We are back with our first player special of the season, with a new look squad and still in the infancy of the Mark Jones Era. However, today’s blog is about a guy who was one of the few who featured for Banbury in last years campaign and knows all about the National League, 29-year-old Simeon Maye. Here at Spencer Reds, we got to delve into the life of the midfielder who can hold it all together on the pitch through his spells with Boldmere St Michaels, Redditch, Solihull Moors, Leamington and now Banbury as well as understand how he kept it all together off the pitch during some stages where injury put a halt to the midfielder’s game.
Maye, born in the second city in July 1994, discovered his deep passion for football when he reached Primary school. As is the case for most kids at school, the anticipation of the breaktime freedom was palpable. The usual tactics emerged: ceaseless glances at the clock, a mad dash to complete the work set to escape detention and being on your best behaviour to avoid the dreaded one-game ban from playground football. These strategies became increasingly apparent as the bell draws nearer, serving as the unofficial kick-off whistle for the big match. When that bell finally tolled, a horde of eager youngsters surge forth, ready for their own personal World Cup finals to emulate their heroes, armed with any ball that could be found. Maye was no different and it was moments like this that ignited his footballing journey. Simeon just like most children loved playing football with his mates and despite only picking up the sport when in primary school his ability was clear and the school’s football coach convinced Simeon’s mum to try out their local team. Simeon joined Football Futures, where he was a lightning-quick winger who caught the eye of then-Premiership club Birmingham City at the age of 14.
Maye faced jubilation and heartbreak all in a mere few months at the Blues academy, as Simeon suffered an untimely injury just before the u15s and u16s merged which saw him face the cruel reality of being released from academy football at such a young age. Despite this setback, a silver lining emerged. Maye, an aspiring winger at the time, found an opportunity to draw closer to his idol, Jermaine Pennant (who was at Birmingham city at that time). Pennant's playing style, characterised by explosive dribbling, finesse, and his record for successful crosses in the 2005-2006 Premier League season, had long captured Maye's admiration. On the return of playing football with his mates, Maye's potential grew higher as he homed in his skills and became technically more gifted. This transformation prompted a strategic shift, relocating him to the centre of midfield. His ability to thrive in tight spaces made him invaluable for orchestrating attacks and disrupting opponents. Maye's athleticism further fortified his role, enabling him to exert relentless high-pressure tactics. Not only did it prompt a tactical shift it also prompted a role model shift as Maye looked up to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as he studiously watched and analysed the former Champions League winners’ game so he could Mirror his style of play.
SM4's journey through non-League football kicked off at Boldmere St Michaels, a Birmingham-based team. Reflecting on his time there, he fondly recalled, " I loved my spell at Boldmere; it was my first experience of men’s football and the lads there were all local and mates with each other which made it easy for me!”. Having a loving dressing room helped Sim express himself on the pitch with an array of eye-catching performances which proved pivotal in propelling the club to a runner-up position in just his second season. The dressing room camaraderie not only catalysed Maye's on-pitch growth but also provided invaluable off-field support whenever needed. In a Q&A session with Leamington's Andy Holt in March 2021, Maye mentioned the incredible assistance he received during his tenure at the club as many players offered him guidance and encouragement, well aware of his potential to ascend to higher levels of play. Notably, figures like Jacko and Stevo stood out as sources of guidance for the young midfielder. The blend of support and flourishing on the pitch led Maye to join Redditch United at step 3 turning out to be the first out of 4 times the gaffer Liam McDonald would sign the midfielder, thus rivalling the famous Neil Warnock and Paddy Kenny football love affair. Despite, the rise in the footballing pyramid Maye experienced Déjà vu as again his impressive performances on the pitch led to Redditch becoming title chasers but eventually ended up runners up like his spell at Boldmere. After the success of the reds, he followed McDonald to Hednesford where Liam McDonald acclaimed “He’s a manager's dream to work with” but despite this, the pair only lasted a few months before McDonald again took Maye along with him to National League Outfit Solihull Moors in December 2016.
Solihull was in their maiden campaign in the National League when SM4 arrived, thus meaning Sim simulated up the league’s quicker than Jay (from the inbetweeners) on football manager as he went from step 5 to step 1 in just 4 seasons. Unlike Jay’s famous saying, “completed it mate” Moors and Maye had work to do as they battled away to swerve the drop in their debut campaign. After being hailed in the local press as “Mr Dynamite” due to his explosive performances for the club, Maye extended his stay until the summer of 2018. The young midfielder admitted feeling nervous upon arriving, but he instantly acclimatised to the step-up quoting “I actually didn’t notice a massive jump to step 1 like I thought I would (I was really nervous) but as I stepped back down that’s when I really started to notice the difference”. With a change in management at Moors and an array of injuries led to limited playing time in the second season at the Damson stadium, so Maye headed to Rushall Olympic marking the 4th reunion with McDonald before having spells with Brackley and Hereford in the National League North before settling again at Leamington.
