TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Match details: Maidenhead United vs Torquay United

Venue: York Road, Maidenhead

Date: Saturday 4th September 2021

Kick-off: 3pm

Maidenhead fact file:

Year founded: 1870

Nickname: The Magpies

Last season’s league finish: 13^th National League

Notable honours:

National League South champions: 2016-17

Isthmian League Full Members Cup winners: 1996-97

Head-to-Head:

Maidenhead: 2 Draw: 0 Torquay: 3

League Position and Recent Form:

Maidenhead: 6th – WWL Torquay: 18th – LDL

Manager: Alan Devonshire

As a player, Alan Devonshire made his name with West Ham United, who he joined from non-league side Southall in 1976 when the Hammers paid £5,000 for his services. While at the Boleyn Ground, he helped the Hammers win promotion back to the top-flight and reach the 1981 League Cup final in the 1980-81 season. Devonshire was also part of the West Ham side that finished third in the ‘old’ First Division in the 1985-86 campaign.

Devonshire is currently in his second spell in charge of Maidenhead, he previously managed them between 1996 and 2003, after returning to York Road in 2015. He led them to the National League South title in the 2016-17 season. In between his two spells in charge of the Magpies he managed Hampton and Richmond (2003-2011) and Braintree Town (2011-2015).

Player to watch: Nathan Blissett

A player who played a key part in the Gulls’ ‘great escape’ of the 2015-16 campaign, Nathan Blissett scored eight goals in 17 appearances to help United spectacularly avoid relegation under Kevin Nicholson – following his arrival at Plainmoor in January 2016 after his release by Bristol Rovers.

His form for United would earn him a £30,000 move to Plymouth Argyle in January 2017, where he helped the Pilgrims win promotion to League One in the 2016-17 season. He then went onto appear for Macclesfield Town, where he won a National League title winner’s medal in 2017-18 and Solihull Moors before signing for Maidenhead in the summer of 2020.

Old boys:

Maidenhead: Nathan Blissett, Dan Sparkes

Torquay: None

Last time: Maidenhead 4 – 1 Torquay – 16th March 2021

GOALS: MUFC – Coley (6′), Blissett (43′, 50′), Orsi-Dadomo (54′); TUFC – Boden (90 pen).

TEAMS:

Maidenhead United: Ashby-Hammond, Massey, Parry, Coley (Barratt), Ofori-Twumasi, Sheckleford, Comley (Keetch), Ince, Upward, Orsi-Dadomo (Kelly), Blissett.

Torquay United: MacDonald, Wynter, Lewis, Sherring, Andrews, Randell, Hall (Koszela), Little, Lemonheigh-Evans, Boden, Waters (Umerah).