.

Team : Rackley; Miller, Browne, Moran, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Blount, Elliott; Grant, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (used) Helmore, White, Johnson (unused) Angell, A James

Second Round : THATCHAM TOWN 8 – 2 BROADBRIDGE HEATH

Town went into the break two goals up through Shane Cooper-Clark and Harry Grant. But they went nap in the second-half, blasting in a further six goals. Cooper-Clark added two more to complete his hat-trick, Josh Helmore scored twice, while full-backs Michael Miller and Tom Browne chipped in with rare goals. Broadbridge pulled a goal back at four-nil, and added a second near the end.

Team : Rackley; Miller, Browne, Moran, Jarra; A James, Bayley, Grant, Johnson; Helmore, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (used) Melledew, Brownhill, Elliott (unused) Angell, Romeo

Third Round : THATCHAM TOWN 3 – 1 SEVENOAKS TOWN

Thatcham defeated Sevenoaks Town of the Southern Counties East Football League, with two first-half strikes from Shane Cooper-Clark putting the Kingfishers on their way. After the visitors pulled one back through Harrison Carnegie, Ekow Elliott converted Harry Grant’s cross to seal a 3-1 home win.

Team : Rackley; Miller, Browne, Moran, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Grant, Johnson; Elliott, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (used) Angell, Helmore (unused) Cook, White, Greenwood

Fourth Round : THATCHAM TOWN 2 – 1 BIGGLESWADE

The Kingfishers were not at their best but overcame Biggleswade to reach the fifth round. After Harry Grant’s opener was cancelled out by Nathan George,’s penalty, Babz Jarra bundled home a late winner.

Team : Rackley; Angell, Browne, Moran, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Brown, Johnson; Elliott, Grant.
Subs (used) Cook, Brownhill (unused) Blount, Greenwood, Miller

Fifth Round : THATCHAM TOWN 2 – 1 BROMSGROVE SPORTING

The kick-off was delayed 15 minutes due to crowd congestion at Waterside Park, but Ekow Elliott soon quietened the large visiting contingent with two goals. On 18 minutes he created some space in the area and fired a low left-footed strike past Reece Francis. Nine minutes later Harry Grant cut in from the left wing, and Elliott used the pace of his cross to guide home his second.

Almost immediately from the restart the Kingfishers almost had the tie wrapped up when Grant thumped a shot from 25 yards against the underside of the crossbar. But Bromsgrove soon came back into the tie. The pace of their front two had been a threat from the outset, and on 35 minutes they both played their part in reducing the arrears. Jason Cowley weaved his way through the penalty area and was brought down by Town's keeper Chris Rackley, and Richard Gregory converted from the spot.

In the second-half the game remained a tight affair with chances at a premium. Shane Cooper-Clark headed over for Town, while Sporting went close when Max Loveridge shot across the face of goal.

But as the game went on, the visitors left gaps at the back and Thatcham missed several chances to put the tie beyond doubt. The bustling Cooper-Clark caused most of the problems, with the wing play of Elliott and Jemel Johnson also stretching the visitors. Elliott almost glanced home his third from Johnson’s cross, while Babz Jarra and Cooper-Clark forced saves from Francis, who also got a vital hand to the ball as Johnson attempted to go round him.

Gregory flicked a header wide for Sporting, but with Thatcham unable to score a third, the Kingfishers closed the game down and settled for a 2-1 win in front of 701 spectators.

Team : Rackley; Brownhill, Browne, Moran, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Grant, Elliott; Cook, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (used) Johnson, Angell, Miller (unused) Thomas, Brown

Quarter Final : MELKSHAM TOWN 0 – 1 THATCHAM TOWN

As promised, a crowd in excess of 2,000 turned out at Melksham Town to watch Thatcham’s first away tie in this season’s FA Vase. The lack of home comforts showed in the opening exchanges as we were finding it difficult to get much time and space on the ball.

The home team were a physically powerful side, winning headers and snuffing out our attacks, but out back four and goalkeeper Chris Rackley stood firm.

It was a frustrating first half was the ball spent a lot of the time in the air, with the wind a significant factor. Melksham carved out a couple of opportunities while Thatcham troubled the keeper only once through Ekow Elliott’s shot. Meanwhile Gareth Thomas headed wide from Tom Browne’s free-kick.

