BRACKNELL Town have switched their midweek home nights to a Wednesday, writes Dave Wright.

And they will start their home Isthmian League fixtures on that day – hosting Uxbridge on August 21 (7.45pm).

Club chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse has explained the reason for the switch from Tuesday, saying: "We are in another growth curve.

"Our team numbers are growing, which presents scheduling nightmares when you are trying to get more than 30 sides training.

"So we considered the most straight forward way is to have training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and make Wednesday the game night for the first team and Under 18s.

"We will also look to play U23 team home games where possible on a Friday evening."

The Robins will get their South Central Division fixtures underway on Saturday, August 17 with a trip down to Chipstead.

They then visit Northwood on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26 (3pm).

Moving into September, Town will visit Bedfont Sports on Saturday, 14th, before hosting Westfield the following Wednesday and then going to Chalfont St Peter on September 21.

After missing the competition last year, Bracknell will be back on the FA Cup trail this season, starting with a preliminary round tie away to Wessex League side Bournemouth Poppies or Combined Counties League club Frimley Green on August 24.

In the FA Trophy, the Robins will be home to Isthmian League North Division side Coggeshall Town in the extra preliminary round on September 28 with the winners away to either Ramsgate or Haywards Heath Town in the preliminary round on October 12.

Manager Sam Lock has continued to add to his squad with his latest acquisitions including Shane Cooper-Clark, who was Thatcham's FA Vase final match-winner last year and giant defender Justin Clayton, who also returns to Larges Lane.

With his university days over, full-back Elliott Legg has also rejoined the Robins and says he "can’t wait to get going with my first full season for the club."

Another defender, Geoff Kibaki, has moved from Ascot United, while midfielder Ousman Darboe comes in from Reading City.

Robins have also signed goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler from Wealdstone, having previously played for a number of clubs, including Binfield.

A former trialist with Premier League club Bournemouth, he will train full-time with Reading FC.

Bracknell played two pre-season friendlies last week, winning 4-1 at Burnham before losing 1-0 to Maidenhead United at Larges Lane before a good-sized crowd on Saturday.

The Magpies winner came from a trialist in the 12th minute after the Robins defence had given the ball away.

Bracknell continue their pre-season programme by hosting Southern League Division One South side Winchester City this Saturday and then visiting Windsor next Tuesday (7.45pm).

Maidenhead, with a team comprising mainly players on trial, also played a friendly with Ascot earlier on Saturday, winning 3-2 at Bisham Abbey.

Apart from Bracknell, several local clubs will be involved in the early rounds of the FA Cup.

The extra preliminary round on August 10 includes Ascot United v Badshot Lea, Binfield v United Services Portsmouth and Windsor v Reading City.

Preliminary round on August 24: Amesbury or Christchurch v Ascot or Badshot Lea, Binfield or US Portsmouth v Cowes Sports or Lymington, Windsor or Reading City v Moneyfields'

The first qualifying round of the FA Vase on August 31 includes Ascot United v Fleet, Binfield v Virginia Water, Wokingham & Emmbrook v Chipping Sodbury Town, Abingdon United v Eversley & California, Clanfield 85 v Sandhurst and Malmesbury Victoria v Woodley United.

Second qualifying round on September 14: Abingdon United or Eversley & California v Reading City, Wokingham & Emmbrook or Chipping Sodbury v Thornbury or Cheltenham Saracens, Frimley Green or Lydney v Ascot or Fleet, Malmesbury or Woodley v Camberley, AFC Aldermaston v Binfield or Virginia Water, Shrivenham or Milton United, Clanfield or Sandhurst.