TUESDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2024
7:45PM
EMIRATES FA CUP
CLUBNEWS
The Magpies have been handed a trip to Binfield in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Third Round Teams playing in NLS Steps 1-4 join the competition in this round
Last season’s final was won by the Reading U23 side who defeated Marlow 2-1 in the final. United’s last triumph in the competition was in 2017, when a National League South and BBFA Cup ‘double’ was completed with a hard-fought win over Hungerford Town at Arbour Park, Slough.
The tie is the first competitive meeting of the two sides since the 2019/20 competition, when the Magpies ran out 4-0 winners at York Road on 3rd December 2019 Centre-back Joe Ellul scored for United with top-scorer Danny Whitehall hitting a hat-trick Goalkeeper Fred Chapman kept a clean sheet on debut and a teenage Reece Smith appeared in Dev’s matchday squad for the first time ever as United put in a clinical performance
More recently, the teams met in pre-season this summer at The Iconic Stadium, Mill Farm Lane. Academy graduate Jamie Davies opened the scoring by putting the ball into the net at the near post at the second attempt with Tobi Sho-Silva glancing home the second from Remy Clerima's cross.
Into the second period, Kevin Lokko nodded into an empty net after Will de Havilland headed Sam Barratt's centre across goal and thereafter it was the Shawn McCoulsky show A corner was headed against the post by teenager Josh McMenemy but ended up in the net via McCoulsky A perfect chip made it five and McCoulsky had a six-minute hat-trick when he despatched a cut-back from Reece Smith The scoring was completed in injury time as a third Maidenhead Academy graduate, Jadyn Dundas, threaded a perfect through ball for McCoulsky to claim his fourth and United’s seventh.
During the 2024/25 season so far Josh McMenemy – who impressed in the friendly encounter – has been on loan with Ross Weatherstone’s Moles who operate at Step 4 in the Isthmian League South Central Division. The tie has been arranged for Monday 11th November subject to BBFA confirmation with a 7:45pm kick off at Hill Farm Lane, RG42 5NR
Meanwhile in other loan news, former Burton Albion man Thierry Latty-Fairweather has agreed a second loan deal with the Magpies The 21-year-old York City defender made seven appearances earlier in the season has rejoined on a deal going through to January
Maidenhead United secured a 2-1 victory against Ebbsfleet United under the floodlights at York Road
United got the game und chance of the game Reec Nathan Ferguson’s heade net The next ten minute chances of note. That was Dominic Poleon, but the s
Just before the half-hour from Ben Chapman ende defending kept the visitor a chance of their own A lo inside the six-yard box, bu smothered by Mark Cous
The game gradually beca Ebbsfleet found space do back to Wes Fonguck, bu On the 39th minute we h Magpies forward dropped with the ball. Smith drove to the edge of the area, an Tristan Abrahams
HALF-TIME – Maidenhea
Maidenhead started the s Shawn McCoulsky having the turn was blocked.
LASTTIMEAT YORKROAD
McCoulsky was again cau unended and the ref had to get up and grab the ba corner and doubling Maid scoresheet, McCoulsky was hungry for more He battled with Mustapha Olagunju on halfway and managed to break through with the loose ball, but his shot rolled narrowly passed the far post
More heroic defending again kept the visitors out, this time Miles Welch-Hayes and Casey Pettit putting their bodies on the line. Firstly, Welch-Hayes recovered quickly to clear a shot off the line, when it looked goal bound. Then Pettit got in an important block to deflect another shot away from danger. Ebbsfleet did pull one back in added time through Josh Wright, who curled in from range to deny Maidenhead a clean sheet.
