Preview | Busy month of November starts at Uxbridge

City return to the battle for Southern League Premier South points on Saturday as we head to Uxbridge (kick-off 3pm).

Our hosts finished runners up to Farnham Town in the Isthmian League South Central last term and secured promotion via the play-offs.

This is there first ever taste of life at Step 3 and they have adapted to the demands at the higher level very well, losing just one of the 13 League games so far, with seven draws.

Chairman, Mark Bantock, has continued a family tradition of being involved with the club, following in the footsteps of his step dad, Alan Holloway, who was involved with the club for half-a-century, including 30- years as Chairman before he sadly passed away in 2021.

“The club has been a major part of our lives as a family; I’ve been attending games since childhood, so it has a very special place in my heart,” said Uxbridge FC Chairman, Mark Bantock. “When my step dad passed away, I was asked to take over as Chairman. To be honest, I was reluctant at first but after some persuasion and wise words from my mum, I agreed to give it a go and I have to say that I really enjoy it.

“Last season was unbelievable. To reach this level for the first time in the long history of the club is so special and the way in which we have embraced our new surroundings makes me so proud.

“This club has rarely been involved in promotion, or indeed relegation, seasons over the years. On one hand you could say that there has never been that much ambition to progress, but by the same token, the future of the club has never been put at risk, something that has been seen all too often at other clubs.

“Last season, the aim was always to be in and around the play-off mix. Like most, we felt that Farnham Town would win it so it was a case of trying to get into the top five.

“We started slowly, losing our first three games and then drawing the fourth, but we stayed loyal to the manager and it paid off. It was obvious after the first month that a few things needed to change and credit to him, he did it and recruited well to secure a second-place finish.

“To see our attendance record smashed with over 1,500 here for the play-off final made me immensely proud. It was a very emotional day for me and our loyal group of volunteers; even if we had lost the game, I would have still had the same sense of pride at the end.

“We’re very much a volunteer-led club, it’s who we are and what we pride ourselves on.

“We knew going into this season that it would be a massive challenge moving into the Southern League at Step 3. As a club we’re trying to do things a bit differently; our ethos is that football should be affordable for all and our admission prices are as cheap as anywhere in the country at this level.

“We want to appeal to people and provide entertainment at a price they can afford. Of course, our playing and travelling budget has increased and this will be a different challenge for us, but we are determined to embrace it and see where it takes us.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever been here and if we can establish ourselves in the Premier South, it will give us a platform on which to build during the years ahead.

“Being able to host clubs such as Gloucester City AFC in League action means so much to us and we are looking forward to Saturday’s game between two teams who are part of the early leading pack.”

Saturday’s game is the first of seven over the course of November. We go into it on the back of our Isuzu FA Trophy victory over Havant & Waterlooville last weekend. Our last League action, of course, was our 3-3 draw with Berkhamsted, so we are determined to get back into winning ways with what would be three big points against opponents who have proven to be hard to beat so far this season.

All support in Middlesex would be much appreciated.