Maidenhead United’s Vanarama National League campaign will start at The Shay, Halifax on Saturday 21st August. The Shaymen suffered last day heartache last season when denied a play-off place on the final day of the campaign but manager Pete Wild now has two very satisfactory seasons at the helm under his belt.
The sides met back in May at York Road with Halifax taking the honours by 2 goals to 1 in the final home game of the season for Maidenhead and the only fixture played in front of spectators at York Road last term. The Magpies did however triumph in the return fixture, a 3-2 success at The Shay Stadium secured by Josh Coley’s last-minute goal.
Maidenhead’s schedule then gives them a home fixture the following Saturday against a Dover Athletic side who start the season with a twelve point deduction. That Bank Holiday weekend is completed by a trip to the coast and a visit to Weymouth’s Wessex Stadium, a venue where Alan Devonshire’s side suffered defeats in both league and cup last term.
The size of the part-time Magpies task is then put into perspective by the following four fixtures; Maidenhead will face in succession Torquay United, Stockport County, Notts County and Grimsby Town with all bar the ‘Magpie Derby’ with Notts to take place at York Road.
Christmas sees the visit of Bromley on 28th December sandwiched by away and home fixtures with Wealdstone, in a reverse of last season’s Boxing Day and New Year schedule. The Easter fixtures bring Weymouth to Berkshire on Good Friday, 15th April and an Easter Monday trip to Bromley 3 days later.
The season ends with Notts County – one of the pre-season title favourites – coming to York Road on Sunday 15th May whilst the Maidenhead faithful will have their traditional final away day fancy dress at Blundell Park, Grimsby the Saturday before.
