Why the Club was formed?
Winkfield F.C. started with Steven Webb, a former first team player. There were problems in the reserve team and former manager Ricky Johnson quit the team and the rest stopped playing, Winkfield Reserves was no more.
After hearing this Webb approached the secretary of Winkfield F.C., Doug Chapman about forming a new reserve side and starting again in the fourth division. Doug agreed and Webb started his search for players, asking friends and friends of friends to join. When enough were eventually found and signed on Winkfield Reserves were formed and ready for their assault on the Bracknell Fourth division. Webb had done well in obtaining a young side and one with very high potential. One thing was left, finding a manager and although Webb himself would seem an ideal candidate, he wanted to concentrate on the playing side.
He approached one time Winkfield Boys player David Colborn, who he had known since he was six and asked David to become manager. Colborn could no longer play because of a serious knee injury that had forced him into early retirement; otherwise he would have been part of the squad as a player. David duly accepted the offer with great excitement, as it gave him a new opportunity to continue in the game he had always loved.
The first season was not far in when the first major problem occurred. Doug the secretary was not happy with the reserves signing Alan Hawkins from the first team, cousin to Webb. Alan had threatened to quit Winkfield completely and play for the Twigg but Colborn and Webb felt it would be good keeping him playing in the black and white of Winkfield. Doug though decided this was enough and showed his true commitment to the Reserves by walking out immediately.
With no secretary the club looked in desperate times but manager Colborn decided he would do the secretary duties for the upcoming game. It went well so Colborn decided he would take the role of Secretary as well as manager. By the end of the first season and promotion achieved to the Third Division, the team felt things had gone well and were happy to keep everything the way it was. So Colborn remained manager/secretary of the club.
At the start of the second season, they maintained the Winkfield name, as Doug took control of Winkfield and Manor. New players arrived to strengthen the squad and the Winkfield Club were made sponsors, to help with the financial side of the team. Now coming to the close of the second season more players have signed, making the squad the strongest it has been and chasing yet another promotion to the second division. The financial side of the club is also healthy and long may all of this continue and everybody to enjoy it!
With Doug now at another club we are officially the only Winkfield side left and will look to continue its great history. This might not last long though as Colborn has been recently approached by Ryan Coupland (brother to Dean, who plays in the first team) about starting an Under 17’s Winkfield side, before moving into the Men’s league and becoming reserves. This is still in the early stages of development but the signs look very promising, with around 17 new players wanting to join the Under 17’s. Stephen Munday of the first team and all time top Goalscorer for the club has proposed to manage them in their first season as it will not intervene in his playing time and Colborn will be overall club secretary to both, whilst remaining in charge of the first team.
So exciting times lie ahead for this sleeping giant, with the main aim to reach the Premiership and once again be a recognised force. A reserve side will only help us achieve this aim and strengthen the first team squad in years to come. With a bit of luck Winkfield F.C. will once again be at the forefront of Sunday league football.