Maidenhead United would like to pay tribute to long serving captain Alan Massey who leaves the club this summer having been a mainstay over the past ten seasons - a decade which could be considered the greatest in the 155-year history of our club.
Upon arriving at York Road for his second spell in charge in the summer of 2015, one of Alan Devonshire’s first and best signings was that of Alan Richard Massey. The former Wycombe Wanderers and Wealdstone man was signed from Braintree Town as both men left National League football at Cressing Road to initially drop down a division at MUFC.
The first season in 2015/16 saw United making a serious push for a place in the National League South playoffs. An epic FA Cup run stretching six memorable matches peaked when Massey gave Maidenhead a momentary lead in a First Round replay at York Road against EFL League One side Port Vale with a crisply struck effort from the edge of the 18-yard box. Alan made club history in becoming the first ever Maidenhead United player to score in a match broadcast live around the world.
The playoff push was ultimately thwarted by a late-season shortage of goals, but Dev went out and made changes for 2016/17 to put the final pieces in place of title-winning jigsaw. Massey replaced the departing Mark Nisbet as club captain – a crown he has since worn with distinction for nine consecutive seasons – and fittingly the new skipper started all 42 National League South matches as Maidenhead racked up 98 points to top the division. Massey’s trademark sense of humour – and our ‘underdog spirit’ – was never better demonstrated than after promotion was won at Margate as the captain lifted an inflatable trophy donated by the delirious pitch invading fancy-dressed Magpies fans, with the National League powers-that-be having sent the silverware to Ebbsfleet United, banking on a Maidenhead slip-up which never came!
For the following eight campaigns in the National League, Massey has been a reassuring presence at the back as a part-time team – the captain himself a tree surgeon by trade – continued to thwart the expectations of pundits and rival teams by maintaining our status at the highest level in the pyramid at which this club has ever played. Were that level of heroism not enough in itself, Alan has also proved himself a true ‘club man’ by making appearances in the community on behalf of the club, attending club events and making himself a regular in Stipes Bar post-match, chatting to and befriending Maidenhead supporters of all ages.
Massey’s 384 first team starts – in addition to being named as a substitute 74 times – puts him at number four in terms of all time MUFC appearance makers, behind fellow greats Brian Pitts, Bert Randall and Michael Chatterton. The four first team goals he scored across his time with MUFC, however, certainly does not rank him amongst our most prolific scorers!
All at Maidenhead United wish Alan Massey the very best for the next phase of his career. It is a case of ‘farewell’ and not ‘goodbye’ as Alan will return to the club very soon for a testimonial match to give our supporters the opportunity to share their best wishes with one of the all-time MUFC greats and to celebrate his many achievements. Watch out for further details of this event over the coming weeks.
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