Last Update:
July 22, 2024
What was once a bit of a quirky ground gained a more modern fresh look in 2014 with the opening of a new covered seated stand on one side of the ground.
This stand, which is known as the Railway Stand, is comprised of seven rows of seating and has a capacity of 550. Although fairly simply constructed, it is smart-looking and is free of supporting pillars. It runs for about half the length of the pitch, sitting astride the halfway line.
The Bell Street end of the ground is a covered terrace which is split into two separate sections. It is quite eye-catching as ‘Maidenhead Utd FC’ has been painted onto the back wall of the terrace in large black and white letters.
Opposite at the other end is the smaller East Terrace, which does have some cover towards its middle. The other side of the ground lets the ground down somewhat. Apart from one small open terrace and the team dugouts, it is home to a large ugly radio mast and an outline concrete open-sided building that contains amongst other things; a 3G training pitch.
A trip to Maidenhead United is a must for any football ground enthusiast. As the York Road football ground is officially acknowledged as the oldest continually used football ground in the world, having first seen the game played there in 1871. Bramall Lane is Sheffield is an older ground (1862) but has not been continually used by one Club, as Maidenhead’s has.
On the rare occasion that fans are segregated, the away supporters are given part or all of the Bell Street End. This simple terrace does have a small cover at the back and up to 450 fans can be accommodated in this area. For large games, additional outside catering and toilets are brought into service for the visiting fans.
There is quite a sense of history that you feel when visiting York Road, considering that it is such an old ground. Plus if you are a trainspotter then you are in for a ‘treat’ as beyond the back of the Main Stand there is an elevated railway line where one quite often sees during the match another InterCity train bound for London come hurtling along.
Inside the ground food on offer includes a range of pies, pasties, burgers and hot dogs.
In 2022, Maidenhead reached an agreement with the local council to acquire land at Braywick Park. The plan was to build a new stadium on this land and move from York Road.
However, following a change in leadership at council level, leaders decided to make a U-turn on the decision which has thrown the plans up in the air.
Originally, the club had decided to pursue a move away from York Road due to renovation costs at the old ground being too high. However, they are now reconsidering this route.
There is the Stripes Bar at the ground itself or next door is the Conservative Club which sells real ale. Alternatively, check out these pubs in the local area:
- O’Neill’s – 95-97 King St, Maidenhead SL6 1DP
- The Corner House – 43 Queen St, Maidenhead SL6 1LT
- Gordon’s – 43 Queen St, Maidenhead SL6 1LT
Leave the M4 at Junction 8 and take the A404(M). At the end of the A404(M) take the A4 (Bath Road) towards Maidenhead.
On reaching the town centre you will come to a large roundabout. Bear left (the 2nd exit) continuing on the A4. Go straight across the first roundabout and at the second turn right into Forlease Road and then second right into York Road. The entrance to the ground is down on the left.
There is no car parking at the ground itself, but there are plenty of pay and display car parks dotted around the nearby town centre, including a multi-storey at Nicholsons Shopping Centre on Broadway. There is a small car park located across the road from the ground but this has a maximum stay of just two hours.
Maidenhead Railway Station is located less than half a mile away from the York Road Ground and is only a five minute walk to the Bell Street turnstiles or ten minutes to the main entrance. The station is served by trains from London Paddington, Oxford and Reading.
As you come out of the station entrance turn right and walk up to the main road at the end of the car park. Turn left along this road and cross over to the other side using the nearby pedestrian crossing. Keeping the Bell pub on your right, turn right into Queen Street and then the next right hand turn into York Road. The entrance to the ground is further down on the right.
Maidenhead ticket prices 2023/24
- Adults: £20
- Concessions: £15
- 17-22s: £10
- Under 17s: £5
Official Matchday Programme £3
Marlow and Slough Town.
