The SL Classico - Five of the Best

Maidenhead vs Slough. The Magpies have played derby matches against Marlow, Windsor and Wycombe Wanderers but the match-up with Slough Town is arguably the biggest of lot for most Magpies fans. 

 

Anthony, Attrell, Chatterton, Nisbet, Price, Townsend, Williams – just some of the many big names that have earned the appreciation of supporters of both the Magpies and the Rebels, but the two clubs have not actually shared a division since 2001. Other than Berks & Bucks Cup ties, the two sides have not met at first team level for nearly a quarter of a century. Prior to that, matches against Slough sides were a regular feature on our calendar since 1871 when Slough-based Swifts FC were only the second visiting team to play Maidenhead FC at York Road. The first competitive meetings with Slough FC were in 1900, and that is where we start our ‘Five Of The Best’ round-up of matches against The Rebels: 

 

Everyone knows that the Magpies have been playing in the FA Cup since the very start of the competition and Southern League Maidenhead gave new boys Slough FC (only formed in 1890) a beating in front of “a capital attendance” on a wet Thursday afternoon at York Road. 

 

The Spartan League rivals met six times during the 1929/30 season. The Magpies defeated the Rebels after a replay in the Amateur Cup and again at the end of the season in the County Cup final. The winning goal in the cup final replay was scored by Jack Palethorpe who five years later scored the opening goal in the FA Cup final for Sheffield Wednesday. More than 14,500 attended the BBFA Cup final and the replay, both held at Wycombe. 

 

An extraordinary Boxing Day derby at the Dolphin Stadium saw Maidenhead recover from 3-0 down to lead 4-3, only to be pegged back. Terry Wise scored our injury time winner and this victory remains our last competitive first-team victory to date on Slough soil. 

 

Maidenhead United 1-0 Slough Town, Ryman League Premier Division, 26th December 2000  

The Magpies had won promotion under Alan Devonshire to the Premier division of the Isthmian League for the first time in May 2000 but were struggling to make an impact in the division, particularly at home where they had won only twice in nine league matches. Obi Ulasi settled this particular game and it was to be the Rebels and not the Magpies who would be relegated at the end of the campaign. 

 

With both teams challenging for promotion – United from the National League South, Town from the Southern Premier League – this game might have been an unwelcome distraction. Instead we were treated to a classic. The Rebels led two-nil in front of a bumper four-figure crowd through former Magpies Chris Flood and Gavin James, but they had Guy Hollis sent off for an ill-timed challenge on Rene Steer before the break and prolific Dave Tarpey reduce the arrears before the break. An acrobatic Jordan Cox effort brought the home fans to their feet and Sean Marks close range header rounded off his fierce battle with the visitors defence to turn the match around. Slough pushed hard for an equaliser but with all ten remaining men camped in the Maidenhead half in injury time James Mulley chased a clearance and walked the ball into the empty net to send the Magpies fans behind the Canal End goal delirious. 

 

Let’s get behind the boys tomorrow – come on you Magpies!