WELCOME OUR CLUB DIRECTORY PRESIDENT: Rob West SENIOR LIFE PRESIDENT: Dave Jones LIFE VICE PRESIDENTS: Jean & Roger Coombs, Thank you for Richie Goddard, Dave Harrison, Chris Hawkins, Pat McDonald, Mark Smith, Jon Swan, Rob West downloading our & Jon Urry GROUND TRUSTEES: Graham Alfred, Bob Hussey online edition of & Steve Jinman ‘The Magpie’ The principle shareholders of Maidenhead United are Peter Griffin and MUFC Ltd. CHAIRMAN: Peter Griffin We host Barnet at York Road this VICE CHAIRMAN: Bob Hussey afternoon. CEO & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Jon Adams SECETARY: Ken Chandler MEDIA: Steve Jinman This game will be live streamed OPERATIONS & COVID OFFICER: Mark Stewart via our YouTube channel FREE PROPERTY: Graham Alfred of charge and we hope that you tune in and support the Magpies COMMERCIAL: Sasha Bardwell & Sian Lancaster FIXTURE SECETARY: Neil Maskell from home. GROUNDSMAN: Jason Stewart SAFETY OFFICER: Neil Holdstock We hope you all enjoy the game! ([email protected]) MAGPIES IN THE COMMUNITY OFFICERS: Mark Nisbet, Helen Park, Helen Preedy, Nevin Saroya, Amy Saunders, Adam Smith & Yorkie the Magpie Come on you Magpies! CLUB PHOTOGRAPHERS: Darren Woolley, George Tewkesbury MEDIA OFFICER & PROGRAMME EDITOR: Grace Grace Scott, Media Officer and Scott PROGRAMME CONTRIBUTORS: Neil Maskell, Programme Editor Josh Tindall, Maurice Cann, Noah Bardwell VIDEOGRAPHER: FC Video FIRST TEAM MANAGER: Alan Devonshire ASSISTANT MANAGER: Ryan Peters FIRST TEAM COACHES: Eddie Keen and Liam Vaughan PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Max Bangura COVID DOCTOR & MEDICAL OFFICER: Dr Shwan Maroof ([email protected]) SCOUT: Lee Devonshire Academy Manager/First Team Coach: Aaron O’Brien Academy Sports Therapist: Megan Robson Youth Team Goalkeeper Coach: Sam House Under 16 Manager: Jamie Romaine & Steve 2 Maidenhead United v Barnet | 10th April 2021 MEET OUR OPPOSITION We introduce the visitors to 05 York Road this afternoon. A LOOK BACK We reflect on our previous 11 National League fixture. IN THE SPOTLIGHT Noah Bardwel catches up 27 with James Comley. AROUND THE LEAGUE Take a look at what is 30 happening elsewhere today. #WeAreMaidenhead @MUFCYorkRoad 3 4 Maidenhead United v Barnet | 10th April 2021 more than 100 candidates but the partnership was not a success and there was a parting of the ways in December following nine games without a win. The next man to take the hot seat was Tim Flowers, who had previously led Solihull Moors to the runners up position in the National League in 2018/19. The former England ‘keeper had an unhappy time at The Hive, losing eleven of his twelve matches in charge before leaving the job a month ago today. Non-League legend Paul Fairclough returned for a fifth spell in the dug-out at Barnet but he left the role after three games. Head of Performance Gary Anderson was asked to lead the team until The best piece of news received around The Hive the recruitment of Simon Bassey this week. thus far during this troubled campaign will have This afternoon’s clash sees the two teams in been the result of the poll of Vanarama National poorest form in the division come head to head. League South clubs to discontinue the COVID- Barnet have lost their last five on the spin whilst affected 2020/21 season. The Bees have endured the Magpies defeat at York Road on Easter a bafflingly poor season, recording just three Monday was their third in a row. Any expectation league wins prior to their visit to York Road today, of this afternoon’s clash being a formality for but there will be no demotion from the National Maidenhead will be tempered by our miserable League this season. record against the Bees over the past two seasons. Indeed, we haven’t beaten the North This is all in contrast to last season when Barnet – London club since 1964. benefitting from the points-per-game resolution to end the 2019/20 campaign – reached the play- Barnet have won three of the four National offs. With up to four games in hand on their rivals, League encounters between the sides by the the Bees shot up the recalibrated table to face odd Yeovil Town in the end of season competition. A goal since their demotion from the EFL in 2018 2-0 victory at Huish Park took Barnet to Meadow and on their last visit here back in December Lane for the semi-final where the Magpies of 2019 they enjoyed a handsome victory. Nottingham themselves recorded a 2-0 win to Maidenhead at least finally managed a goal qualify for the against Wembley final. the Bees, going ahead in the 27th minute when Josh Kelly slotted past Scott Loach but the Since then there has been a degree of upheaval at lead did not last long before Barnet hauled The Hive. Darren Currie – the manager who led the themselves level. A penalty was awarded four