Record Attendance
7,920 v Southall
FA Amateur Cup Quarter final, 7th March 1936.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 1,531 (National League)
2021-2022: 1,409 (National League)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 1,339 (National League)
2018-2019: 1,369 (National League)
2017-2018: 1,475 (National League)
2016-2017: 1,012 (National League South)
If you require hotel accommodation in Maidenhead then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.
Official Website
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
Maidenhead United v Notts County
National League
Wednesday 1st January 2020, 3pm
Luke (Notts County)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the York Road Ground?
I was looking forward to going to this game because of York Road’s history as one of the oldest football grounds still in use in the World. Plus it was also a great opportunity to walk around Hyde Park before catching the train from London Paddington to the ground, which was a short walk from the station.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Although the walk from Maidenhead station was a short trip, the entrance for travelling supporters was well hidden, having to walk down some back road to find the entrance. But once I got through the turnstiles, it was plain sailing from there. As a student, I only paid a tenner, which is decent value for money.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I didn’t really do anything before the game, apart from spending time in the capital, but I did see some County supporters in the pub before the game. The home supporters were fine, they didn’t really take much notice of us.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the York Road Stadium?
The ground definitely felt like one that has been in use since the 1800's. The stands were very old, maybe with the exception of the Main Stand that may be more modern than the rest of the ground. It certainly doesn’t lack character, as there is a bomb shelter looking thing in the corner of the ground. The away end is basic, as were literally stood on some steps.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was awful. One of the worst games I have ever seen, and considering I traveled over 110 miles for the game, that aspect was disappointing. However, the County fans generated a little bit of atmosphere and did almost all the singing in the first half. They were quieter in the second due to how lacklustre the game was. The toilets were basic, as expected, and the prices for drinks at the bar were also as expected. However the stewards were miserable and couldn't handle the banter.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out was straightforward. It was a bit tight trying to get 500 odd County supporters out of two turnstiles, but when I got out, getting back to the station was fine.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Whilst it’s an honour to say that I have attended a game at one of the oldest grounds in the World, I can’t say I’d be in a hurry to go back. The facilities are very basic and the game itself was far from a fun experience. However, the ground itself has a lot of character and maybe a fun experience for other away supporters. However, it wasn’t for me because the game was so diabolical. Maybe if the game was better, then it would have been a better experience.
Maidenhead United v Halifax Town
National League
Saturday 5th October 2019, 3pm
Tony Farrar (Halifax Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the York Road Ground?
A new ground and a chance for me and my three sons (one of them lives in London) to meet up have a few pints and watch the Shaymen.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Good. I got a train from Halifax (one son got on at Wakefield) to London. Then a tube to Piccadilly where we met my other son and a train to Maidenhead. Finding ground is easy as you pass it on the train and its very near to the station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went into the town centre and to a Wetherspoons pub to have a few beers – the few fans we spoke to were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the York Street Ground?
We did enter the ground at the "away" end but the game wasn't segregated. The turnstile operator was very friendly. As we were a bit late we missed our goal, but he told us the score and who had scored.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was good and we won. I never even noticed the stewards which was good. Had a pint at half time in the clubhouse. They had a queueing system at the bar which is always good. We stood outside with our drinks, where there were loads of tables. I can't fault it. Oh and nice beer, draught Heineken. I did have a burger when we swapped ends at half time which I think had been cooked a lot earlier but I was hungry and it cured that. It couldn't spoil what was a great day out.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy. A short walk back to the train station. The trains were running every 15 minutes to London. Just time to get some beer for the train and a Ginsters.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Fantastic and we won. Maidenhead is a lovely town easy to get to plenty of pubs and really friendly locals – we missed our goal but we won -happy days -would recommend it.
