“Confidence in Alan Devonshire” Maidenhead United keep the faith

Maidenhead United may have suffered relegation from the Vanarama National League after eight years at the top table of non-league football, but the club are preparing to hit the ground running in 2025/26.

A statement from chairman Peter Griffin on the club website revealed the club retained full confidence in manager Alan Devonshire and the club would aim for a swift return: “We retain full confidence in Alan Devonshire to lead us forward, backed by a competitive playing budget as we aim for a swift return to the National League. We will tackle the challenges of the National League South with the same passion, determination, and belief that powered our last promotion campaign eight years ago. “

Griffin reflected on a huge sense of pride at what the club had achieved over the last decade – particularly the ‘Devonshiring’ of many huge former Football League clubs.

Griffin wrote: “It was not so many years ago that we were a small club in the National League South, often fighting relegation from that level. We return there now bigger, better and more professional in every way and are already gearing up for the challenges ahead. We are in no doubt what a tough division it is, with six teams capable of being crowned champion on the final day of the season. We will be meeting some new clubs, as well as renewing rivalries with some old foes and our job as a club is to be as competitive as possible on and off the pitch.”

Maidenhead were relegated on the final day of the season despite a superb 3-0 win over Boston United in front of 3,000 at York Road.

The Magpies were left to rue dropped points during the season – not least when 2-0 up against Woking in the run-in, only to be held to a 2-2 draw. Two dropped points that ultimately would have kept the club up.