AROUNDTHE LEAGUE
With the Magpies surviving a dangerous looking away tie to claim home advantage in tonight’s replay, some of our Vanarama National League rivals were less successful at the weekend
bbsfleet United Both sides had both came a cropper The Glovers am United, newly promoted to the way through to the First Round to an injury time header from pile in our division – were well Maidstone United side which eet manager Harry Watling
h a replay against lower division th to Brackley Town ahead of their ampbell equaliser against the by, Boston United needed an e a 2-2 draw for Ian Culverhouse’s
n and Woking from replays. The ance to do it all again at Twerton f our A4 neighbours Slough Town med to have been elbowed in the autyman with only a matter of issed for his protestations
half time lead against FC Halifax e second period in front of the ary Park Solihull Moors and play following a 1-1 draw in ancashire rivals AFC Fylde, taking a t Mill Farm. Aribim Pepple scored a inst an Eastleigh side who couldn’t took them into Round 3.
There were victories over lower-level opposition for Tamworth, Sutton United, Wealdstone, Dagenham & Redbridge, Barnet, Forest Green and Braintree whilst nine National League North and South sides are guaranteed a place in the Round 1 draw which took place on Monday evening Step 3 side Harborough Town beat Bury in front of 1,600 spectators to reach Round 1 for the first time ever Magpies beware - other Step 3 sides in the draw include Horsham, the side who gave United an infamous 4-1 beating in the First Round in 2007.
First Round ties will be played over the weekend of 1st – 4th November. Maidenhead fans will be all too aware that even if we can overcome the significant challenge of Taunton Town tonight, we haven’t progressed to Round Two since 1886 where we were defeated 3-2 by Dulwich at York Road!
LASTTIMEOUT
Maidenhead United were forced to settle for a replay in the Emirates FA Cup on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Somerset.
David Duru’s 76th minute goal cancelled out Reece Smith’s first-half strike during the Magpies first-ever visit to Taunton Town
Both sides came into the game in good form United had won their last four in all competitions leading up to the Fourth Round Qualifying fixture, while the Peacocks were unbeaten since mid-August
Alan Devonshire’s side started the game much stronger, piling on pressure throughout the first-half. Reece Smith would commence a string of close chances for the visitors in the 18th minute, with his effort from just outside the box passing over the crossbar.
Smith would be involved in United’s next best opportunity when his cross found Shawn McCoulsky The striker’s downward header forced Adam Parkes into a good save approaching the half-hour mark
Shortly afterwards, Casey Pettit would become the latest Magpie to find himself aiming at goal His curled effort was blocked by the foot of Ollie Woodhouse, taking away his shot’s momentum and allowing Parkes to collect with relative comfort.
However, a goal seemed imminent, and it wasn't long before Smith opened the scoring. Following a good passage of play by United, Smith latched onto the ball from 12 yards out. Parkes’ hand was not enough to prevent a well-deserved goal, and the Magpies would enter the break leading by a goal to nil
Half-time:
Taunton Town 0-1 Maidenhead United
The second half began as a much quieter affair than the first United thought they’d doubled their lead just after the hour mark, but Kevin Lokko’s header resulting from a free kick was ruled out for offside.
A series of substitutions provided the Peacocks with momentum, and it wouldn't be long before Duru’s fresh legs gave the Southern League Premier South side an equaliser. A bit of a scramble resulted in Duru firing home from close range in the 76th minute - just seven minutes after he entered the field of play.
United faced the last 15 minutes under pressure from a side which has won three games to reach this stage of the competition, and Craig Ross did exceptionally well to deny a Taunton winner with a remarkable triple-save in the closing stages
Full-time: Taunton Town 1-1
Maidenhead United
ht of wn nd he in r an to s as in ey wn ase gue he on me as y K his
The Gaffer – Richard Luffman
Luffman has managed over 500 games as a manager and has a win percentage of nearly 70% winning 8 trophies along the way Richard has managed Otterbourne, Alresford, and Cribbs, where he lead the team to an Hellenic League Title alongside a League Cup. Rich left Cribbs in February 2024 flying high in 3rd place of the Southern League Division One.
Luffman joined Taunton Town in the summer of 2024 and has only suffered defeat twice, both occurring in their opening three games of the season His record so far in charge at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium reads Played
Fourteen, Won Seven, Drawn Five, Lost Two.
