Slough Town aren’t a team we’re overly familiar with. But we were Conference chums for a handful of seasons during the 1990s. It got off to a false start mind you; our promotion and their relegation in 1994 meant that we had to defer our first-ever official meeting by a season. Of the three seasons we shared league space with the Rebels, it was the 1997-8 campaign in which they had their best showing; finishing eighth and dumping us out of the FA Trophy Quarter Finals for good measure.
Just zipping back to 1991 for a minute, a consortium arrived to lift the club out of receivership. This could only be a good thing, right? Hmm. Well, come 1998, this consortium decided they weren’t willing to finance ground upgrade work to comply with Conference rules. The outcome? Relegation from eighth place. The return to the Isthmian League became a largely unsuccessful one. A switch to the Southern League in 2007 slowly brought some joy. But National League South is as far as the return up the ladder has so far got as of 2023.
Slough Town: The Facts
Arbour Park,
Stoke Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL2 5AY
At first glance, we took the story of Slough Town to be a bit complicated. So, bear with us; we’re learning as we write and thus staying one minor step ahead of you. The official word is that creation of the Rebels was in 1890. At this point, three teams came together to form a side called “Slough FC”. This team would compete in the Southern Alliance, before shifting to the Western Suburban League. But efforts to join the Isthmian League as early as 1921 were denied. The competition instead chose Wycombe Wanderers.
The Rebels were forced out of their home ground in 1936; sharing with Maidenhead United for a number of years. A chance then came about to merge with Slough Centre, technically forming a new team by the name of Slough United. It did, however, take them home. Just after World War Two, that new team opted against (re-)joining the Spartan League. Instead, they led a breakaway faction that led to the creation of the Corinthian League. And it was at this point we get the nickname of The Rebels.
We have yet more movements just after this point, however. The two sides that came together to give life to Slough United drifted apart. And the former Slough FC would continue on; taking on the Town moniker. To their credit, they won the Corinthian League in 1951. When that competition went under, the next stage was to join the Athenian League; winning that championship three times. The third of these granted them promotion to the Isthmian League.
How do we know The Rebels?
On two occasions, the Rebels won the Isthmian League title during the 1980s. Well, actually their second was the 1989-90 campaign. It earned them promotion to the Conference, but they wouldn’t stick around long enough for our arrival in 1994; that being the year they were relegated! The blip (for them) was to be a short one. The Rebels returned after one attempt and were then on the Conference roster for a total of three years. In 1998, they returned to the Isthmian League and that was that as far as we’re concerned.
How to get to Slough Town – Travel Information – Distance: 40 miles
By Road
After a brief time playing in Beaconsfield, the Rebels are now back in Slough. To get here, go south on the A1(M) and join up with the M25 however you wish to do so. Go clockwise and leave the M25 for the London-bound M40. But you’re only on this for a short while.
At Junction 1 of the M40 for the A412 and A4020, come off and turn right onto the system of roundabouts that’s in place. When you get to the first of the ‘small’ ones you come to, take the second exit for the A412 and continue for no more than three miles. After passing Langley Park, turn right. This brings you onto Hexham Park Lane.
In another mile, turn right onto Church Road and follow the road to the roundabout. Here, go straight on for the B416 and stay on this road for about a mile; passing a crematorium in the process. The stadium will soon be on the left.
The club offers a couple of parking options on top of the limited street parking available. At Arbour Park, there are some parking spaces that are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. But this doesn’t include cup games, which could be a problem for Boro’ fans.
You can try St Joseph’s School as an alternative; again offering first-come, first-served car parking. Otherwise, you might want to try parking up at either the bus or railway stations – apparently there’s plenty of parking around here and is a 15-20-minute walk away.
By Rail
Station: SLOUGH
Services to: LONDON PADDINGTON
The walk shouldn’t be much of an effort from Slough station. Walk across the railway to the northern side (with the Holiday Inn on) and make your way across Railway Terrace; going through the passage to Grays Place. Go left here – and then turn right at the end – to get onto Stoke Road (B416). Keep going up here and the ground will be on your right.
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