COMMUNITY TRUST MANAGER: Helen Preedy (helenpreedy@maidenheadunitedfcorg)
MAIDENHEAD UNITED IN THE COMMUNITY: Mark Nisbet
The Club operates its commercial activities through Maidenhead United FC Ltd, York Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1SF Company No: 05691046, VAT No: 442328173 The Club is a member of the Vanarama National League and is therefore subject to the league’s rules and regulations The persons of significant control in the Club as defined in National League rule 213 are Peter Griffin and MUFC Ltd
CLUB NEWS
Velkomst Thomas Ovesen! In recent weeks York Road has welcomed matchday visitors from Germany and the Netherlands and tonight we say ‘Hallo’ to intrepid Norwegian football tourist Thomas.
42-year-old Thomas supports his local team Rosenborg from Trondheim, the most successful Eliteserien club who have won a record 26 titles. Thomas explains: “I'm coming over to visit London, and since I know how historical York Road is, a visit there should be on the bucket list for any football lover.” How right you are Thomas!
Thomas continues: “I travel a lot to see football around the world, both to see Rosenborg in the European Cups, and different games that attracts me. Both small quirky games in smaller leagues for the ‘real feel and soul’ but also big games such as Super Cup-finals and different tournaments I did 4 games now in EURO 2024, and me and my son are going to do the African Cup of Nations in Morocco in December But first up is of course Maidenhead!” If you see Thomas around the ground today do remember to show him our famously friendly York Road welcome.
Meanwhile, far closer to home than far off Trondheim, three young Magpies have had their loan spells with West Berkshire outfit Thatcham Town extended The Kingfishers – managed by ex-Magpie Yashwa Romeo – have had a difficult season in the Southern League, but they are able to call upon the assistance of MUFC Academy graduates Jamie Davies, Jadyn Dundas and Christian Johnson. Davies netted a crucial winner for Thatcham earlier in the month against Larkhall Athletic and told us: “I got slipped through for a oneon-one and smashed it front post! I’ve really enjoyed my loan period so far and it’s always nice to grab a few goals along the way to help the team out and win games My teammates and the manager have been so welcoming since I came to the club, and I hope I can help contribute to more goals and assist in further games to come.” Elsewhere, right back Zac Bell has had his loan spell with National League South promotion-chasers Truro City extended until the end of the season and he recently featured in the divisional team of the week. Teammate Ruben Carvalho has already committed to Truro’s promotion rivals Worthing until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
RYAN PETERS
It is a quick return to York Road for us this evening which is very welcome given that the National League gifted us with around 1,000 miles on the road over the course of four days last week It is also an early opportunity to put right the disappointment of Saturday’s match
In hindsight – bearing in mind the lengthy trips I have mentioned and the run of Saturday-Tuesday matches we are on – perhaps it was one game too many in terms of the same personnel playing, but given the improved run we had been on we had been keen to keep the team selection as consistent as possible Yeovil set up in a mid-to-low block and it was hard to break them down At the break we tried to change our system a bit and use some different faces but in the end it wasn’t to be for us Some may say that their first goal was fortunate with the huge deflection, but all goals are avoidable, and they have certainly had a bit of luck but in truth the defending for both goals wasn’t great, particularly in the context of three successive clean sheets coming into this game.
Football changes very quickly as we were buzzing after the game at Oldham this time last week. We have been inconsistent all season and dropped our levels far too regularly, but the performance last Tuesday was – for the third game in a row –exactly what we have wanted all season It has been a boost for us to have the likes of Kane Ferdinand and Alan Massey back ready to perform for us and with Josha Johnson also rejoining us we have the depth of squad that we need at last After the positive result at Hartlepool, we wanted to back that up with another good performance and it seems that we generally enjoy visiting these big grounds.
The boys have been brilliant for the last three games before Saturday’s setback. Our supporters can make a difference for us on nights like tonight when we will start as underdogs against a side with a bit budget who are in contention to win the division. We well recall the reverse fixture when it was a bad day for us and some moments in the game certainly went against us Please help give our players that extra bit of energy tonight that your brilliant vocal backing brings them
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Just one ordinary afternoon of Vanarama National League football, is that too much to ask for?Saturday’s matches threw up all kinds of drama, with late goals at the wrong end of the table hardly cheering the Magpies faithful after our own defeat at York Road.
