Tales from the Bell End

 As we wait for the official retained list which surely will come quicker than it did after last season… I have put together my thoughts on every player that played for us. I have also given my opinion on whether I would retain or release those players whose futures are currently unknown. So far we know: Retained :  JVS, Manny Onariase, JML, Jordan Raguette, Matt Robinson, Josh Umerah  Departing:  Will De Havilland, Asher Yearwood, Josh Popoola, Harry Pritchard ( Retiring ) Those in red have since left the club. Now I’m sure I’ve probably missed someone but I’m not including Roraigh Browne, our 3rd choice keeper on loan from Watford who didn’t play a second for us.  JVS - If you’d told me back in September that JVS would be getting in the top 4 Supporters Player of the Year vote I would have assumed it was some kind of protest vote. He started the season looking very shaky on crosses and prone to a big error which would inevitably cost us points. However, he ha...

Last night was disappointing to say the least. As we finished the season in 7th position in the National League South, I’ve kept to the format of the Dover game review. Here are my 7 thoughts on the game: 1. It was my first time visiting Meadowbank and Dorking itself. The bar was well stocked and service for both food and drink was quick. However, that’s where the positives end. It’s another ground, like Slough’s, with extremely limited terracing meaning that unless you’re stood on the fence line your field of vision is appalling. I know York Road isn’t fit for purpose in some ways but the view of the pitch is decent wherever you stand or sit! This feels like a very basic request when designing a football stadium along with some cover if it’s raining, which both Meadowbank and Arbour Park fail on. Our fans used the small covered area we were allowed to create a tremendous noise and atmosphere.  2. Whilst on the subject of our fans, I can’t help but echo Neil Maskell’s comments in h...

After all my words of praise in Part 1 , you may wonder why I supported Alan Devonshire’s decision to resign. It is a cliché but ‘all good things must come to an end’ and very few managers last over 4 years at a football club let alone over 9 in their second spell. Things inevitably turn stale, as managers struggle to keep a side motivated, who disengage after hearing the same voice for a long period. Towards the end of Dev’s time in charge he just didn’t appear to be inspiring the side or making any impact with subs. When you consider that Ryan Peters and others appeared to do most of the actual coaching, it left me wondering if we could do better with a new voice and new ideas.  The beginning of the end Last summer’s recruitment was patchy at best. Now, I know I defended Dev’s recruitment in Part 1 , but that was in the National League when we were competing for signings with full time clubs. However, in Summer 2025 we were recruiting from a position of strength, as one of t...

  8 thoughts on the Dover game as we sit agonisingly outside the play off places in Eighth.     First half we played well and created a fair few chances we should have converted. Popoola and De Silva, who was playing in a more advanced role than I’ve seen him before, were causing the Dover defence issues. Their keeper’s distribution was straight from the school of Craig Ross, meaning that they were struggling to clear their lines which allowed us to control the game for the first 45 mins.    Unfortunately our finishing let us down in the first half with De Silva and Umerah both missing presentable chances. Umerah didn’t have one of his best games but a lack of options off the bench meant he huffed and puffed for 90 mins. I hope this doesnt cost us against Hornchurch if he isn’t fully fit on Saturday. Whilst De Silva looked dangerous he was playing off the left despite not appearing to have any confidence to shoot or cross with his left foot. If Dulson was f...

I couldn’t get to the game on Saturday but having watched the highlights, that Josh Popoola block in the 95th minute was incredible! Straight into the end of season montage and hopefully a pivotal intervention in our run to the play-offs. Instead of thoughts on the game, this post is going to look at Maidenhead’s greatest ever manager: Alan Devonshire. I’ll begin by saying Happy Birthday to the York Road legend who turned 70 on Monday, news of which inspired this retrospective.   Alan Devonshire, pre-flat cap era Alan Devonshire's Black and White Army Dev managed us for over 900 games in two spells, starting as joint manager alongside Martyn Busby for the 1996–1997 season, before taking sole charge later that season. To fully understand how much he transformed the football club, I think it’s important to look at how the club performed without him. In his first full season , Maidenhead were competing in the Isthmian League Division 1 against teams such as Whyteleafe, Molesey, Leyto...

 Hello readers and welcome to a new ( hopefully ) regular blog dedicated to the original MUFC - Maidenhead United Football Club.  Whilst I am using a pseudonym for this blog, my identity is less of a mystery than the ongoing professional footballing career of Chanka Zimba who Wikipedia informs me has scored 10 goals in Scottish League One this season for ICT and has won an international cap for Zambia! I’ve been supporting the Magpies since the 1996/97 season, with my first game being the Full Members Cup Semi Final victory against Sutton Utd which also happened to be Dev’s first season in charge.  Much like a 90s match day program ‘meet the player section’ but without learning my favourite drink is lager and my favourite holiday destination is Spain here is a little about me: Favourite ever player : Barry Rake or Lawrence Yaku Favourite current player : Matt Robinson (always Robinson, never Kama) Favourite ever game : The promotion game away at Margate Favourite kit : 00...