‘No sweat, everything about Alan Devonshire’s Maidenhead United final game was made in his own image

On Saturday, Maidenhead United host Chippenham Town in Alan Devonshire’s final game in charge of the Magpies. Here, Club Secretary – and more importantly fan – Neil Maskell takes us through the ‘Devs’ emotional final game in charge.

“Yes, I am doing okay”. The usually understated answer I got to my question regarding Alan Devonshire’s welfare was when he arrived at York Road on Saturday to manage Maidenhead United in a competitive match for the 913th time.

There was no fuss desired by a man of his generation who thought management was ‘all about the players’. But Magpies fans wouldn’t let the man who was the club’s best manager, twice in a row, leave without a tribute as many supporters adorned Dev-style flat caps for his farewell – all captured by club photographer Darren Woolley.

Part of the Club Secretary’s role at a club like Maidenhead United is to prepare team sheets to be exchanged with visiting team officials and management, so I am usually present for discussions with the referee. On this occasion Gary Horgan, Chippenham Town visitors manager, asked if there would be a guard of honor for Alan to mark the occasion. The unfussy Dev chuckled with a polite “no thank you” but it was a classy touch from a rival club welcoming guests to the party and it was typical of the warm tributes accorded by many inside a non-league match. Horgan was later admonished by match officials for showing frustration at a number of what might best be described as ‘marginal decisions which added to the lack of success in the celebrations’.

After Josh Umerah scored Maidenhead’s second-half goal that day, the celebrations really began with the manager’s name being chanted over and over by the home fans standing in the Bell Street End. It could be that the last goal of Devonshire’s second era was scored by Sam Barratt. Sam was one of five Magpies retained by Dev in 2015 when he returned to the club. There was laughter as Sam took a hat from the crowd in celebration, ironically a hat that Dev himself had donated to fan Damien Hanson earlier in the day.

The final whistle blew moments later and as the players and staff went to applaud the fans, Maidenhead air traffic was momentarily as busy as 15 miles away at Heathrow; captain Will de Havilland indulges the Bell Streeters in his usual airplane celebration before Dev follows suit. A wave to all four corners of the pitch and he was then the first off the pitch, earning his players plaudits for a confident and competent performance that had been somewhat missing in recent difficult weeks.

There was no special treatment at MUFC, not even the Secretary could squeeze into the packed Stripes Bar at the end when Chairman Peter Griffin and his wife Una Loughrey made their presentation to the Devonshire family. Later, the man they came for was persuaded to deliver his speech – which was of course brief, declaring his love for the club and his hope that everyone would support his successor Ryan Peters, before eliciting a final round of laughter and cheers using swear words to describe the criticizing minority group (who were apparently nowhere to be seen on the day).

As a fan, I got an autograph on the team sheet and a smiling selfie with the man of the moment. I will miss hearing the sweet tunes of west London on my phone or on match days. I have learned a lot from Dev about how things should be done in the industry. He also wasn’t afraid to tell me if I was doing something wrong! But what I miss most is the man who was loyal to the people who supported him, the caring man who always emphasized that his players “drive carefully, please guys” when dropping off the team coach after away games. His men. They will miss him too.

I have to stop writing now, I think there’s something in my eye.