One of two teams in and around the bottom four to come from behind to win at home was WealdstoneIn fact, the Stones managed to come from behind twice at Grosvenor Vale against Ebbsfleet Harrison Sohna and Alex Reid both scored twice as the Stones won for the third game in a rowEbbsfleet took a 17th minute lead when Franklin Domi scored from the edge of the box. Wealdstone levelled after Reid was fouled in the box and he picked himself up to score a penalty after 26 minutes. Fleet restored their advantage in the 33rd minute when Anthony Stewart headed home a George Moncur free-kick but on the stroke of half-time Sohna equalised again with an effort from the edge of the box Sohna grabbed his second with a free-kick after 68 minutes before Reid gave them a two-goal cushion with 11 minutes remainingEbbsfleet's had Mustapha Olagunju sent off for a second caution eight minutes from time.
Meanwhile, Josh Barrett scored a stoppage-time winner as relegation-threatened Aldershot claimed three crucial points with a dramatic 3-2 win over Hartlepool. Pools had taken a 20th-minute lead at the EBB Stadium when Tyler Frost turned into his own goal but the hosts hit back after the break. Maxwell Mullins forced an equaliser off David Ferguson on the hour and Callum Hargreaves fired them ahead seven minutes later Mani Dieseruvwe thumped in an equaliser on 80 minutes but Barrett had the final say in the fourth minute of added time when he finished from Jack Barham's header across goal
At the other end of the table, tonight’s visitors pulled back FC Halifax Town’s twogoal lead ten minutes into time added on at the LNER Community Stadium when Callum Howe headed home. Leaders Barnet meanwhile were handsome winners at Rochdale on an afternoon of mixed fortunes for play-off chasers, as Eastleigh and Gateshead both took home all three points from Boston and Solihull respectively but struggling Fylde won at Altrincham. An injury time Oldham equaliser cost nervy Dagenham at home as the Londoners gap to the bottom four narrowed to just two points The games at Forest Green, Sutton and Tamworth all ended a goalapiece as Woking, Braintree and Southend all took useful points home.
WOMEN’S TEAM
Maidenhead United Women are now one tantalizing step away from winning the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup for the first time in MUWFC history after a 3-0 victory in the semi-final at Arbour Park last Sunday afternoon against Reading FC.
United have reached the final four times in their history but have yet to take the cup home with them This time they battled past a brave Reading side – a club that were playing WSL football as recently as 2023 but were demoted to the Tier 5 Southern Regional Women’s Football League at the end of last season –thanks to Macey-Nikiah Walter’s
instinctive first time strike on the stroke of half time and second half goals from Isacc Gregory and Natalie Cowell But Maidenhead beware - in the other semifinal, Tier 6 outfit Newport Pagnell Town shocked United’s Tier 4 peers Chesham United with a 2-0 victory at The Meadow.
The final will take place at Holloways Park, Beaconsfield Town FC, HP9 2SE at 2pm on 16th March 2025 Admission will be priced at £5 for adults, £1 for Under 16s, with Under 5s attending Free of charge.
United made a nervy start and in the opening moments Karima Elouath dispossessed the Maidenhead defence but struck an early shot tamely at Maidenhead goalkeeper Kenny Clarke The opener came on 41 minutes, topscorer Walters holding off a challenge from Mollie Dench and tucking the ball home from Katie Akerman’s ball forward. Just after the hour, Gregory nodded home at the far post after a delicious run and cross from the right from Libby Doyle Another cross from the right – this time by Walters – was bundled home for the clincher by Cowell inside the final ten minutes
Manager Ed Jackson-Norris reflected after the game: “Any side can have a good season and be a good team for a year and win a competition, but great sides and great groups find ways to win again and that was the aim for this season, following up our Combined Counties Cup win last year by trying to push again for silverware this season.” Goal scorer Gregory admitted: “It’s great to score and get through to the final, it is really nice.” Looking ahead to the final Gregory said: “We have got the belief, we have got the squad I think we can go all the way”
Meanwhile, the Development team will compete in the BBFA Trophy, also to be played at Beaconsfield, on Sunday 23rd March. The Devs defeated MK City 4-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in their semi-final.