THREE TO WATCH
Weymouth-born Adam Parkes has played first team football at non-league level for Havant & Waterlooville, Barnet and Dover Athletic during loan spells from Watford. Prior to joining the Hornets in 2019, Parkes had been at Southampton since the age of 10 and played for England at Under-17 level. Joined Plymouth Argyle in 20/21 as backup before joining Plymouth Parkway in 22/23 season. Parkes joined Taunton in June 2024, and he made several fine first half saves on Saturday to keep the Magpies at bay
Eddie Jones signed in July 2024 from Chippenham Town after playing for Bath City, Forest Green Rovers, Gloucester City, AFC Telford, and Oxford City Jones has had spells in the United States and with Solihull Moors 33-year-old Eddie will be looking at passing on some of that much learned wisdom in the game to the new lads coming through at Taunton Town.
Captain Tom Smith also signed in the Summer of 2024 from Bath City where he made 260 appearances with 50 goals in that time Tom first joined Bath City on loan from Swindon Town in October 2017 Tom also spent the latter stages of 2016/17 season out on loan with League of Ireland First Division outfit, Waterford Smith joined Cheltenham Town in June 2018 but after release by the Robins in May 2019 he signed permanently for Bath
MUFCACADEMY
Maidenhead United Academy made it through to the final qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup with a deserved victory at Wealdstone on Wednesday, 2nd October.
All the goals on the night at Grosvenor Vale were scored in a thrilling first half, during which time both sides led twice. Maidenhead led in only the second minute of the game when a corner kick ended in the back of the net via a Wealdstone player. The hosts were level after 15 minutes following the award of a rather harshlooking penalty kick, and led shortly after when Emmanuele Olatunji capitalised on some hesitant United defending
An instinctive first-time hit was too hot to handle for the Stones goalkeeper as Quaye Vine levelled for the young Magpies just before the half hour, but Olatunji completed his hat-trick within minutes with a quality finish from close range
The Magpies however turned the game on its head before the break. The visitors were awarded a penalty of their own prior to the break with the host’s goalkeeper perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch after committing a bad foul. Justice was done when Enzo Pashaj scored from the spot and Maidenhead had their lead back before the interval when Nuno Cook netted from close range
United’s coaching team made some tweaks at half-time, and Maidenhead’s defending was far more composed in the second period Indeed, the Magpies had plenty of opportunities to win the game with substitutes Senna Anagho and Amari Dumont being a particular threat
Maidenhead really should have had a second penalty kick when the excellent Kian Mirnam’s feet were taken from underneath him by a home defender, but despite five minutes of time added on United stayed firm to book their place in Monday’s draw.
The Magpies will face travel to Eastbourne United or Tooting Bec in the next round of the competition, with ties to be played in the week commencing 14th October Sides from EFL 1 and 2 will join in the First Round Proper next month
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
On World Mental Health Day last Thursday 10th October, Maidenhead United Football Club took a moment to reflect on the importance of mental wellbeing. Not only within the world of football, but across every aspect of life.
Football is often celebrated for its physical demands and challenges, but we believe that mental health is just as critical as physical fitness, both on and off the pitch We are fully committed to promoting an environment where mental health is prioritised and where the conversation around well-being is open, supportive, and free from stigma
World Mental Health Day serves as a powerful reminder of how important it is to talk about mental health, to check in on ourselves and those around us, and to seek help when it’s needed. Whether it’s the pressure of competition, the challenges of everyday life, or the uncertainty and stress that many experience in their professional and personal lives, mental health affects all of us No one is immune to these challenges, but together, we can help break the silence that too often surrounds them By acknowledging the importance of mental health in our workplaces, our homes, and our communities, we can make a real difference in people’s lives
At Maidenhead United, we have taken steps to ensure that mental health is a core part of our values. We recognise the importance of physical wellbeing by providing fitness activities for all ages, while also ensuring anyone who needs emotional support can access it. We are committed to combatting loneliness within our community, and firmly believe the mental health benefits of football can be enjoyed by all. We are proud of the opportunities our women and girls’ offerings can provide, enabling anyone, of any age, or any gender, to improve their mental health
Through our partnership with the Campaign Against Living Miserably, we hope to prevent suicide by ensuring that nobody feels alone in their struggles If you are struggling or you know someone who is struggling the Campaign Against Living Miserably is available to provide support through its anonymous helpline at 0800 585858, or through the range of tools and resources on their website providing practical, non-clinical advice to make talking and managing mental health easier.
