The monopoly that Sky and BT have over the showing of live football on TV does have its advantages. Most notably, it has enabled me to go and watch non-league football in my home town on a Saturday at 3pm.
Being from Maidstone, that has not always been possible but that’s not just because of the introduction of Sky Sports.
The Stones played their football outside the Town for 20 years but came back home in 2012 having been in the wilderness sharing grounds with Sittingbourne and Ashford. Depressing times indeed.
Mind you there were darker days. Some anoraks might remember that The Stones reached the nosebleed heights of the Football League in 1989.
Due to a combination of poor management and a total lack of support from the Local Council, Maidstone United went under in 1992. From its ashes, the resurrection has been nothing short of miraculous. Maidstone United was reborn in 1995 initially through a Youth Team and it then developed and gained periodic promotions through numerous leagues. All of this time the Team had no home and had to pay rent to other Clubs so it could play Footie.
Finally, through the incredible dedication of fans and the business acumen (and money) of the Club’s saviours Oliver Ash and Terry Casey, the new £2.6m Gallagher Stadium opened in 2012. Nestled next to the River Medway, the ground opened to a packed crowd with Brighton the visitors (we got stuffed!).
Ash, Casey and the supporters consistently fundraised and stirred interest in bringing back Football to Maidstone. I can still taste the delicious cakes I bought on Fan Cake days to raise money in dreary Ashford whilst counting how many Footballs were hoofed into the Industrial wasteland that surrounded the quagmire of a pitch.
Even during the Club’s resurgence, sharing badly drained Football pitches almost brought an end to the Club again as match after match was postponed leading to players not being paid for weeks on end.
The Owners of the Club have always stressed that the Club has to stand on its own two feet. They knew revenue had to be guaranteed and games had to go ahead. Also Ash and Casey wanted to make sure that the Club had a link with local community. So an artificial 3G pitch was laid and is now used buy no only the First Team but also numerous teams that are part of the Football Academy.
Artificial pitches have moved on since the day of sliding tackles resulting in burnt legs and tights being worn by players at grounds such as Loftus Road. The new synthetic pitches are brilliant. If it’s good enough for the Champions League, with Spartak Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium, then it should be good enough for the Football Conference League. Sadly, Clubs have voted down Maidstone’s request for 3G to be accepted in leagues higher than The Ryman Premier. Therefore, if the Stones gain promotion this season (and they are flying high) they will not gain promotion to the Skrill League South.
To date this season, Maidstone have not postponed any match at the Gallagher and yet 5 away matches have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches. Something has got to give and Maidstone continue to campaign on the issue, getting media coverage in The Times and even on TalkSport!
As for the Match Day experience at Maidstone? Well it brings a lump to the throat and that’s not because of the Strawberry Bon Bons you can buy from the back of a Van at the ground (a sort of Pick (up) ‘n’ Mix). The sweet Stall sits proudly next to the Pie Hut and the Conservatory which masquerades as a Bar courtesy of sponsors Britelite.
I still can’t quite believe The Stones have their own purpose-built Stadium.
The Club of course has its own Clubhouse with a specially brewed Stones Bitter on tap. Shepherd Neame’s finest …. Well almost!
Advertising revenue has been increased through local company hoardings everywhere around the Ground and there is even a sponsored Brick Wall where for £30 fans could have their names immortalised on a wall. It really is a fabulous site to see and some of the names have actually been spelt correctly!
The ground capacity is 2,300 and the Stones average home attendance is the fourth highest in non-league Football in the UK regularly attracting 1,600 – 1,900 at each match at The Gallagher.
The quality of the Football is pretty high. Less balls are lost compared to the Ashford/Sittingbourne days. Thankfully the retrieval of any ball thumped out of the ground in to the River Medway is made easier by employing Ball Boys in flippers and snorkels.
Frannie Collin, Alex Flisher, Tom Mills, Michael “Iniesta” Phillips and Alex Brown are household names. Admittedly I live on my own but you get the idea.
There is a great family atmosphere and the half-time entertainment often includes a Parent v Child Penalty Shoot Out. If you are lucky you can also witness The Stonettes, who not only almost dress in similar outfits but also almost dance in time!
I have bought a Season Ticket each season since the Club returned to the Town as I wanted to do my bit to support the Club financially. Matches cost £10 and I think that is value for money.
I travel to matches from London as much as I can and enjoy the pre-match ritual of meeting friends for a beer and a bite to eat at The White Rabbit and another couple of beers at the match (you can have a pint on the touchline!)
My mates and I usually pitch up at the corner flag near The Mystery Burger Van and between banter and laughter we sometimes get to see the match too.
The town is buzzing on matchdays and businesses are seeing the benefit of the Club being back in town.
Maidstone United are on the up. They are in the news through their 3G campaign and their Football is attractive to watch, their ground is something to be proud of and their pies are normally hot.
If we can just muster a chant to beat the one heard last season from the Horsham away fans then I think we will be on our way back to the Football League in the next 5 – 10 years.
“No surrender to the low fat spread!”
COYS!
