23 Seasons watching
Maidenhead United
Part 21: 2014/15
Early in the 2014/15 season as I waited for
kick off I stood outside the changing rooms next to long serving supporter
Chris Raine (who could write a series more than twice as long as this). He was
gazing in awe at the view opposite, and I realised I was doing the same. It was
a very visual symbol of a new beginning for Maidenhead United.
The significance of architecture on the
environment where we live, work, travel and relax cannot be underestimated and
York Road is no different. For too many years the temporary stand had stood as
a symbol of a club trying its best to make do and mend, as memories of the
original one grew ever fainter, sustained only by trips to Marlow and its
similar structure.
What was built in the summer of 2014 was a
statement of bold intent, of a club prepared to invest in the future. Nestling
under Brunel’s embankment, it stood congruent with the rest of the ground,
fulfilling its function admirably by affording over 500 spectators a perfect
view of the match and the urban decay of the town centre.
Despite another 18th place finish, crowds rose
by 35% as the stand quickly became the adopted home of those who preferred to
watch from a comfortable dry seat. For
the rest of us who walked past it, virtually beneath it due to the clever way
the first row had been raised above head height, it served as an inspiration
that the Magpie train was bound for glory.
This would have to wait though for Drax’s long
goodbye. Following another last gasp survival in April, he was allowed to
continue in post albeit without a contract. Once again he signed well in the
summer, acquiring exciting young attacking talent in Tashan Adeyinka, Sam
Barratt, Stefan Brown and Ryan Upward, along with proven quality in Simon
Downer, Eddie Hutchinson, Ashley Nicholls and Dave Tarpey. The services of
Adrian Clifton and Danny Green were retained, which when allied with Harry
Pritchard, Leon Solomon, Mark Nisbet, Jacob Erskine and Reece Tison-Lascaris,
suggested a squad well equipped to do more than survive.
As usual the season began well with back to
back wins, the first at home to ambitious Sutton featuring a debut brace from
Dave Tarpey, who immediately lived up to the expectations raised by many an
impressive performance against the Magpies for his previous clubs.
An amazing goal by Eddie Hutchinson at Bromley in the style of Dennis
Bergkamp suggested a more entertaining season was in prospect, a notion sent
sky high by the arrival of former Premier League striker and Drax protege DJ
Campbell. His impact could scarcely live up to the hype that his presence
generated but he impressed with his humility as he quietly tried to resurrect
his career.
Ten goals in four days in wins against Whitehawk and Weston, the
latter featuring the first of many Tarpey hat tricks, meant an early exit from
the FA Cup in a replay at Gosport wasn’t overly painful. The defence was
bolstered by the arrival of international goalkeeper Will Britt on loan from
Southampton and full back De Reece Van Der Hyde, and after a Boxing Day win
against tenants Hayes & Yeading the Magpies sat in the relative comfort of
thirteenth place.
However the season soon began to unravel as only one league match was
won in the next seventeen and FA Trophy hopes were ended in a replay defeat at
the financial wreck of Farnborough. Drax chose to publicly disclose that Peter
Griffin had informed him that this season would be his last as manager, and
although the league experience of Maidonian ex professional midfielder David
Hunt helped to steady the ship with eight matches of the run drawn, relegation once again loomed large on the
horizon.
The last of these draws was an eight goal thriller on Easter Monday at
home to eventual champions Bromley. Two goals from the freshly capped
international Clifton sent United into an early lead only for Bromley to be 4-3
ahead as the game entered stoppage time. A lightning volley from Tarpey
levelled the score for the final time, and buoyed up by the equaliser, safety
was secured at Weston the following Saturday thanks to two more Tarpey goals.
This game had an odd postscript as goalkeeper Ashley Timms, literally left the
club when the coach arrived back at York Road, following an altercation with a
teammate on the journey back.
Two weeks later the league season ended at Sutton. Way back in August
2007, Drax achieved his first win for the Magpies at this level, with a 3-2
success at Gander Green Lane. Almost eight years later he signed off on his
final league season with Maidenhead with a similar victory which clinched a
double over the following season’s champions. club captain Mark Nisbet
featuring in the line up for both games.
Drax left with a proven track record to pick
and nurture talent, the club receiving many a transfer fee as players moved
onwards and upwards. He had an ability to motivate players for big games which
led to promotion through the play offs, FA Cup glory and some nerve wracking
escapes from relegation. His affability along with the entertainment his teams
provided (often in a losing cause) attracted neutrals to the club and turned
them into fans. However long standing supporters, suffered endless poor home
form due to a consistent failing to build a sustainable
defence with a goalkeeper. Coupled with a lack of strategic nous, this led to
long winless runs when the only tactic was to change the team, creating a
revolving door of long since forgotten players.
With thanks to Mark
Smith’s book One For Sorrow Two For Joy for the statistical content of this
series.
To
read more about this season visit www.mufcheritage.com
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