Maidenhead United v FC Halifax Town
National League
Saturday 15th September 2018, 3pm
Mike Finister-Smith (FC Halifax Town)
Maidenhead United v Sutton United
National League
Saturday 30th March 2018, 3pm
Paul Dickinson (Neutral fan)
Maidenhead United v Barrow AFC
National League
Saturday 17th March 2018, 3pm
John Hague (Neutral fan)
Maidenhead United v FC Halifax Town
National League
Saturday 6th January 2018, 3pm
Michael Cromack (FC Halifax Town)
Maidenhead United v Wrexham
National League
Tuesday 8th August 2017, 7.45pm
Gareth Edwards (Wrexham fan)
Maidenhead United v Bath City
National League South
Saturday 12th November 2016, 3pm
Chris (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the York Road Football Ground itself?
I support Reading and live in the town. As it was international break weekend, I thought I would go and see some non-league football. Maidenhead United were doing well and on a good run, plus its only a ten minute train journey from Reading to Maidenhead. Although it has been a few years since I last been to York Road, I was looking forward to seeing their new Main Stand even though its been there for just over a year and a half. But also I was looking forward to the prospect of a good non-league football match.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was really easy. i was in Reading town centre early morning anyway and having a late breakfast at a Wetherspoons before getting the train to Maidenhead. It was a simple journey and I was in Maidenhead at 12.30pm.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I thought I shall check out some pubs I haven't been to in Maidenhead for a few years. I first went into the Bell pub and it was showing the Swindon v Charlton game on tv, and it shows all the sport. They do decent pub food and pizza, drinks prices are okay as well. After that went to the other side of Maidenhead town centre where there is a pub called the Maidens Head. A nice pub bit expensive for a pint, and also not to far is the Bear, a Wetherspoons outlet. I did walk around town and found another pub going out of the town centre called the White Horse pub next to the Methodist Church. It also shows Sky Sports. Nearby is The Rose pub as well opposite the entrance to Maidenhead shopping centre.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the York Road Football Ground?
York Road has the record of being oldest ground in the world, that has continuously had football played there. The ground has been updated with a new seated stand, along the railway side. It also has two tea bars and a large club shop. Theres also a Maidenhead United Stripes Bar which you can have a beer which welcomes everyone.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a victory for Maidenhead 2-1 over Bath City. A fantastic 35 yard volley from a Maidenhead player. A penalty missed by Bath City and a red card too! I had a burger which was nice standard and chips reasonably priced. Toilets are basic but simple for non league in a portacabin. Maidenhead fans were delighted to be staying top of the league and eight points clear.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was easy as the back end of the ground is located near to the train station. There is an there which is only three minutes walk from Maidenhead Railway Station. However, I stop off at the Bell pub for one or two. It was quite busy what with a England rugby match just been shown on tv and of course a handful of Maidenhead fans as well as a few Bath City fans. Got the train back to Reading for 6.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a good day out and I watched a good game. I enjoyed walking around Maidenhead Town Centre finding a few pubs before the game as I had a few hours to kill. But overall a good non-league day to go.
Maidenhead United v Port Vale
FA Cup 1st Round Replay
Thursday 19th November 2015, 8pm
Rob Fielding (Port Vale fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the York Road Ground?
Personally, I was looking forward to the game as I am an Port Vale exile based in Aylesbury and Maidenhead wasn't too far away from where I live (and work). However, I was a bit worried as this could be a potential cup banana skin.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
If you take the train into Maidenhead then it's very simple to find the ground as it's a few minutes walk away. If you come in from London you can actually see the ground as you approach Maidenhead Railway Station. However, it's probably worth checking the location of the ground on a map beforehand as it's not visually that obvious where to walk (even though it is very close to the train station).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
My wife and I went straight into the stadium as we were running a bit late. But we walked past a number of well-populated pubs with no hint of any trouble.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the York Road Ground?