Strong words may have been spoken at half-time as the team upped their game in the second-half and retained possession more. Thatcham had a near miss when Shane Cooper-Clark’s free-kick was deflected over and onto the roof of the net, with some of our visiting fans thinking it was in. Melksham were still a threat though, earning a free-kick in a dangerous position that Rackley was equal to.

It took until the 89th minute for our patience and perseverance to pay off, as Elliott found himself in an uncommon amount of space on the edge of the area and, after being able to take a couple of touches to bring it into the area, fired a low shot into the bottom corner. Cue wild celebrations from the players in front of their adoring fans, as relief took the place of frustration.

We almost doubled the lead a moment later as the ball sat up nicely for Ross Cook in a central position, but his shot was blocked. Melksham made us sweat with late opportunities to deliver balls into the box which they sent their keeper up for. But they didn’t make them count, and Cooper-Clark almost capitalised on the absent goalie with a long-range effort which the last man blocked.

After an eternity of stoppage time, the referee blew the full time whistle to put us into the semi-finals.

Team : Rackley; Miller, Browne, Thomas, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Grant, Elliott; Cook, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (on) Brownhill, Blount, A James; (unused) Angell, Brown

Semi-Final First Leg : THATCHAM TOWN 1 – 0 1874 NORTHWICH

The tie couldn't have started much better for us, as just a couple of minutes in, we earned a penalty! Ekow Elliott took a touch and a turn of pace to beat his man on the left wing before squaring to Shane Cooper-Clark who feigned to shoot, took a touch outside and was felled by the defender. Ross Cook was the man to take the kick and he buried it in the bottom left corner.

Just four minutes later we were on the attack again, with Elliott taking a potshot from 25 yards which was deflected wide. Cooper-Clark was really making the most of the occasion, giving the Northwich defenders a torrid time by creating two chances for himself in quick succession, but he guided both shots into the grateful arms of the visiting keeper.

Northwich grew into the game with their forward Kennerley forcing Chris Rackley into a smart save, clawing an effort over the bar. They were then frustrated to have two penalty appeals waved away.

Cook went down on the halfway line with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Gavin James. This marked a turning point as we began to regain control of the tie with a series of chances. First, James was pivotal in a passing move that resulted in Elliott forcing a great fingertip save from Hall at full stretch. Shortly after, a corner from Tom Melledew caused havoc in the area with efforts from Babs Jarra and Tom Moran both being blocked. Lewis Brownhill teed himself up and hit a goalbound left-footed volley which was again kept out by Hall.

The end-to-end pattern of play continued as Melledew retained possession, rode several challenges and surged into the area but his shot was blocked and follow-up fired over. Cooper-Clark then ended up on the end of a passing move but Hall was equal to his turn and shot.

After such an exciting first half, the second didn't do as much to set heart-rates racing and it took almost half an hour for Northwich to create a chance, the ball falling to tricky right winger Hind, but his shot was expertly parried by Rackley.

Both sides seemed content with the status quo as the half progressed. We posed a threat on the break, earning a couple of corners, but Northwich probably had the better of the closing stages, sending one header wide, and later, a shot through our congested penalty area also narrowly wide.

Team : Rackley; Miller, Angell, Moran, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Brownhill, Elliott; Cook, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (on) G James, Grant, Blount; (unused) A James, Browne

Semi-Final Second Leg : 1874 NORTHWICH 2 – 3 THATCHAM TOWN (agg 2 – 4)

Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, we're going to Wembley!!!

Like last week we got off to a flying start, with Gavin James, in for last week's matchwinner Ross Cook (hamstring), opening the scoring after three minutes. James earned a direct free-kick from 20 yards, which Shane Cooper-Clark hit into the wall. The loose ball fell kindly for James who made no mistake in slotting into the bottom corner.

On 23 minutes we doubled our lead, with James getting on the end of a goalmouth scramble following a Tom Melledew corner. James' first attempt was parried but he made sure with the follow up. This goal sent us into the ascendency with a period of pressure as we didn't let 1874 settle. First James rose highest to knock a header into the path of Ekow Elliott whose right footed curler went just over the bar. Soon after, Moran met an in-swinging corner but his headed effort went just wide.

