Bracknell chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse has revealed Championship Reading offered the Southern League Premier Division South side the chance to play their FA Cup first round tie against the Blues at their Select Car Leasing Stadium.

While the FA clamped down on non-league clubs switching ties to bigger opposition stadia back in 2003, Steinborn-Busse says the Royals made their home, formerly known as the Madejski Stadium and 11 miles from Bracknell, available for the match, which it has been confirmed will be played live on ITV4 at Bottom Meadow, the ground the Robins share with Sandhurst, on Monday 7th November.

“We were offered Reading, but at the end of the day the odds are stacked massively against us, you’re a far higher opposition, but if we’ve got a slim chance of causing an upset, it’s only really going to be caused at our ground because if we moved it to the Madejski, that environment you’re used to,” Steinborn-Busse told this lunchtime’s Life’s a Pitch (2hr 30mins 59secs) on BBC Radio Suffolk

“The one thing you’re not used to is coming to a ground where the fans are going to be right on top of you.

“It’s a really, really slim chance, and the other thing is that I want to showcase our new ground.

“We spent a lot of money during Covid building our stadium and for it to feature on TV, that’s a massive thing. Really it was a quick decision when Reading offered us their ground, we said no within seconds. We want it here.”

Town will receive 15 per cent of the ticket allocation at Bottom Meadow, although Steinborn-Busse has said he anticipates Blues supporters also purchasing some of his club’s share.

He says the capacity has now been confirmed: “Just under 2,000. It was signed off at 3,000 but I think we’re going to have just under 2,000.”

Photo: Action Images

Orangeboi373 added 16:54 - Oct 22 Bracknell fans will be more likely to fill it up then reading
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Europablue added 17:03 - Oct 22 Like someone else said on another thread, he probably isn't aware of the types of grounds we have been visiting for the last few years in League One.
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Bazza8564 added 18:28 - Oct 22 Fair play to him, refusing to sell his soul for (i forget the biblical reference) Sometimes integrity is cool, i like this fella
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Trequartista added 18:43 - Oct 22 "We spent a lot of money during Covid building our stadium". Confused, i thought they are playing at Sandhurst Town's ground?
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Runner added 19:01 - Oct 22 Trequartista: His group own both Bracknell FC and Sandhurst FC, and they ground share the same ground.
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ArnieM added 19:54 - Oct 22 I think they should consider Readings offer. It's a chance to make enough money to secure their future for many years . I'm sure Town fans would support the match there .
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warfarinman69 added 21:39 - Oct 22 Before moving to Suffolk in 1978 I was a Slough Town fan who were playing at a similar level to Bracknell. We drew league opposition at home a couple of times, including Millwall and the atmosphere was electric. It really was a leveller. I get why they don't want to move the tie. They seriously do have a slight chance, particularly if it's wet, windy, cold and the traffic is murder getting to the ground!!!

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Marcus added 23:06 - Oct 22 Fair enough. Respect
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pg888 added 02:30 - Oct 23 I still don't understand why anyone would want the game switched. Playing in a 2/3 empty bland stadium couldn't sound any less appealing.
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terryf added 08:29 - Oct 23 Sorry but where did we play pre-season and what was the score (Needham Market 7-0). Fair play to Mr Steinborn-Buss being optimistic but realistically how far does he think Bracknell are going to progress in the FA Cup. If he had the chance to move to a bigger stadium to make some cash for his Club he should have taken it.
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Edmundo added 11:17 - Oct 23 With match costs for a bigger stadium, the profit would likely bea lott less than the tv revenue. And that's guaranteed.
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Nomore4 added 13:32 - Oct 23 They won 6.0 yesterday. So clearly have some form.
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SickParrot added 13:48 - Oct 23 Given that the FA are unlikely to agree to a ground change anyway it's not surprising that he turned down Reading's offer. They will get the TV money anyway and will maximise their chances of a "giant killing" by playing in their own small stadium. If you add in our terrible record in the FA Cup and in televised games over the last few years it's a no brainer. Obviously we should win comfortably but I think we should field a strong team to make sure we get the job done. A decent run in the Cup would be good for the club and the fans.

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