Following the National League play-off finals at the weekend, Maidenhead United more-or-less know who they will face in the Enterprise National League South in 2026/27.
Hornchurch’s win in the South play-off final over Torquay United on Saturday ensured that both promoted sides from our division will play in the National League for the first time ever. Congratulations to the Urchins – who were excellent hosts of the travelling Magpies fancy dress army just over a fortnight ago – and Worthing. Interestingly, United took four points off these two very good sides and did not concede a goal against either Hornchurch or the Rebels during the course of the league season.
Coming into our League will be a number of names, new and old to MUFC.
Billericay Town from the Isthmian League and Walton & Hersham from the Southern League are both clubs we have faced many times before. We first met the Essex side in 1980/81 when Billericay secured a second successive promotion through to the top flight of the Isthmian League. The last meetings between us came in 2012/13, when Town were demoted from the Conference South at the end of a campaign when both sides won their respective home fixtures.
Our history with Walton & Hersham goes back somewhat further. We played the Swans in the first ever season of the Corinthian League immediately post-war, again both sides winning their respective home fixtures in that 1945/46 season. Our most recent meetings with the Surrey side came within a matter of weeks in the 1999/00 as Alan Devonshire’s Magpies won a FA Cup tie at The Swans former Stompond Lane home in September and defeated them the following month in the Isthmian League Full Members Cup by a repeat 2-0 scoreline, Chuk Agudosi scoring in both matches.
Folkestone Invicta from the Isthmian League and Southern League play-off winners Farnham will be brand new opposition for the men’s first team. There will be another new ground to visit after Truro City’s demotion back to Step 2, The Tinners having left Treyew Road since our last trip to that venue in 2016/17.
The final ‘new’ side to the division is likely to be Ryan Peters old club, Braintree Town. The Iron were relegated from the National League but we await confirmation as to whether they will take a place in the South division.
Meanwhile, Rochdale’s success in the play-off final – at the end of a mammoth 106 point season – owed much to former Maidenhead players. Trailing Boreham Wood 2-1 deep in injury time at Wembley, the dramatic 97th minute equaliser for The Dale came as Manny Dieseruvwe headed home a Casey Pettit free-kick. In the resulting successful penalty shoot-out, Dale were sent on their way by Sam Beckwith scoring their first spot-kick. Congratulation to Casey and Sam, who now join the ever-growing list of Magpies who have graduated to EFL football.
The National League South 2026/27 is as follows*:
AFC Totton
Billericay Town
Braintree Town
Chelmsford City
Chesham United
Dagenham & Redbridge
Dorking Wanderers
Dover Athletic
Ebbsfleet United
Farnborough
Farnham Town
Folkestone Invicta
Hampton & Richmond Borough
Hemel Hempstead Town
Horsham
Maidenhead United
Maidstone United
Salisbury
Slough Town
Tonbridge Angels
Torquay United
Truro City
Walton & Hersham
Weston-super-Mare
*These standings are subject to appeal at the League AGM in early June
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