ON THE ROAD
It was a night to remember in the North West as Shawn McCoulsky hammered home the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Oldham Athletic.
Oldham started the stronger of the sides Mike Fondop had an early opportunity, but he was unable to keep his header on target Likewise, as a result of a free kick due to Casey Pettit’s sliding challenge on the edge of the box, Joe Pritchard curled a
shot wide of Craig Ross’ right-side post.
With a quarter of an hour played, Oldham had arguably their best chance of the half when Will Sutton connected with a corner The Latics player wrapped his hands around his head as his effort clattered the crossbar and out of a play for a goal kick. Josh Kay rattled the advertising hoardings after a well-worked build up with half an hour played, while Tom Pett also fired wide after a strong run into the box
It was around the 60th minute, however, when the game truly began to heat up. A Manny Onariase foul on the edge of the penalty area gave Fondop an opportunity to open the scoring, but the safe hands of Ross - on his way to his third clean sheet in a row - denied the former Magpie McCoulsky and Abrahams have linked up on more than one occasion this season to produce a crucial goal From his own third, the latter played a lobbed pass to the #9, who was left one-on-one with an Oldham defender. As his opponent fell to the ground, McCoulsky ran into the box and fired home past Donaghy to score the winning goal in the 64th minute
McCoulsky nearly made it two with his effort from a tight angle The shot forced a corner, which Donaghy had to punch out for another set piece, and a hasty Oldham clearance prevented two goals in almost as many minutes. The Latics peppered the United goal for the last 20 minutes Jake Caprice’s cross was only met with groans from the home crowd as it somehow evaded a goalbound touch, while James Norwood fired a half-volley straight towards Ross.
The Maidenhead stopper once again denied the hosts as Fondop’s downwards header failed to beat Ross, while the former Magpie headed wide for the third time in the game just over a minute later Five minutes were added on, and the Latics continued to threaten the United goal. Their efforts proved fruitless, and Maidenhead took all three points home to Berkshire.
Full-time: Oldham Athletic 0-1 Magpies
MEET THE OPPOSITION
April 29th, 2017, was a notable day in the history of both Maidenhead United and York City As United fans – many in fancy dress - frolicked across the pitch at Margate at the end of a 3-0 victory which clinched the National League South title, the mood of the Minstermen was somewhat more sombre. A few hours before kick off in Kent, Magpies fans in the Margate clubhouse eased their nerves with a few drinks whilst BT Sports broadcast York City’s nervy 2-2 draw with Forest Green Rovers Results elsewhere meant that City were relegated from the National League and a first ever meeting between our sides would have to wait another five years.
Between 1974 and 1976, today’s visitors were a second tier EFL side playing league matches against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa At the same time, our own Magpies were settling into life as members of the new Isthmian League division two. The Minstermen however were largely a third or fourth tier side for most of their 82 uninterrupted years in the League between 1922 and 2004, regaining their lost status in 2012 only to suffer back-to-back relegations in 2016 and 2017
On 21st May 2022, York City began their long climb back to where they will believe they belong Boston United were defeated 2-0 at the LNER Community Stadium in a play-off final which attracted a crowd of 7,488 Goals from Lenell John-Lewis and Maz Kouhyar were enough to end York's five-year stay in the sixth tier Boston searched in vain for an equaliser after John-Lewis' first-half opener, before Kouhyar's late goal sealed victory for the Minstermen. Two seasons of struggle have followed but life is looking rosier right now under Adam Hinshelwood’s management
Maidenhead saw exactly what this side are all about as Hinshelwood’s prolific former Worthing striker Ollie Pearce scored twice as York climbed back to the top of the National League table with a 6-2 rout of the 10-man Magpies on the final day of November The hosts raced into a 4-0 lead inside 32 minutes, with Pearce starting the ball rolling and doubling his tally from the penalty spot before Tyrese Sinclair made it three. Former Ashley Nathaniel-George scored the fourth before Shawn McCoulsky reduced the deficit. Seven minutes after the restart the officials contrived to wrongly send off Alan Massey – a decision later reversed by the FA on appeal – and although Sam Barratt converted a 67th-minute penalty Adam Crookes and substitute Luca Thomas added further goals.
