Whilst, by the start of the 2010/11 season, work was well advanced with the new facilities at Church Farm , we started the season with ‘home’ games still being played at AFC Wallingford.

Indeed, the first match back in the Premier League was held at Hithercroft and ended in a 2-1 defeat to Ascot United, with Ben Connelly scoring a consolation goal. That result was swiftly followed by a 1-0 defeat at Wantage Town before the first points of the season came in a 3-2 win at Bracknell Town thanks to a brace from Stuart Braun and the first of twenty league goals that season for Alex Stewart.

If the league campaign got off to an indifferent start, the success was to come in the FA Cup. Shrivenham were beaten 3-0 at home in the Extra Preliminary Round, before another Hellenic League side, Lydney Town, were beaten 2-1 in the next round thanks to goals from Stuart Braun and Luke Ricketts. The result saw us travel to Southern League side Thatcham Town in the first qualifying round where an early strike from Alex Stewart gave us a 1-0 win. The result gave us a trip to the south coast to face a well supported Poole Town, where another Alex Stewart strike was sufficient to earn a 1-1 draw. The replay the following Tuesday did not go quite to plan as the visitors ground out a 1-0 win.

The indifferent form continued in the league, although progress was made in the FA Vase with a 2-1 win against Slimbridge, before that too was curtailed in a 3-2 loss at Bitton, the same side that had knocked us out of the FA Cup a few seasons prior.

However, news came through towards the end of the Autumn that the facilities at Meadow View Park were nearing completion and, after the necessary ground inspections had been passed, the first match at the ASM Stadium took place on 11 December 2010 with Bracknell Town the visitors. They, evidently, had not read the script and twice took the lead, but goals from Sam Cowan and Luke Ricketts gave us a point in a 2-2 draw.

The official opening of the ASM Stadium took place the following January with Oxford United the visitors. A record crowd of over 1300 saw the match, with the visitors running out 3-1 winners.

At the same time, we went on a five match unbeaten run, starting with our first three points at home with a 1-0 win against Flackwell Heath thanks to Stuart Braun, and ending in a 2-0 home defeat against Binfield, with current player Carl Davies scoring for the away side.

The remainder of the season was up-and-down, with the highlight being a 2-1 win at old rivals Wokingham and Emmbrook, with the season coming to an end with us securing a creditable 10th place finish.

Nevertheless, the season will always be remembered for bringing an end to a five-year nomadic existence and the delivery, in the midst of one of the most significant economic recessions of recent times, of first class football facilities for future generations in Thame.

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