Five-star Magpies pay tribute to Darty Brown with plenty in attendance at charity match

A large crowd braved the distinctly autumnal weather to show their support for former Magpies midfielder Darty Brown at York Road on Sunday

Darty, 46-years-old, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, cardiac sarcoma, and Maidenhead United agreed to host an ‘All Star Match’ in honour of the man who made 70 appearances for the Magpies, arriving at York Road in December 2006.

Darty was part of the United side which memorably won the Southern League play-off final against Team Bath at Twerton Park on May 5, 2007.

A significant number of former teammates – including the likes of DJ Campbell, Adrian Clifton, and Mark Nisbet – turned out and rolled back the years on a sodden York Road surface as ‘Darty’s All Stars’ took on a ‘Maidenhead United XI’.

一个有趣的比赛随之而来,早期戏剧假名n Delroy Preddie plunged to his right to save a penalty kick taken by Alex Wall after the forward – scorer of 48 goals in the black and white stripes and now with Dartford in the National League South – had been felled in the box.

Preddie – who made 14 starts for United having earlier played alongside Darty for Yeading during a successful era under future Magpies boss Johnson ‘Drax’ Hippolyte – made further fine saves from Dale Binns and Wall before the latter finally beat the overworked goalkeeper.

A second goal came before the break when the impressive Ashley Nicholls – who made more than 100 Maidenhead appearances – headed home with authority to put the Magpies XI two ahead.

Early in the second period, enthusiastic substitute Jacob Erskine – 47 MUFC starts – made it 3-0 when converting a cross from Nerada Bernard but the biggest cheer of the day came when former Premier League striker DJ Campbell flicked home a cross from the left to get Darty’s team on the scoresheet.

Mark Nisbet – a legend at both Maidenhead United and Slough Town – drove home a fourth goal for the side managed by Drax on the hour, and the scoring was completed for the Magpies XI before the close of play when Erskine scored with a neat chip at the near post.

多产的中场丹尼仍有时间Green – scorer of 25 Maidenhead United goals – to slam an effort from long range against a post before the players posed for pictures and enjoyed a proper post-match catch-up in Stripes bar, where West Indian food was well-received, a raffle was drawn, and an auction was held to raise funds for further treatment for brave Darty who is showing the same fighting spirit in ill-health that he demonstrated as a promotion winner at York Road.

MUFC Squad:Chico Ramos, Ashley Smith, Narada Bernard, Danny Green, Mark Nisbet, Dale Binns, Bailey Brown, Richard Pacquette, Alex Wall, Jacob Erskine, Yashwa Romeo, Jonathan Hippolyte, Adrian Clifton, Daniel Brown, Nevin Saroya, Ashley Nicholls.

Darty’s All Star Squad:Delroy Preddie, Bobby Behzadi, Dwayne Lee, Leon Woodruffe, Curtis Ujah, Domonic Sterling, Reece Tison-Lascaris, Adrian Toppin, Errol Telemaque, DJ Campbell, Kamal McEwan, Shai Golbourne, Dennis Hawkins, Shakeal Foster, Jermaine Hinds, Montell Hawkins, Francis Duku, Kereem Wilson.