The York Road Ground is very much what I expected. As this was a televised game with a bigger than usual away following, the away section had the benefit of some portaloos and the stadium in general was pretty packed. I particularly liked the mural on the back wall of the away end. As Port Vale also play in black and white I was a bit jealous that my club hadn't thought of something similar.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Well, Port Vale won which pleased me, but it wasn't one of the team's most dazzling performances. I have to credit Maidenhead UNited who did really well and really deserved the guard of honour (nice touch from the Vale) at the end of play. I was massively impressed with the catering both in terms of reasonable pricing and getting a nice cup of tea with real milk (rather than those little cartons). Some of the teenagers in the home end had clearly been attracted by the glamour of a cup tie on TV and were a little rowdy towards the Vale support but I've seen far worse. However, my impression of Maidenhead and it's genuine supporters was one of admiration and appreciation. There were some people there who had clearly dreamed for a long time of a cup match on live TV and they obviously enjoyed every moment. Anyone I met both before and during the game was courteous to me (including the stewards) and I can only say that as a result of our fixtures I look on Maidenhead with respect and wish them the best for the future.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems at all even though it was a bigger than usual attendance.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to the York Road Ground
Maidenhead United v Boreham Wood
Conference South League
Saturday, March 7th, 2015, 3pm
Myles Munsey (Groundhopper)
Reason for going:
After my usual winter recess, I was looking to get out and about again especially as a spring like day had been forecast. There are a whole load of Conference South grounds near where I live in Newbury (Basingstoke, Farnborough, Staines etc.) but I plumped for York Road to get a sneak preview of Boreham Wood FC who I shall next be watching when they take on Bromley over Easter. Besides this is a ground steeped in history.
Getting there:
Two trains changing at Reading. York Road is a mere five minutes walk from Maidenhead railway station.
First impressions:
I’ve been to York Road once before (FA cup tie v Aldershot in 2011) so not entirely new, though the ground has changed since with the building of the railway side stand. For the first time visitor it is a type of ground that is rapidly dying out. The ground, which is nicely tucked up against the tree-line railway embankment, is a mixture of quirky corners, a blend of old and new and a blend of the attractive and not so attractive. You approach the ground down a narrow side street and enter through an old fashioned ‘breathe in please’ type turnstile. Magic! The great thing about York Road is the freedom to walk round the entire ground with no hassle whatsoever and you can stand or sit where you like.
The main things to look out for at this historic ground are firstly; the circular plaque by the club offices confirming the world record for the longest continuous use (from 1871) for association football by any senior club. A replica F.A. Cup mural with references to Maidenhead’s participation in the early years and two magpie murals.
Also of note are the club offices/bar that resemble an old fashioned taxi office with Café attached* and a souvenir hut generously stacked with boxes of programmes. All labelled non-league, despite containing more than a few league teams.
Before the game:
I had plenty of time on my hands so sauntered into town in search of my usual packed lunch. Although on the river, there did not seem to be any parks and gardens so a bench in the shopping centre it had to be. Still it was unseasonably warm and scanning the sport pages of the paper is never a bad idea. I bought the programme – at £2 a good read. On the terrace was a man with his border collie dog. (At this level they let them in). It turned out that he was a fellow ground hopper. Mind you his tally put mine in the shade. So two men and a dog (though that wasn’t the total attendance!) took up position in the Railway Stand to avoid facing the sun.
Railway Stand
The game:
It’s not often you get to see a game of football sat next to a dog! I sat in the Railway Stand with my fellow ground hopper and our four-legged friend and spent the best part of the next 2 hours reminiscing on things like Brechin City’s touchline hedge and Somerton Park Newport. This was a rather flat game – a niggly affair with four bookings. Not a bad game but a hard bobbly surface did not help. The deadlock was broken after 83 minutes, when Ricky Shakes for the visitors pounced on Timm’s parry, after the initial shot by Junior Morias had been well saved. 1-0 to Boreham Wood.
Getting away:
The ground is that close to the railway station, that I was able to leave after the final whistle and still easily catch the 17:04 train back to Reading.
Overall:
A good day out – not a classic encounter, but for the ground hopper like me and for the football historian sheer delight. A visit is thoroughly recommended.
*Sample catering prices:
Soup/Bovril £1.20, Tea/Coffee £1, Burger/Bacon roll £3, Pies £2.50, Chips £2.