Other than the supporters themselves, no-one surely understands any derby match played anywhere in the world better than locally-based players. As Slough Town and Maidenhead United prepare to face off at first team level at Arbour Park for the first time ever and the first time in Slough since 2001 (Slough’s wonderful digital archive has a report from that game here!), two key figures from either side of the SL Classico divide took time out to speak with us.
One of the most recognisable names in local football, Scott Davies was thrown into club management at a relatively tender age and has recently celebrated two very successful years at the helm at Slough Town. The Rebels player-manager has enjoyed some great moments since taking the hot-seat, not least when Slough were a mere fifteen minutes away from beating EFL outfit Grimsby Town last season in the FA Cup after Davies himself had scored a magnificent free-kick to open the scoring. Town have lost just twice at home in more than twelve months, are targeting a play-off spot in the National League South and have furthered their reputation as a very dangerous side in cup competitions.
Davies is likely to have a key role in this game, both on and off the pitch. He is looking forward to going up against the experienced Magpies manager Alan Devonshire. Davies would have been at primary school when Dev first pitched up at York Road in 1996 and Scott admits: “It is great experience for me to pit my wits against someone like Dev who has obviously had an unbelievable footballing career. I am hugely respectful of people in the game who are more experienced and have done far more than me, so even to learn from them… I think we’ve had games since I’ve been Slough manager where I have definitely learned from opposition managers and I am like an open book to learning so I am extremely grateful to go up against older experienced managers, for sure.”
As manager Davies will feel extra responsibility on Saturday and he is aware of the significance of the fixture to the fans: “The lads are aware of it (the rivalry). I’ve told the players the importance of what it means to the fans and bragging rights and how much we wanted this game, not selfishly for ourselves as players but for the club. It is obviously a great game to have. The supporters have been begging for this match to happen and its great that we can do it in a competitive match like the Trophy, hopefully in front of a good crowd.”
One of Davies first matches in charge of the Rebels was a York Road Berks & Bucks FA Cup battle in November 2022. Maidenhead edged out the Rebels that night on penalty kicks and Davies recalls: “It was good experience (for Davies and the new management team). We were brand new to management and I didn’t know it would lead to me still doing it two years later! I thought we were superb that night and I am sure that anyone watching that night would recall we were brilliant with the ball and dominated large spells, but it doesn’t really matter if you don’t win the football match! I don’t think Dev and Maidenhead will be that fussed by not having the ball for large spells as long as they got the win. For as good as we were it was two sides which were quite evenly matched on the night, two sides which had a few changes to the group and the line up, but I’m sure come Saturday it will be two teams who are at their strongest, trying to win the match to get into the next round in a great competition for both clubs.”
With a mere handful of league placings in the football pyramid effectively separating the sides, much has been said of Slough’s sterling home form on their 3G surface. Davies admits: “We have to take any advantage that we can and a lot of people will say we know how to play our pitch. We’ve only lost two games in 35 here and we take pride in making it a difficult place to come. The 3G is obviously something we are used to, it does take a bit of getting used to playing on grass when we go away from home and I am sure when teams come to our pace it takes them time getting used to the 3G and the bounce of the ball. But listen, Maidenhead are a great side they’ve got some fantastic players. Obviously playing in a league where everyone says the gap is massive and its huge and its really hard to bridge, but over ninety minutes hopefully we can compete, do ourselves proud. We know that we won’t be favourites, we have no problem with that and we quite like being the underdog. In my two years in charge we’ve had the underdog siege-mentality and I really like it, I don’t like being favourites and coming unstuck when we play teams were we are expected to win or we don’t play as well but maybe do get the result. Come Saturday we know we will have to be at our very best to get anything from the game. It is a game in which I hope we can give a good account of ourselves and be competitive and at the game be clapped off by the fans because they’ve seen a spirited performance and hopefully one that warrants winning the football match.”
Meanwhile, no more than 8 miles west down the A4, Berkshire’s own Sam Barratt has experience of these games before. In 2017 he played in a ‘Classico classic’ as National League South leaders Maidenhead recovered from two down to defeat the then Southern League Rebels at York Road in front of a large and passionate Berks & Bucks Semi-Final crowd. Barratt – who scored the penalty spot when the sides last met in the aforementioned tie two seasons ago – recalls that game: “I remember it being a freezing cold night and coming out after half time to a semi-frozen pitch. But it was a tough and rough game, very fierce and competitive. I recall getting an assist from a right-footed cross for the legend Marksy (Sean Marks) to score a diving header and go 3-2 up. And I can’t forget Coxy’s wonder goal in that game too!”
Barratt certainly ‘gets’ the rivalry, even if the two clubs have not met in anything other than county cup competitions since Easter Monday 2001. Sam admitted: “Maidenhead feels like my home club and they’re our closest rivals in terms of location. I’ve also been educated this week by (Club Life Vice President) Jon Urry on the history between the clubs and fan bases.” He also insists that his team-mates will be well up for this game, adding: “A few of us local boys have had to tell the lads this week it’s a big game and means a great deal to the fans and club. They’ll get that feeling when we come out to warm up. I’m expecting a tough game. It will be fierce and everyone should be really up for it. I’m really looking forward to it personally and the fans are buzzing for it. It should be a great atmosphere and game. I know of Scott (Davies) and Al on the coaching staff, and I’ve known many players across previous years. They’re doing well this season in the South and will be tough opposition.”