Wokingham Borough Council is in the process of appointing Berks & Bucks Football Association (FA) as the new leaseholder of Cantley Park, in a move set to bring renewed investment and long-term sustainability to the popular sporting venue.
Subject to contracts, Berks & Bucks FA will begin operating the facilities during Janury 2026 , taking responsibility for the pavilion and football pitches, as well as the café, Ashridge Room and changing facilities.
While the agreement will enable the County FA to establish a stronger presence within Wokingham Borough, its headquarters will remain at Milton Park, Didcot. Additional team members will be recruited locally to support the day-to-day operations at Cantley Park.
Cllr Mark Ashwell, Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development, Sport, Leisure and the Arts, welcomed the development.
“I am pleased to see Cantley Park is going to be given a new lease of life under Berks & Bucks Football Association,” he said.
“Our national sport of football’s association seeing the potential in Wokingham Borough is a massive boost for Cantley Park and for our Borough as a whole.”
Leasing the site to Berks & Bucks FA, a respected not-for-profit organisation with strong local roots, provides a sustainable way to invest in the park’s future. The County FA brings specialist expertise and a clear commitment to improving pitch quality, enhancing customer experience and maintaining affordability for existing users.
Jon Wood, Head of Delivery at Berks & Bucks FA, outlined the organisation’s wider vision for the site.
“Our desire to operate Cantley Park goes beyond maintaining a successful facility. The vision for this facility is for it to become a hub for the community and aid us in ‘Connecting People and Changing Lives’,” he said.
“This opportunity enables us to ensure this integral site for local residents and clubs maintains good facilities that are accessible to all. Furthermore, we hope to build closer connections with existing partners at Cantley Park to deliver even more engaging activities.”
Berks & Bucks FA confirmed it will engage with existing clubs and users of the site in due course, with further information to be shared as plans progress.