But Northwich stemmed the tide of our attacks and got themselves back into the game. They were camped in the final third for several minutes without troubling Chris Rackley, but on the stroke of half-time Elliott claimed the loose ball in a 50/50 challenge. The referee seemed happy enough until he noticed the linesman's flag and controversially awarded a spot-kick. 1874's Scott McGowan wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth and duly netted the penalty.

Danny Robinson's half-time team talk had an impact as, for the third half of this semi-final tie, we got a goal after three minutes. Cooper-Clark, outstanding in both legs, received the ball on the left flank, travelled inside and thumped a shot into the net from the edge of the area.

Unsurprisingly, the home side came at us with McGowan posing a threat. We were content to stay compact and soak up their attacks, with Rackley making a good save from point blank after a goalmouth scramble. But the home side's pressure told as their captain Matt Woolley rose to head home an inch perfect corner, as Northwich moved one goal behind on the day, and two on aggregate.

It is testament to our side's discipline and organisation that we held firm as wave after wave of attacks were blocked, cleared or held by Messrs Rackley, Miller, Jarra, Moran and Angell. Eventually, after six minutes of injury time, the referee blew the full time whistle. The players and coaching staff rushed to celebrate with the vocal travelling support who could now sing "Que Sera Sera" in full voice.

Team : Rackley; Miller, Angell, Moran, Jarra; Melledew, Bayley, Brownhill, Elliott; G James, Cooper-Clark.
Subs (on) Grant, A James, Johnson; (unused) Thomas, Browne

Final (Sunday 20th May 2018): STOCKTON TOWN 0 – 1 THATCHAM TOWN

Thatcham Town arrived at Wembley Stadium at 10am. The sun was beating down, Emily Haig was performing the sound-check for ‘God Save The Queen’, the BT Sport commentators were finalising their research, and Thatcham’s players looked relaxed as they strolled onto the hallowed turf.

The Kingfishers had already acquainted themselves with England’s national stadium, having been able to visit on the Friday. As the Stockton Town players entered the scene, Thatcham retreated into the dressing room to prepare for the 90 minutes ahead.

With kick-off approaching, club Secretary Ron Renton was invited pitch-side to perform his usual Waterside Park role of announcing the Kingfishers’ line-up. Manager Danny Robinson named an attacking side, with Jordan Brown and Ekow Elliott featuring on the wings. With Liam Ferdinand and Dan Rapley ineligible, four other players unfortunately had to miss out. Tom Browne and Michael Miller, who played key roles in the run to the final were two of the unlucky ones, while Joe Blount and Lamin Sankoh, whose seasons had been disrupted by injury, also had to spectate.

At 12:15pm, with an estimated 12,500 fans in the stadium, the match got underway. Stockton, wearing yellow, kicked-off and retained possession during the opening exchanges. This allowed them to settle any early nerves, while Thatcham didn’t see much of the ball in the first few minutes. However a light-hearted moment soon followed, as to a loud cheer, the assistant referee was sent tumbling when Shane Cooper-Clark tussled for the ball with an opponent in front of the Stockton fans.

The first clear opportunity came on 20 minutes when Stockton’s Fred Woodhouse chased a ball over the top and attempted to lob Chris Rackley from the edge of the box. Rackley got a touch to divert the attempt off-target, but the height on the shot caused the ball to sit up nicely for the advancing Chris Stockton. Fortunately Babz Jarra dashed back to put the ball behind with a brave goal-saving header.

Barely a minute after that let-off the lively Brown used his pace to surge in the area, was brought down by James Ward, and referee John Brook pointed to the spot.

All eyes were on Cooper-Clark, who had been the subject of much attention in the build-up due to his phenomenal 61 goals during the season. The number nine blasted the penalty towards the centre of goal, but the diving Michael Arthur got a strong hand to it. The ball thudded downwards into the turf, but then into the opposite side of the net to put the Kingfishers ahead.

The goal gave Thatcham the confidence to exert sustained pressure on Stockton, and Elliott went close with two shots in quick succession, before Gavin James created himself a shooting opportunity but fired wide. However The Anchors remained a threat, with Jarra and Tom Moran relishing their physical battle against Stockton’s forwards Woodhouse and Jamie Owens.

