Matches between Maidenhead United and Slough Town are always hotly anticipated, with supporters dubbing the fixture the SL Classico. Despite the Magpies and the Rebels being both being established in the upper divisions of non-league football, league fixtures between the two have been rare, with the sides being in the same division for only one season in the last 50 years. If you wanted to see the two rivals square off you had to hope for a favourable cup draw.
My first experience of the fixture came in the Isthmian League Cup in the 1998/99 season. At that time the Isthmian League had four divisions (Premier, Division One, Division Two and Division Three), and the Premier Division was one of three Step 2 divisions that fed directly into the Football Conference.
Slough were in the Isthmian League Premier Division, having been relegated from the Conference the season before, and Maidenhead were in Division One. Alan Devonshire was into his third season of his first spell in charge of the Magpies, and his side had already gained a reputation as a good cup team having won the Isthmian Full Members Cup in 1996/97 and the Berks & Bucks County FA Senior Cup in 1997/98, so when Maidenhead were drawn at home to their higher ranked local rivals there was a lot of excitement amongst the York Road faithful.
The two sides met on a bitterly cold February night in front of over 500 fans. In the early stages the temperature seemed to affect the teams as the first half hour passed without much incident, but the game sprung into life soon after when Maidenhead defender Bradley Pratt met a cross from a corner and was able to find Steve Brown who poked the ball home.
In those days Maidenhead’s pre match playlist included Eric Idle’s rendition of “Always look on the bright side of life”, which was a sentiment the home fans had to be reminded of after Slough equalised after all of 30 seconds. Straight from the kick off Simon Quail broke down the wing and put a ball into the box that Maidenhead defender Brian Connor managed to turn into his own net to level the scores.
However, those fans did have something to cheer as Maidenhead scored the goal of the evening just before half time. Garry Attrell beat two Slough defenders, put a great ball in from out wide, which was helped on by Gavin Mernagh to Mickey Creighton, who was charging into the box at full speed. Creighton’s first-time volley from 20 yards smashed into the top corner of the Rebel’s net and gave Maidenhead a 2-1 lead at the break.
The Magpies started the half with a spring in their step and were looking to extend their advantage, but they contrived to let Slough back into the game when defender Luke Evans handled the ball in the box when it seemed easier to head it away. Simon Lane stepped up for the Rebels and smashed in the equaliser.
The momentum seemed to be swinging towards Slough, and the home fans were starting to fear the worst until Mernagh was able to break away from the Rebels defence. His shot cannoned off the chest of Slough keeper Paul Wilkerson and landed at the feet of Creighton, who neatly stepped away from two defenders and poked the ball into an open goal.
The York Road faithful were in full voice now and were given more to sing about 15 minutes from time, when a corner found an unmarked Creighton at the far post and the striker duly completed his hat-trick and wrapped up the game for the Magpies.
Maidenhead went on to the League Cup Quarter Finals where they beat holders and Isthmian Premier champions Sutton United in a 5-4 thriller, before losing a two legged semi final to Boreham Wood, while Slough finished the season in mid table in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Slough Town and Maidenhead United clash in the 2024/25 Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round on Saturday 7th December at Arbour Park. Tickets are available now via the Slough Town website.
