Jazz Joins MUWFC First Team Fray As Leaders Await

Maidenhead United start 2025 in earnest as they take on title-favourites AFC Bournemouth at York Road on Sunday 12th January (2pm) in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 South West and they will start the fixture very much as underdogs, even with home advantage. 

 

What Ed Jackson-Norris’s side lack in experience however they make up for with enthusiasm and promise. In the last FAWNL fixture before Christmas, two Development team players stepped up for their full debut and both got to experience the thrill of playing on the York Road turf just a matter of days later in the Combined Counties League Women’s Cup. Liberty Dieppe received plenty of recognition as she became only the second player to graduate from Maidenhead United Juniors – only formed in 2019 – through to the MUWFC first team. However, fellow teenager Jazz King also demonstrated her maturity and quality in those recent first team matches and she is hoping to feature again at the weekend against a Cherries side who have won every FAWNL match they have played this season and astonishingly haven’t lost a single league match since March 2023. 

 

The Cherries will be a tough proposition for any side but King demonstrates that youthful enthusiasm when she predicted: “It will be a tough game but a good one. We’re ready to get started in the new year and this game will be a chance to show what we have been working on in training since coming back from the break.” The former Brentford and Leatherhead midfielder – who feels that her biggest strength is her “passing range” - admits that playing in the first team environment recently has “been a great experience” and added that “the past few matches being in the squad and training has been really enjoyable too. I’ve learnt a lot since being here and hope to continue to do so.” 

 

Whilst the United set up has nothing like the budget of clubs like Bournemouth, they are becoming a hub for young talent to learn the game at Tier 4 and - following the demotion of Reading FC Women to the Southern Regional WFL in the summer – the club are currently the highest ranked Berkshire women’s team. United’s players have paid tribute to the positive atmosphere created by the backroom staff over the past couple of seasons, something King concurs with: “I enjoy the environment that is created by the players and coaches. The standards that are set are high, they challenge you to do your best and I’ve been loving that.” 

 

Support Jazz and her team-mates as they seek to secure their status in the FAWNL into what would be an eleventh consecutive season. The match on Sunday is as usual FREE to MUFC Gold Members on presentation of their card. Otherwise, admission is £5 for adults, £2 concessions – with cash and card accepted. The Magpies matchday programme is also available to purchase, priced £1.