Maidenhead United Football Club is a semi-professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club based in
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a market town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire, England, on the southwestern bank of the River Thames. It had an estimated population of 70,374 and forms part of the border with southern Bu ...
,
Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
, England. They are currently members of and have played at
York Road since 1871, making it the 'oldest senior football ground continuously used by the same club'.
[Country's 'oldest' football ground in Maidenhead gets plaque]
BBC News, 13 October 2012
History
Maidenhead Football Club was established in October 1870, with the club's first match played on 17 December 1870 against Windsor Home Park at Bond's Meadow.
Maidenhead United F.C. They were one of the fifteen clubs to play in the inaugural
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
competition in
1871–72, beating
Marlow 2–0 in the first round before losing 3–0 at
Crystal Palace.
The club reached the quarter finals the
following season, eventually losing 4–0 to
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
.
[ The club were quarter-finalists again in 1873–74 – losing 7–0 at ]Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
– and 1874–75, when they were beaten 1–0 at Old Etonians
Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...
.[ Maidenhead Temperance and Boyne Hill both merged into the club in 1891.][
Maidenhead were founder members of the Southern League in 1894, joining Division Two. They finished bottom of the division in its inaugural season and again in 1898–99 and 1899–1900, before leaving the league in 1902.][ The club subsequently dropped into the West Berkshire League and the Berks and Bucks League.][ They won the West Berkshire League at the first attempt and were runners-up in 1903–04,][Honours]
Maidenhead United F.C. before joining the new Great Western Suburban League
The Great Western Suburban League was a football league that was primarily held in the Home counties, founded in 1904.
History
The Great Western Suburban League was founded in 1904, drawing its membership from the Home counties to the west of Lo ...
alongside Maidenhead Norfolkians in 1904.[Great Western Suburban League 1904–1931]
Non-League Matters
Following a meeting in April 1919 Maidenhead Norfolkians merged into the club, after which the club colours were changed from black and red stripes to black and white.[ They won the Great Western Suburban League in 1919–20,][ after which the club was renamed Maidenhead United.][ The club were runners-up in the Great Western Suburban League in 1920–21,][ before joining Division One of the ]Spartan League
The Spartan League was a football league in England covering London and adjacent counties. Established in 1907, it merged with the South Midlands League in 1997 to form the Spartan South Midlands League.
History
The Spartan League was establish ...
in 1922.[Spartan League 1907–1934]
Non-League Matters They won the Division One title in 1926–27, before being placed in Division One West in 1928 amidst league reorganisation. The club were Division One West runners-up in 1928–29 before being placed in the Premier Division the following season.[
Maidenhead were Premier Division runners-up in 1930–31 and went on to win the league the following season.][ Although the club finished in the bottom half of the table in 1932–33, they won the Premier Division title for a second time in 1933–34.][ In 1935–36 they reached the semi-finals of the ]FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when the Football Association abolished official amateur status.
History
Following the legalisation of professionalism within footba ...
, losing 4–1 to Ilford at Upton Park.[ After the outbreak of ]World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
in 1939, the club joined the Great Western Combination
The Great Western Combination was a football league in south-central England.
History
The league was established in 1939, initially as a wartime competition as many other leagues had been abandoned following the outbreak of World War II. Its or ...
, finishing as runners-up in 1944–45.[Great Western Combination 1939–1964]
Non-League Matters They then joined the newly formed Corinthian League
The League of Corinth, also referred to as the Hellenic League (from Greek Ἑλληνικός ''Hellenikos'', "pertaining to Greece and Greeks"), was a confederation of Greek states created by Philip II in 338–337 BC. The League was created ...
.[Corinthian League 1945–1963]
Non-League Matters The club won the league's Memorial Shield in 1956–57 and were league champions the following season.[ In 1960–61 they reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since the formation of the ]Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...
, losing 5–0 at Colchester United; the club went on to win the Corinthian League for a second time at the end of the season. After winning the league again in 1960–61, they won the league and Memorial Shield double in 1961–62.[
Another FA Cup first round appearance followed in 1962–63, ending with a 3–0 defeat at home to ]Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The team compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. They play their home ...
. In 1963 the Corinthian League merged into the Athenian League, with Maidenhead becoming members of the Premier Division. In their first season in the new league the club reached the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 2–0 at home to Bath City.[ A fourth FA Cup first round appearance in 1971–72 saw them lose 2–0 at Enfield.][ In 1973 the club joined Division Two of the ]Isthmian League
The Isthmian League () is a regional men's football league covering Greater London, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs.
Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, the league now consists of 82 tea ...
, which was renamed Division One in 1977.[ They were relegated to Division Two South at the end of the 1986–87 season, where they remained until finishing as runners-up in 1990–91, earning promotion back to Division One.][ In 1996–97 the club won the league's Full Members Cup.][
A third-place finish in Division One in 1999–2000 saw Maidenhead promoted to the Premier Division. In 2003–04 they finished twelfth in the Premier Division, earning a place in the new ]Conference South
The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the N ...
. However, after finishing bottom of the division in 2005–06, the club were relegated to the Premier Division of the Southern League. The following season saw them reach the FA Cup first round for the first time since the 1970s, losing 2–0 at Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts. Stafford Rangers' rivals include T ...
in a replay;[ they also finished fourth in the Premier Division qualifying for the promotion play-offs; the club went on to defeat ]King's Lynn
King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn and colloquially as Lynn, is a port and market town in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the county of Norfolk, England. It is located north of London, north-east of Peterborough, no ...
