Maids relegated
12:00pm Thu 11th Mar 10:: written by Graeme Copas
It's official. After one win in 22 league starts, Maidenhead RFC have finally been relegated with a month of the season remaining.
It did not come as a surprise, the writing has been on the wall for all to see since Christmas, and for many it was apparent well before that.
And while this has not come as a shock to anyone, the manner in which the team finally succumbed – a 30-12 loss to old adversaries Reading on Saturday – will have been.
Maids, who have endured numerous dents to their confidence during a campaign to forget, reached a disappointing low at the weekend.
They produced a well below par effort to lose to a Reading team who themselves were well short of the standards they have previously reached.
Although Maids head coach Ricky Khan was unable to be at the match, he was in contact throughout and afterwards, and confirmed his team were dispirited at the final whistle.
He said “I know the lads were disappointed. Especially to be in the game at half-time, but then effectively lose it because of individual errors.
“It hurt the boys to play like that, especially against Reading.
“But that’s really been the story of our season. It’s been more about our mistakes rather than how good other teams have been.”
For the rest of this story see this week's Advertiser.
Have your say
Something to say? Leave a comment. Please note comments are moderated before they are published to this website. Add Comment
Comments
Comments on this articleHave your say above
- Worst season in the history of Maidenhead RFC. No ambition from the board or the coaching staff. My feeling is that they are happy to be back in a league where they can sit comfortably mid table. Literally nothing positive to take away from this season. Awful.
- Seriously, who are you Phil? You always seem to offer a negative opinon on things but is it even worth airing? Surely with such a good outlook on things you should be coaching the team, or perhaps playing? Shut up will you - you're boring me!
- James - I'm not going to apologize for being a passionate supporter of a club. Maidenhead RFC is being ruined by club executives that haven't got the ambition or desire to pursue targets which were very realistic 3 or 4 years ago, and instead have settled for mediocrity (at best). It's incredibly frustrating and I'm obviously going to voice my opinions on this public forum, as some people are not comfortable watching our club sink.
- Phil, don't call yourself a passionate supporter as all you have done is slag off the club, coaches and everything that is Maidenhead. The club have got the ambition to achieve higher goals but without going down the route of throwing money at players. I think the real fans of Maidenhead can see that the club is healthy and put out 4 senior teams every weekend and the club house is full. Suggest Phil you don't come back to Maidenhead... ever!
- I agree with you Phil. You sound like you know what you're talking about. You are saying what most people are thinking. You're obviously a real fan that can take an objective view of the season.
- Maids Fan - How long do you think Maids will have '4 senior teams'? If the first team play at the highest standard, new players (for all teams) and therefore new money will be attracted to the club. However if we keep going nowhere, we could soon be a nice community club. No money, no players and no teams for kids. Nice plan, 'a maids fan'.
- Who is this Phil guy? He clearly has no concept of management or Patriotism. Obviously an Arsenal fan. As a Jewish male, I believe in Modesty and an under-written code of loyalty and always live by the motto, "Persistance beats Resistance". Phil, do you want to Resist the WHOLE of Maidenhead? Well do you?
- "A Maids Fan" - 26 losses and 1 win cannot be described as healthy. And the crowd numbers are incomparable to those of a few years ago. The Taunton loss was a decent performance by a makeshift team, but still basic errors in kicking, handling and defence (e.g. last two opposition tries) cost us a win. It's these failures in the coaching as well as the clubs lack of ambition that I have criticized. I speak to players and supporters and I'm not the only one with these frustrations.
- Liam, when Maidenhead were at this level before they didn't have much of a 3rd team let alone a 4th team. You want to do your research a bit better! There are plenty of players at the club who want to play and my sons and all his mates in the youth want to play up the club and will do. Why do you want to slag off your own club? Everyone can see that it is tough at the minute but for many years we didn't have 4 teams and now we do... IT IS CALLED PROGRESS YOU MORON!
- Liam we are a community club already. Hence why we don't play in the premiership and we don't pay players. In fact our 1st team are one of a few remaining teams at this level who pay to play for their club and do so with pride. On top of this we are Community partners with Irish & Wasps and the clue there is in the title. Perhaps you should learn what a community club is all about before you embarass yourself again with dumb comments.
- Maids players/coaches efforts this season have been admirable in the face adversity. Don't forget the team has been plagued with injury and loss of players but have strived to compete in what have been closer matches than some of the scores have portrayed against teams some of which have playing budgets upto £500,000!
- Everyone seems hung up about paying players. Lets remember Maidenhead has been paying players for the past 15 - 20 years. They may have called them expenses but it was many for turning up. We just didn't do it as effectively as our neighbours. There is nothing wrong with Phil wanting more from a club he has supported for a long time. We all do!
- Phil needs to get facts straight. If a real fan then he would know that last years crowd attendance was recorded as the biggest the club have had,since the 70's also the take behind the bar was reported as being the largest ever, these are directly related to the sucesses that the same commitee and coaches you slag off. The squad was weakened by mercenries leaving but in my opinion good riddance. Maids will be back and then you'll have to eat your words. That's if you are man enough to do so.
- Well I don't know how the crowd attendance is calculated, but I know that the club became more stringent to ensure that supporters paid to watch so that could explain the apparent increase. It certainly hasn't looked as healthy as a few years back. Regardless, results speak for themselves, and there must be someone responsible for the poor performances. If indeed this Maidenhead team start competing in SW1 for promotion into the national leagues then I will eat my words for sure.
- Is it just me or isn't it a bit harsh to be blaming the coaching staff for players that are not up to the task of playing at this level. Although saying that there have been some players improving such as Keohane, Carter & Brown. As for paying players, I don't think you can compare expenses for £150 + match fees being paid at this level now which to me is a semi professional league whether we like it or not since we last played here in 2008.
- Annon this is a young team do you not believe this could be one step back two steps forward. Where do you feel the club is weakest position wise.
- I may have said they called them expenses but maidenhead were paying players up to £200 a match 15 years ago. Lets not complain because others are doing it now and achieving more.
- If we are to build from within then the focus should not be on the 30 guys that are in the development squad and Khan. The focus should be on the 6 age groups from 13's to colts. If you are to have a steady flow of unpaid players then we must ensure that the coaches and players in these age groups are developing each year so that they reach an acceptable standard.
- Phil - the answer would seem to me to put yourself up for election to the Committee! There you would have a chance to influence the direction of the Club. However, it would involve you in a serious time commitment on a voluntary basis - are you up for that? It is always easier to 'snipe' from the touchline.
Popular links
Local Weather (BBC)
5 day forecast
Photo Gallery
Buy pictures
Business Directory
Search local listings
Traffic Report (BBC)
Road information
Advert Booking
How to advertise
Email This Page
Fill in the text boxes below and click 'Send' to have this article emailed to the given email address.