The Gaffer – Adam Hinshelwood
Nephew of former Brighton manager Martin Hinshelwood, Adam joined the Minstermen on a long-term deal in February 2024, following over six-years at Worthing FC A Football League defender by trade during his playing days, Hinshelwood boasts over 100 Brighton & Hove Albion appearances across the Championship and League One Spells at Aldershot and Wycombe in the Football League also followed for the central defender during a playing career hit by injury
In 2013, Hinshelwood was appointed manager of Worthing before leaving a couple years later to pursue a coaching role at Brighton & Hove Albion A return in 2017 has seen an Isthmian Premier Division title and a Sussex Senior Challenge Cup secured since, with The Rebes now plying their trade in the National League South. COVID had disrupted their ambitions, but their eventual promotion was secured in 2022 Hinshelwood also brought two key major staff members with him to the LNER Community Stadium, namely Gary Elphick and Cameron Morrison.
THREE TO WATCH
Ashley Nathaniel-George swapped Berkshire for Yorkshire this summer and Magpies fans will be well aware of the quality that ‘ANG’ possesses Ashley has history in this fixture, scoring in three consecutive matches against York for the Magpies and paying back some of that previous damage in City’s big win against us in November Ashley made 65 starts and scored 10 goals for United between 2022 and 2024
Harrison Male is a goalkeeper well known to manager Adam Hinshelwood from their time at Worthing. Male joined the Minstermen last May from Dorking Wanderers, where he scooped up Young Player of The Year, Supporters Player of The Year, and Players’ Player of The Year, playing every competitive minute for them bar the penultimate fixture. Male is a product of the Leeds United academy who has played for England between U15-17s level, as well as England C
Ollie Pearce is another who reunited with former gaffer Hinshelwood in the summer. Pearce had previously enjoyed an incredibly successful six-years with Worthing, reaching a century of goals for the Sussex club in February 2023 and scoring 46 goals in 51 appearances last season Golden boot winner in the National League South in 2023/24 but unable to quite eclipse our own Dave Tarpey’s NLS seasonal record from ‘16/17
LAST TIME OUT
A frustrating afternoon in Berkshire ended in defeat for United as goals from Frank Nouble and Harvey Greenslade earned Yeovil Town a 2-0 victory, ending a remarkable run of form with their first league loss at home since November, writes Scott Hargreaves
Alan Devonshire named one change for the Magpies return to York Road as Reece Smith came in for Joshua Johnson in midfield United got us underway on a sunny but brisk afternoon, but it was the visitors who had the first chance of note Jake Wannell glanced Charlie Cooper’s cross towards goal, but Craig Ross adjusted well to make a simple save. The highlights of a fairly slow opening half an hour came down either flank as Tristan Abrahams and then Alan Massey beat their man down the wing with a nice piece of skill but that was where both attacks ended.
On the half-hour mark, Miles Welch-Hayes worked a crossing opportunity well that with some fortune fell to the feet of Shawn McCoulsky, but United’s number nine couldn’t quite adjust to put his effort on target This Maidenhead pressure sparked the game into life as Yeovil quickly responded with an effort through Ciarin McGuckin, whose header was turned away by Ross The visitors then took the lead with 38 minutes on the clock as Frank Nouble blasted a cross across goal, but a huge deflection off of Will de Havilland at the near post took it into the net.
With 10 minutes gone in the second half, Yeovil had an opportunity to double their lead as Sonny Blu Lo-Everton drilled a shot across goal but a fingertip from Ross made sure it went round the post. United had been limited to half-chances for much of the game, but a decent opportunity presented itself to McCoulsky but his contact on Reece Smith’s cross wasn’t enough to threaten the goal
Harvey Greenslade doubled the Glovers lead with eight minutes left to play as he took the ball down well in the area before acrobatically volleying past Ross into the top corner Yeovil could have made it three just before the end of normal time, but Frank Nouble’s effort to towards the back post failed to find a teammate or the far corner. Results elsewhere on the day took United back into the bottom four of the National League table.