1–0 in the semi-finals before beating Team Bath
TeamBath is the University of Bath's sporting organisation. In addition to entering teams in BUCS intervarsity competitions, TeamBath has also entered teams in national leagues and competitions. Team Bath F.C. reached the first round proper of t ...
by the same scoreline in the final to secure promotion back to the Conference South. Another FA Cup first round appearance in 2007–08 ended with a 4–1 defeat at Horsham
Horsham is a market town on the upper reaches of the River Arun on the fringe of the Weald in West Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester. Nearby to ...
. They reached the first round again in 2011–12 (losing 2–0 to Aldershot Town in a replay) and 2015–16 (losing 3–1 at home to Port Vale
Port Vale Football Club are a professional football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, which compete in . Vale are the only English Football League club not to be named after a place; their name being a reference to the valley o ...
in another replay).[
In 2016–17 Maidenhead won the renamed National League South, earning promotion to the ]National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
. They earned 98 points, 2 more than professional Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is a professional football club based in Northfleet, Kent, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the club competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.
The club was formed in 1946 from ...
, who were favourites to win.[ In their first season in the division, another FA Cup first round appearance saw them lose 2–0 at ]Coventry City
Coventry City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Coventry, West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, Championship, the second tier of the English footbal ...
. They reached the first round again in 2019–20, losing 3–1 at home to Rotherham United.
The 2019–20 National League season was officially curtailed on 31 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring the outcome of the final table to be decided on a points per game basis. Both Maidenhead and Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is a professional football club based in Northfleet, Kent, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the club competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.
The club was formed in 1946 from ...
finished the season on 1.08 points per game, but the latter was relegated to the Conference South
The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the N ...
on goal difference.
Ground
The club played their first home match at Bond's Meadow, before moving to York Road in 1871, with the first match at the new ground played on 16 February 1871 against Marlow.[ York Road had been a cricket ground from the late eighteenth century, and is acknowledged as the "oldest senior football ground continuously used by the same club".][ The freehold of the ground was bought in 1920.][ The club's record attendance of 7,920 was set for an ]FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when the Football Association abolished official amateur status.
History
Following the legalisation of professionalism within footba ...
quarter-final against Southall on 7 March 1936,[ with Maidenhead winning 1–0.][
]
Players
Current squad
Out on loan
Honours
*National League
**National League South champions 2016–17
*Isthmian League
**Full Members Cup winners 1996–97
*Corinthian League
**Champions 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62
**Memorial Shield winners 1956–57, 1961–62
*Spartan League
**Champions 1926–27, 1931–32, 1933–34
*Great Western Suburban League
**Champions 1919–20
*West Berkshire League
**Champions 1902–03
* Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
**Winners 1894–95, 1895–96, 1911–12, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2009–10,Further Honours
Maidenhead United F.C. 2014–15,[ 2016–17
]
Records
*Best FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football. First played during the 1871–72 season, it is the oldest national football competi ...
performance: Quarter-finals, 1872–73, 1873–74, 1874–75[
*Best ]FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when the Football Association abolished official amateur status.
History
Following the legalisation of professionalism within footba ...
performance: Semi-finals, 1935–36[
*Best ]FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a men's football knockout cup competition run by and named after the English Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams. The compet ...
performance: Quarter-finals, 2003–04[
*Best ]FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase, usually referred to as the FA Vase, is an annual football competition for teams playing in Steps 5 and 6 of the English National League System (or equivalently, tier 9 or 10 of the overall English footbal ...
performance: Second round, 1989–90[
*Record attendance: 7,920 vs Southall, FA Amateur Cup quarter-final, 7 March 1936][Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2016) ''Non-League Club Directory 2017'', Tony Williams Publications, p132 ]
*Biggest win: 14–1 vs Buckingham Town, FA Amateur Cup, 6 September 1952[
*Heaviest defeat: 14–0 vs ]Chesham United
Chesham United Football Club is a semi-professional football club in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. Nicknamed "the Generals", they are currently members of the and play at the Meadow.
History
The club was established in 1917 by a merger o ...
, Spartan League, 31 March 1923[
*Most appearances: Bert Randall, 532 (1950–1964)][
*Most goals: George Copas, 270 (1924–1935)][
*Most goals in a season: ]Jack Palethorpe
John Thomas Palethorpe (23 November 1909 – 6 June 1984) was an English professional footballer who played for Reading, Stoke City, Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. He was a tall centre forward who scored ...
, 65 (1929–30)[
*Most goals in a game: ]Jack Palethorpe
John Thomas Palethorpe (23 November 1909 – 6 June 1984) was an English professional footballer who played for Reading, Stoke City, Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. He was a tall centre forward who scored ...
, 7 vs Wood Green Town, 1929–30[
]
See also
*Maidenhead United F.C. players
Maidenhead is a market town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire, England, on the southwestern bank of the River Thames. It had an estimated population of 70,374 and forms part of the border with southern ...
* Maidenhead United F.C. managers
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Football clubs in England
Football clubs in Berkshire
Association football clubs established in 1870
1870 establishments in England
Maidenhead
Southern Football League clubs
Spartan League
Great Western Combination
Corinthian League (football)
Athenian League
Isthmian League
National League (English football)
Great Western Suburban League