YDL Upper: match 1 at Reading

The club opened their 2026 UK Youth Development League Upper Age Group campaign with an encouraging third-place finish in the South Upper Premier Division match at Palmer Park, Reading, overcoming a difficult and, at times, chaotic day to firmly establish themselves as contenders for a place in the National Final later in the season.

The revised final standings saw Woodford Green score 528.5 points to finish third overall, behind Blackheath & Bromley and Harrow & Dacorum, but crucially ahead of Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow in what proved to be an exceptionally tight contest. Throughout much of the afternoon the team appeared to be battling in the lower half of the table, with interim announcements regularly placing the club fifth and never higher than fourth. Given the circumstances surrounding the match, simply remaining competitive looked a challenge at several stages, making the eventual podium finish all the more satisfying.

The team managers were forced to contend with a significant number of late withdrawals, injuries and no-shows across the day, requiring constant reshuffling of athletes and events. Despite those disruptions, the squad responded admirably, with athletes stepping into unfamiliar events and continuing to fight for every point. The resilience shown across all age groups could yet prove vital in the wider context of the league campaign, with realistic hopes now emerging of a National Final qualification place if strong performances can be repeated in the remaining fixtures.

A major contribution came once again from the jumps squad. U18 athlete Sean-Connor Atafo produced two of the club’s standout performances of the day, finishing second in both the long jump with 6.82m and the triple jump with 14.03m. His contribution was central to the U18 men remaining competitive in a very strong age group dominated by Blackheath & Bromley. Remi Salako also impressed in the U18 women’s competition, winning the triple jump with 11.22m and adding valuable points with fourth place in the long jump. Tai’bat Owosho secured another event victory for the club in the U20 women’s long jump, leaping 5.29m, while also contributing in the triple jump.

There were also several excellent performances on the track. Toby Falola enjoyed an excellent afternoon in the U18 men’s sprints, winning the B 100m in 11.12 before placing third in the A 200m in a fast 22.29. In the U18 women’s events, Evanna Eze was narrowly denied victory in the 100m after clocking 12.35, while Noa Chodokufa finished second in the 400m with an impressive 55.73. Azzurra Cioni added maximum B-string points in both the 200m and 400m, underlining the depth of the women’s sprint squad.

The middle-distance athletes also contributed heavily to the final points total. Lucas Freedman ran strongly to finish second in the U18 men’s 800m in 2:00.57, with Archie Smith backing that up by taking second place in the B race. In the U20 age group, William Muffett and Aidan O’Driscoll delivered important points in the endurance events, while Matilda Frith showed tremendous versatility across the women’s programme. Frith not only won the U20 women’s steeplechase in 6:41.97, but also competed in hurdles and middle-distance events during a demanding schedule. Alice Padian was another busy contributor in the U18 women’s distance events, scoring points in the 800m, 1500m and steeplechase.

In the field events, Zak Williams delivered one of the best throws performances of the day for Woodford Green with second place in the U18 men’s javelin thanks to a throw of 53.99m. Buddy Reid claimed victory in the U20 men’s shot put, while several younger throwers stepped up to ensure valuable points were collected despite the depleted squad.

The relays capped the afternoon strongly, with the U18 men’s 4x100m quartet of Sean-Connor Atafo, Thomas Niewczasinski-Kirkland, Arda Giray and Toby Falola finishing second in 43.74. The U20 women’s 4x100m team also secured second place, while solid performances across the longer relays helped preserve Woodford Green’s overall league position.

Particularly encouraging was the strength of the U20 women’s squad, who finished second overall in their age-group standings with 111 points, only behind Blackheath & Bromley. That depth across the women’s events could prove crucial over the remaining matches as the club looks to build momentum.

Considering the disruption that surrounded the fixture, the final outcome represented a highly positive start to the season. Rather than merely avoiding trouble at the bottom of the table, Woodford Green now find themselves firmly in the hunt for a place at the National Final. If the club can continue to score strongly across all disciplines — and enjoy slightly smoother circumstances in the remaining matches — a top-two finish in the upcoming fixtures is well within reach.