Leamington and Paul Holleran finally made a “Brakes” through to capture the signature of the Central midfielder after multiple failed attempts. Maye asserted himself as a popular figure in Warwickshire, with his industrious performances leading him to become a fan favourite. However, after thriving in the middle of the park in a FA Cup qualifier vs Kettering Town, Simeon’s goal-saving challenge in a thrilling 3-3 affair led to a season-ending injury. Maye suffered a leg brake causing him to be bed bound for a month and in a cast for 3 months. Eventhough he is regularly seen as being the linchpin on the pitch, the Birmingham-born midfielder faced the challenge of holding everything together off the field, as he couldn't drive, manoeuvre, or move freely. He expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support of his partner and family, who played a crucial role in keeping him on track and preserving his sanity during this trying time. Additionally, Maye also reflects on Leamington's exceptional care stating, “Leamington looked after me so well during that period and I can’t thank them enough for that!”. After a gruelling 308 days of rehabilitation, Sim returned the favour by triumphantly returning to competitive action, playing a crucial role in Leamington's resounding 4-0 season kick-off victory. Despite a positive start to the season, Leamington and Simeon Maye mutually consented to part ways in January 2023 which opened the door for the red and gold army.
Banbury United, who suffered with a dire injury crisis, stumbled upon a fortuitous match with Simeon as he was unattached. This union couldn't have been better timed. In a football landscape where three players have commanded transfer fees exceeding £100 million ($127.1 million) in 2023, all of them deep-lying midfielders, it underscores the lengths even the top managers will go to get a typical traditional number 4 in the base of their side. Banbury was no different to the professional game and was in desperate need of a holding midfielder to tie it all together after losing Josh Smile in January through injury and was lucky enough to pick up an able addition for free. With 12 games remaining Banbury found a player who fitted into the culture straight away, knowing how to put on a show. Maye became pivotal in the holding midfield role for Banbury’s fight against the drop as his experience, technical ability and tenacious tackling were big contributors in securing Step 2 football again at OX16.
Despite only arriving at the club in March, Simeon expressed how much he valued the tail end of the season “I’m not just saying this because I’m here now, but last season was my most enjoyable time on the pitch so far in my career. How we played last season was such a joy, always having the ball and then us as players trusting each other with the ball! It’s a shame that we couldn’t all stay together but it’s a credit to Whingy seeing how well he did at assembling that team. Everybody at the club has made me feel so welcome and the support has been fantastic too!”.
In the face off the mass exodus over the summer, Maye is here to stay and is looking forward to what this season can bring under Mark Jones. In the early parts of the season, it is evident he is already relishing his role under the stewardship of Mark Jones as he has been paired with experienced ex-football league midfielder Lawson D’ath. Not only do the pair bring a wealth of experience to the heart of the field, but SM4's strategic positioning has also yielded benefits elsewhere on the pitch. By adeptly covering deep spaces through his athleticism, he has afforded the wingbacks the freedom to venture forward, expanding the team's attacking presence. Furthermore, this arrangement allows Maye's midfield partner, D’ath, to contribute higher in attack, creating a multifaceted and potent tactical setup. This was seen in Banbury's 1-0 Victory over Chester where Maye depossed the opposition through his tough tackling and picking up loose balls which helped form quick transitions into attack. Overall, despite never playing under Mark Jones, Simeon has created a lasting impression creating him to be at the fourth front of his plans in the beating heart of the midfield for the season ahead .
Away from football, Maye is regularly seen on the Badminton court against former premier league and Jamaican international Darren Byfield. Additionally, the 29-year-old midfielder sees no future in football on the coaching side when the time comes to hang up his boots, but he does see a future on the terraces. Maye is a big Manchester City fan who actively tries to attend as many games as he can, and this is something he will look to try and do more once retired (Which is a good job as the EMPTYHAD needs more fans to sell-out) But for now his focus is on the red and gold army as we look to build on the foundations set from the previous season. To summarise what sort of player Simeon Maye is, I will leave you with a quote from Liam Mcdonald in March 2017 which stands in the test of time and encapsulates the skillset of our midfielder as you could envisage Andy Whing or Mark Jones quite easily quoting this down the airwaves at our very own Puritan Radio station.
“Simeon is one of those players who is more highly thought of by his own team-mates because of the work he does on the pitch. A lot of what he does can go unnoticed, getting the ball back, running down the opposition, he is our own little bit of dynamite in the centre of the park.”
Thank you for taking the time in reading this and supporting my blogs, please like share, Rt and comment with your thoughts as I love the interactions with you all. Secondly, I would love to share my Gratitude with Simeon for his cooperation and engagement with this blog and we wish him good luck for the season.
UTP
Spencer Reds.
❤️💛
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