surge to the play-offs – left his post last summer minutes later when Ryan Upward was adjudged to be replaced by former Hereford manager Peter to have handled James Dunne's shot and Beadle. Bees owner Tony Kleanthous explained at Simeon Akinola made no mistake from the the time that Beadle – who’d enjoyed tremendous success with the Bulls – had been selected from #WeAreMaidenhead @MUFCYorkRoad 5 penalty spot to level things up. The visitors took the lead two minutes before the break as Akinola picked out David Tutonda who clinically finished into the bottom corner of the net. Barnet put the game beyond Maidenhead two minutes after the re-start when Cheye Alexander finished off a swift counter attack and Akinola wrapped up victory on another quick break forward at the death. Upwardly mobile Barnet thus recorded their third successive victory in style as they headed for those play-offs. Words by Neil Maskell In the Bees’ dugout is Simon Bassey. Owner Tony Kleanthous announced the arrival of experienced coach Bassey on the club’s website this week, stating: “it gives me great pleasure to announce that Simon Bassey, who was formerly at Wimbledon, has agreed to join us and I am delighted to wel- come him to the team. Simon will be coaching the team going forwards”. Former Dons player turned coach, Bassey had two spells in caretaker charge of Wimbledon and will be assisted by for- mer Chertsey Town FA Vase winning gaffer Dave Anderson. 6 Maidenhead United v Barnet | 10th April 2021 ALEXANDER MCQUEEN McQueen started his career at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Carlisle United where he made 25 senior appearances over 18 months. A short spell with Finnish outfit Vaasan Palloseura followed prior to joining Dagenham & Redbridge. McQueen netted for the Daggers in a 2-2 Victoria Road draw with Maidenhead in August 2018. XANDER MCBURNIE Brother of Sheffield United striker Oli, Xander came through the youth ranks at Bradford City before playing in Sweden for Ytterhogdals IK (YIK). Joined the Bees in January 2020. JJ HOOPER Hooper was part of the Port Vale squad which was so memorably held to an FA Cup draw by Alan Devonshire’s Magpies in November 2015. Starting at Newcastle United, Hooper has been prolific for the likes of Havant & Waterlooville, Bromley and Wrexham and he joined the Bees last summer. Words by Neil Maskell #WeAreMaidenhead @MUFCYorkRoad 7 As you are aware this season, we celebrate our 150th anniversary as a football club. The MUSA Committee have therefore decided that we will replace the bonus ball fund raiser with the new “MUSA 150 Draw” for this special anniversary season. The cost is the £35 to cover November 2020 to May 2021. (Draw Runs From June 2020 to May 2021). HOW IT WORKS For everybody that enters, your name will go into a hat and be drawn on a regular date each month by a MUSA Official the winner will receive a cash prize which will be equivalent to 50% of the total revenue paid by all of the participants in the 150 Draw for that month. Your name will only be entered once your Email - [email protected] or funds are cleared either by Full Payment [email protected] £35 for rest of season or Direct Debit £5 per month. Tel 07880 972604 The Musa Committee would like to thank Annual Memberships on sale for you all for your continued support. 2020/2021 Season as well. BANK AND CONTACT DETAILS Account Name – Maidenhead United Supporters Association (MUSA) Bankers – Lloyds Bank Sort Code - 30-95-36 Account Number – 00266203 8 Maidenhead United v Barnet | 10th April 2021 League has sadly been abandoned – also trained at Braywick Park on Thursday and were due back at The Cage yesterday as manager Nevin Saroya looks to step up the team’s fitness to keep them sharp and focussed. Midfielder Chrissy Nazif was delighted to be back in training, the 28 year old reflecting: “It was really fun. It is so nice to be back and Nev and Joel (Melman, fitness coach) have made sessions really fun and competitive.” The team are welcoming new players to join training sessions with a view to trialling for the side which play in the fourth tier of Women’s soccer in England. Manager Saroya is particularly keen to recruit a Goalkeeper. For more information Nev can be contacted via [email protected] Meanwhile, the team were delighted to sign messages of support and advice to youngsters from Shireland Hall Primary Academy. The school based in Smethwick in the West Midlands contacted the club asking whether the MUWFC team would send some written messages to players from their girls football team to prove to the children that football is a game for all to enjoy. There was a buzz around the club last week when the The football club is delighted to have its grassroots Government’s lockdown restrictions were activities back.