A grand day out for the red and blacks

In the run up to Maidenhead United's 150th anniversary next month, the club's fixtures secretary Neil Maskell will be dipping into the archives on a weekly basis to shine a light on a key moment or match in the club's history.

On February 4, 1893 – 128 years ago today – Maidenhead FC travelled to Windsor to contest a Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-final against Reading.

The County competition was at the time second only to the FA Cup in terms of prestige for Maidenhead. The competition was into its fifteenth season and Maidenhead were yet to lift the trophy. Great rivals Marlow had triumphed seven times and holders Reading had achieved two victories. Therefore, Maidenhead travelled to Windsor as underdogs. Around 100 Maidenhead supporters took the special train and helped make up a crowd of

1,060 souls who raised “£18 odd” in gate receipts.

The ‘red and black’ outsiders were to cause a real local stir. The Reading team were at full strength whilst Maidenhead had a number of injury worries. The ‘Biscuit Men’ ”attacked rigorously” for the opening twenty minutes but Maidenhead came back into it. At half time the encounter was goalless but almost immediately from the restart Edwards and Lamb combined to set up Clark who “rushed up and sent the ball through the goal, amid prolonged and enthusiastic cheering”. As Reading strived to get back into the match the Advertiser reporter praised the “magnificent goalkeeping” of Johnson in the Maidenhead goal.

With time nearly up, Edwards “gained a grand goal, at which the cheering was even more hearty than on the occasion of the first score”. The ‘Red and Blacks’ had sealed a two-nil win and after the game, local Sports Critic ‘Trifler’ sent a telegram back to Maidenhead conveying the good news. It was reported that “an immense crowd was in front of Messrs Good and Wyatt’s Shop scanning the telegram”.

Cup fever was such that GWR special trains were “well-patronised” for the final at Marlow the following month. The wait to win the trophy would continue though as Wolverton defeated Maidenhead by Three goals to Nil.