Pic: Matt Bristow
By Jon Couch
IT had prompted a few questions to be asked and sparked an air of controversy, but pretty much everything was in place for a memorable afternoon of celebration in Maidenhead last Saturday.
The National League South trophy was in attendance, the champions were kitted out in training gear waiting to finally get their hands on silverware and a vast, expectant crowd was in place ready to finally toast the Berkshire club’s title success.
But, crucially, one key factor was missing…the man who orchestrated the quite incredible 98-point return, which held off the likes of Ebbsfleet United and steered the club into the top-flight – manager Alan Devonshire.
Miffed
While the Magpies were parading the trophy on an open top bus tour of the town – a full two weeks after their final-day victory over Margate and culminating in a presentation at the town hall – Devonshire was laid up at home having undergone a hip operation.
The 61-year-old, of course, has enjoyed a glittering playing career at West Ham United and England, but there was no opportunity to celebrate his latest success with his loyal 600-strong travelling army of fans who made the trip down to Margate where a 3-0 victory completed the job.
Just why he didn’t remains up for discussion. Both Maidenhead United and the National League are still trying to decipher just why the trophy wasn’t presented at Hartsdown Road in front of the waiting cameras, Devonshire remains miffed too.
“Personally, I was very disappointed we weren’t able to lift the trophy in front of our travelling fans,” the boss told The NLP.
“If the trophy could have been at Ebbsfleet half an hour down the road then I don’t know why it couldn’t be transported in the other direction – especially as we were leading the table going into the final day.
“I missed the presentation in the town as I was recovering from my operation. The lads enjoyed the day, it would have been nice to be a part of it.”
Thankfully, Devonshire is too long in the tooth to let a muted celebration cloud what turned out to be a truly memorable campaign, one which saw the Magpies stun the rest of the division with a storming start – and just get better and better!
Luxury
Devonshire, in his first season back of a second spell at York Road having replaced Johnson Hippolyte, led his side to nine straight league wins in March and April, thus ensuring they could even afford the luxury of losing at home to closest rivals Ebbsfleet on the penultimate day and still cruise to the title courtesy of an end-of-season stroll.
“Everyone was saying they we would blow up after our fast start so it was very satisfying to prove those people wrong,” Devonshire added.
“We had the same budget to work with as the previous Maidenhead manager but the spirit, togetherness and the character of the lads just shone through.
“In that long winning run, we had tricky away games at Bath City and Truro which we won 5-1 and 3-0 and I think it was then people saw we were the real deal. That was very pleasing.”
While the top-flight will be a new experience for many of his players – including the club’s 46-goal top scorer Dave Tarpey – it won’t be for Devonshire himself after he led former club Braintree Town to four successful seasons at Step 1.
And the wily boss believes Maidenhead can take plenty of heart from the likes of the Iron and a number of other former Conference South rivals who are worthy of their places on Non-League‘s top table.
“We will still have one of the smallest budgets in the league but when I was at Braintree we showed it could be done, missing out on the play-offs by a point in our first season, after having played four games in ten days at the end of the season,” he added.
“It’s a shame they [Braintree] have now gone down as there are good people at the club who have worked very hard, but we can look to the likes of Maidstone, Sutton and Bromley who are showing you can compete in the National League and live within your means.
“We won’t be going silly next season. We’re talking to a few players and will be looking to bring three or four, maximum five, in, while keeping the majority of last season’s squad. I feel they deserve their chance to test themselves at higher level.”
Support
Indeed, Devonshire has already landed midfielder Harold Odametey from Hampton as his first summer signing and will receive no shortage of support from a town which is clearly relishing a first season in Non-League’s top flight in the oldest, most continuously-used ground in senior football.
“Last year our crowds averaged 1,200, the previous year it was 480, the year before that 300,” he concluded.
“That shows that the town are really getting behind us and the potential of the football club. We are looking forward to realising that potential at the higher level, in fact we’re raring to go.”