On the stoke of half-time Thatcham won a free-kick in a dangerous position after Elliott was brought down. Cooper-Clark’s shot returned to him off the wall and sat up nicely for an ambitious volley, which Arthur caught down to his left. Shortly after, the half-time whistle went and Thatcham went into the break with a one-goal lead.

During the interval there was another nice touch as Treasurer Sylvia Bailey and long-serving committee member Alan Rashbrook were presented with FA Volunteer Recognition awards alongside two Stockton Town counterparts.

Stockton were quick out of the blocks in the second half, and created a good chance when their winger Stockton was found in acres of space down the left. As Rackley came out to close him down, several players got back to defend the unguarded goal, and Curtis Angell blocked the resulting effort.

Elliott and James continued to cause problems for Stockton, with the two combining for the former to shoot off-target, while at the other end some neat footwork from Owens saw him work some space from which he dragged an effort narrowly wide.

As Elliott’s influence on the game grew, he dribbled round Joe Carter and squared for James who was unable to turn the ball home from close range, before James then worked an opening for Cooper-Clark who drove his shot straight at the keeper.

The onslaught continued as Harrison Bayley intercepted the ball in an advanced position and found Cooper-Clark down the left. His cross was met by James, but the shot thumped against the underside of the bar, bounced onto the goal-line and out.

The physical effort, the heat of the day, and possibly also the emotion of the occasion saw Thatcham start to tire, and three substitutions were made within twelve minutes. Firstly Jemel Johnson replaced Brown down the right, then Ross Cook came on for Cooper-Clark. Lastly, captain Tom Melledew, who had ran himself into the ground, was withdrawn in favour of Ashleigh James who joined his brother on the pitch.

Almost immediately there was another stoppage as Gavin James received treatment for cramp, but Stockton emerged from the breaks in play with the bit between their teeth. Thatcham’s defence had to block a flurry of shots, and Owens went close to leveling the scores with a goal-bound strike that Jarra got in the way of, and was relieved to see trickle wide.

At the other end Cook fired narrowly over from the edge of the area, but Stockton continued to build up the pressure, forcing a succession of corners. It seemed Thatcham might pay for failing to score a second, but the defence held firm, and Dale Mulligan headed Stockton’s best opportunity over the bar.

Five minutes of injury time was announced, and Lewis Brownhill and Johnson used up a good deal of it by keeping possession in the right corner of the pitch, but Stockton broke to win a corner and sent their goalkeeper up. Rackley came a long way out to get a hand to the delivery, and Ashleigh James completed the clearance to send Cook away. With Stockton’s keeper stranded upfield, Cook advanced to 40 yards from goal but didn’t quite get enough pace on his shot, and Matthew Garbutt was able to scramble the ball behind for a corner.

Nevertheless, the counter-attack used up vital seconds, and moments later the final whistle blew!

THATCHAM TOWN FC HAD WON THE 2017/18 FA VASE!

The Thatcham bench ran on to the pitch to join the players in celebrating in front of the 5,000 travelling Thatcham fans - a moment which will live forever in the memories of the players, management, committee and supporters alike. The whole squad walked up the steps to the Royal Box to be presented with their winners medals and the FA Vase itself, before returning to the pitch to celebrate.

It truly was a great all-round team performance. As usual, Jarra and Moran at the heart of the defence were rock-solid, with the former being announced the man-of-the-match. The full-backs of Brownhill and Angell put their bodies on the line to help Chris Rackley keep a 27th clean sheet of the season. In the middle, Bayley and Melledew

were as industrious as ever. Elliott and Brown caused problems down the flanks with their trickery and unpredictability, while the physical presence and movement of both Cooper-Clark and Gavin James stretched the Stockton defence. Johnson, Cook and Ashleigh James each produced useful cameo appearances from the bench as Thatcham overcame the disappointment of two league cup final defeats by making sure in the one which really mattered!

Thatcham Town : Chris Rackley; Lewis Brownhill, Curtis Angell, Tom Moran, Baboucarr Jarra; Tom Melledew (c), Harrison Bayley, Ekow Elliott, Jordan Brown; Shane Cooper-Clark, Gavin James.
[Subs On : Jemel Johnson (69 mins for Brown), Ross Cook (78 mins for Cooper-Clark), Ashleigh James (82 mins for Melledew). Unused Subs : Gareth Thomas, Harry Grant.]