Maidenhead United’s Braywick Park ground move back on agenda – Football in Berkshire

Maidenhead United hosted a two-part Fans Forum at York Road last Monday night, giving the club’s Board an opportunity to update fans on the future of the club before the new management team took questions from a large gathering of supporters.

Chairman Peter Griffin, his wife and fellow director Una Loughrey, CEO Jon Adams and Liberal Democrat councillor for Cox Green Chris Moriarty all spoke to the audience as plans to rekindle a move to Braywick Park were announced.  The proposal looks rather different to the one which was turned down on review by the Council in December 2023 and the key points are:

• Site to be on a new location at the back of Braywick with its own access and utilising existing car parking on Vicus Way 
• 5,000 capacity, EFL compliant ground with modern fan and player facilities 
• Smaller footprint and height, with reduced visual impact from the front of Braywick 
• Community and training facilities to be built elsewhere in the town 
• A modern grass surface to host men’s, women’s and youth matches 
• A commitment by the club to environmental and biodiversity enhancements at Braywick 
• Sustainable design with renewable energy, water recycling and energy efficiency 
• Ground ownership to remain in trust to protect the asset for generations to come 

Councillor Moriarty explained that the council will decide in January 2026 on the principle of releasing the land at Braywick.  The Board confirmed to attendees that if RBWM agrees then the club will, in the first half of 2026, continue to engage and consult with stakeholders and the wider Maidenhead public, draw up detailed designs and put them to the council and planners for a final decision. 

Questions and comments from the floor were of a positive and supportive nature.  More on the proposal can be found at: maidenheadunitedfc.org/our-proposal

The subsequent forum with team management allowed Ryan Peters to introduce his interim management team of Aaron O’Brien (Academy Manager and First Team Coach under Alan Devonshire) as assistant manager, Liam Vaughan (to reprise his role under Alan Devonshire) as goalkeeping and set-piece coach and a new arrival, Ryan Watts.  Watts is a former Brentford and Braintree Town playing colleague of Ryan Peters who is a nutritionist and gym instructor who has previously worked at Hendon FC. 

Peters and his team took a wide range of questions from the floor, with queries regarding recruitment – Peters emphasising that he feels the squad that has been inherited has plenty of talent for the level – and ambitions for the campaign.  Peters stated that the target was a top-seven finish and qualification for the play offs. 

Watch our tribute to Alan Devonshire