Full-time: Magpies 0-2 Yeovil Town
THE ISTHMIAN BOYS
May 2025 will mark 25 year since Alan Devonshire led Maidenhead United to the Isthmian League Premier Division In the latest of a series of articles celebrating this milestone, former Unite Chairman Roger Coombs shares his memories of tha historic season
Husband and wife duo Rog and Jean Coombs gave terrific service to the club fo twelve years between 1991 and 2003. Initially as joint-
treasurers of the club from 1991 – using their experience in accountancy and banking – Roger became chairman in 1997 for six very successful seasons under the management of Dev
It wasn’t all sweetness and light though for the couple, Roger recalled many “stressful times” and as the 1999/00 season approached Roger and Jean felt that they had perhaps “lost the faith of the supporters” following a midtable finish in 98/99 after the team had gone so close to promotion the season before That agonising near-miss in 97/98 is still remembered by all involved with the club at the time A key game at Hampton in the final week was lost thanks to a late goal The Beavers would be promoted on the final day instead and Roger recalls the Hampton players and staff “giving it large” to Magpies fans and staff at the end.
Roger recalled a similarly tumultuous end to 99/00, a season beset by bad weather and postponements. Into the final weeks, Roger recalls the high of winning at Bognor Regis – “we never won there” – and the low of a draw at Whyteleafe; “a poor pitch, we drew 1-1 thanks to a late Whyteleafe goal.” Unusually for a team with a fixture pile-up, the players and staff travelled to Jersey in mid-April to play a fixture to celebrate a significant anniversary for the Jersey FA Roger recalls: “We were suffering from a blip in form, but the committee voted in favour of the trip and in hindsight it strengthened the bond between the players for the run-in as they played golf together and shared quality time in the hotel”
Roger – who was part of an interview committee with his predecessor and successor respectively in the Chair, Jim Parsons and Jon Swan, who had appointed Dev and Martyn Busby in 1996 – recalls the final week of the season. “It was a poor winter so we had four games in six days On Bank Holiday Monday we were unlucky to lose the League Cup Final On Wednesday we defeated Romford 4-0, a side who had just drawn 1-1 with our promotion rivals Thame We gave champions Croydon a guard of honour on Thursday night and then beat them 1-0.” Promotion was secured!
LEAGUE TABLE
ON THIS DAY
Today, in 1984, the Magpies were chasing promotion to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League when Metropolitan Police were the visitors to York Road. Making his home debut (above right) was a young striker signed from Slough Town who went by the name of Garry Attrell I still have the programme from this match but nothing significant springs to mind to jog my memory of it, unlike the first time I saw Garry play which was for the Rebels at Wexham Park when he scored the winning goal to knock Millwall out of the FA Cup in 1982 Brighton made a bid of £10,000 for the young striker. However, Slough, realising his possible potential, turned this significant offer down with the belief that his value would appreciate given time. Unfortunately (for Slough anyway) Attrell suffered a loss of form and was plagued by injuries, eventually leading to him parting company with the Rebels Slough’s loss was certainly Maidenhead’s gain as Attrell would go on to acquire legendary status at York Road, making 296 appearances over two spells with the club
United started the game well wreaking havoc in the Police defence, Lance Cadogan opened the scoring for the Magpies after 20 minutes when he converted a knock on from Richard North with a spectacular overhead kick Six minutes later Attrell received the biggest cheer of the afternoon when he scored the first of his 59 goals for the club when he ran on to a Dave Dennis pass to hit a screaming shot past Jim Crinigan in the Police goal. In fact, Attrell could have had a hat trick in the first-half after being presented with two good chances but failed to beat Crinigan again Despite this the Magpies kept up the pressure at the start of the second-half and on 50 minutes it was 3-0 when an excellent through ball from Andy Broadley found Mark Davis who unleashed a shot from 20 yards to add more misery for the boys in blue
Maidenhead then made the mistake of sitting back on their lead which almost cost them dear as the Police had a number of chances to get back into the game with the Magpies having keeper Lawrence Batty and the woodwork to thank. They did eventually breakthrough in the 75th minute when Colin Rose got one back but United held on to win 3-1 and move to within five points of leaders Boreham Wood.