Our partnership with the Campaign Against Living Miserably has been made possible because of the generous support of our coalition of CALM partners, who recognise that together we can break the stigma of mental health and help save lives Together, we are UNITED AS ONE and UNITED AGAINST SUICIDE
MAIDENHEADUNITED SUPPORTERSGROUP
Maidenhead United Supporters Group (MUSG) is the name of the new fan-led group dedicated to enhancing the experience that MUFC supporters have with their club and supporting the club in all its endeavours.
MUSG have already seen a 50% increase in membership this season, which is really positive. MUSG is now looking to grow representation across all teams operating under the MUFC banner
MUSG is delighted with the recent upturn in away results and away support, with good numbers making their way to ‘new’ grounds at Boston United and Taunton Town and more than 100 away supporters easily out-singing more than 6,600 Southend United supporters at our last league game
MUSG will be running a coach for our trip to Yeovil on Saturday, 26th October Ticket prices are as follows:
Adult MUSG Member
£35
Adult Non-Member £40
U16 MUSG Member £25
U16 Non-Member £30
If more than 25 supporters sign up, each traveller will be reimbursed £5 This increases to £10 should more than 30 seats be filled Payment is available by cash/card/bank transfer - please see one of the MUSG Team opposite the Merchandising Stand during all home games or email: musgyorkroad@gmail.com
Please visit us today, join MUSG, buy a badge, a 50/50 draw ticket and a Golden Goal ticket and have a chat with us about our activities for the season
We are looking into the viability of further coordinated travel to away matches prior to Christmas – keep an eye our on the website, our programmes notes and our ‘X’ account, @MUSG YorkRoad
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE TABLE
MANAGER: Alan Devonshire
HARVEY COLLINS (GK) 1
ZAC BELL 2
TYRESE DYCE 3
WILL DE HAVILLAND 4
KEVIN LOKKO 5
THIERRY LATTY-FAIRWEATHER 6
RUBEN CARVALHO 7
NATHAN FERGUSON 8
SHAWN McCOULSKY 9
KANE FERDINAND 10
JAYDEN MITCHELL-LAWSON 11
BRADLEY KEETCH 12
CRAIG ROSS (GK) 13
TOBI SHO-SILVA 14
CASEY PETTIT 16
REECE SMITH 17
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON 18
OWEN COCHRANE 19
REMY CLERIMA 20
TARIQ UWAKWE 21
MILES WELCH-HAYES 22
TRISTAN ABRAHAMS 23
ALAN MASSEY 24
SAM BARRATT 25
JAMES GOLDING 26
JAMIE DAVIES 27
JOSHUA McMENEMY 28
JADYN DUNDAS 29
JOSEPH AJOSE 32
MANAGER: Richard Luffman
Adams Parkes (GK)
Jake Viney (GK)
Toby Down
Eddie Jones
Ollie Woodhouse
Taigo Sa
Tom Smith
Kyrese Morrison
Reece Hedges
David Duru
Olly Sully
Owen Brain
Calum English-Brown
Tom Purrington
Matt Spiller
Harris Feltham
Jacob Hodgson
Alfie Moulden
Archie Ferris
Aysa Corrick
Jayden Nielsen
Morgan Lewis
Jay Malshanskyj
Opi Edwards
Jack Mattheww
TODAY’S OFFICIALS
Referee: Sam Mulhall
Assistants: Elliot Mayer and Alex
Mathieson
Fourth Official: Harrison Blair
