Maidstone United F.C. History (2006-present)

The History of Maidstone United F.C. (2006–present) covers the period following the clubs promotion to the Isthmian League Division One South in 2006 to the present day.

2006-2009: An unexpected promotion but no return home

Mo Takaloo celebrates his goal which saves Maidstone from relegation at Folkestone Invicta

Maidstone, who were now managed by Lloyd Hume and Alan Walker in a joint capacity, took the bulk of the Kent League winning side with them into the 2006-07 Isthmian League South campaign. After an injury ravaged pre-season the Stones took a while to adapt to their new surroundings, spending much of the seasons opening months in the bottom half of the table. However, as Christmas came and went United found their feet and were soon in and amongst the title race, cementing their promotion credentials with a 4-2 away win at the much-fancied Dover Athletic. The club's good form continued as others faltered, and Maidstone went on to win the Isthmian South title on the last day of the season thanks to a 2-1 win at Walton Casuals. However the overwhelming success on the pitch was overshadowed by little visible progress being made in the building of James Whatman Way.

The 2007–08 season proved to be one of the most turbulent seasons in the club's chequered history. Pre season preparation was thrown into complete disarray at the news that influential manager Alan Walker had been left paralysed in a freak accident at a coaching course in Belfast.^[1] Walker made a valiant recovery however, and was back walking and in management by the start of the league season.^[2] With the club yet again staying loyal to those players who won the league the year before, United lost their first three league games, conceding 13 goals and scoring none. Nevertheless, with the help of some new signings (such as loanee Luis Cumbers who hit 11 goals in thirteen matches) and some time to settle in to the new league, the Stones reached the top half of the table by October 2007, a month that also saw Chris Smalling make his Maidstone debut against Canvey Island in the Isthmian League Cup. However by the turn of the year, and despite the news that 25% of the club had been sold to businessman Oliver Ash bringing in a much needed funds,^[3] on the pitch things again weren't looking so good. Influential defender Mario Celaire was charged and eventually jailed for murder,^[4] and Chris Smalling could only occasionally feature due to being on regular international duty with England Schoolboys. The club slid towards the foot of the table and spent much of 2008 in and around the relegation zone. Despite this Maidstone managed to avoid the drop thanks to a last day 1-0 victory against Folkestone Invicta, and in the process relegated the seaside club in a winner-takes-all match.^[5]

The 2008-09 was another tough season for Maidstone. The squad who came so close to relegation the year before was largely dismantled with Jay Saunders and Ian Cox being two of many new faces coming in. Chris Smalling left the club signing for Premier League side Fulham on a two year deal.^[6] Smalling was not on a contract at the Stones (as it would have prohibited him from playing for England Schoolboys, for whom he made five appearances), and as such Fulham were not entitled to give Maidstone a fee for the player. Despite this Fulham agreed to pay Maidstone £10,000 up front, with £10,000 also being received for every ten games played.^[7] Meanwhile during the close season it had become increasingly apparent the club could not afford to field a competitive Isthmian Premier team and fund a new stadium, so with what limited funds the club had seemingly tied up in paying new players it was decided to try and fund the new ground at James Whatman Way by bidding for a £1.2million grant from the Football Foundation. The bid was turned down in October 2008.^[8] This came as a huge blow and soon after the club was put up for sale by chairman Paul Bowden-Brown.^[9] Despite some interest from Lashings owner David Folb no firm negotiations materialised and Bowden-Brown remained at the helm - as a result of this the club had no choice but to halve their wage bill from £6000 to £3000 per week. Some players such as Ian Selley left the club but the vast majority took a pay cut and saw the season out with Maidstone. Despite the disappointment of a season losing money and looking a long way from returning home, Maidstone technically had their best campaign since reforming, finishing a comfortable 15th in the league and reaching the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup.

2009-present: New groundshare, new owners and new managers

During the 2009 close season Maidstone moved from their temporary Bourne Park home in Sittingbourne to Ashford Town's stadium, The Homelands. Despite Ashford being even further from Maidstone than Sittingbourne, the move was seen as being more financially viable with lower rent being coupled with receiving a percentage of food and bar profits, something not available when United played at Sittingbourne. However the move to Ashford bought a significant dip in attendances, with the club's 2009-10 average crowd of 255 being 34% lower than the season before, and an attendance of 128 against Hendon was Maidstone's lowest 'home' league crowd since the Kent League days.

Back on the playing side things were equally as bad with Maidstone spending the 2009-10 season in and around the relegation places. In December 2009 tumbling attendances and numerous postponed matches caused an income shortage at the club, resulting in two months of staff pay being deferred to the end of the season. A month later Fulham turned down Maidstone's pleas for a percentage of the £10million Manchester United had just paid for former player Chris Smalling.^[10] In February 2010 and after nearly six years at the helm Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume resigned as managers of the club,^[11] citing the club's off-field troubles and that they had 'taken the club as far as they could'. Reserve manager Pete Nott and his assistant Tony Cornwell were instated as the management team until the end of the season. After much disruption to the playing staff with Jamie Turner, Jay Saunders, Nick Barnes and James Pinnock all leaving to join Kent rivals and fellow relegation battlers Margate, Maidstone avoided relegation with a game to spare, finishing 18th.

Nott was kept on as manager for the 2010-11 season and there was yet again more player changes as the club's budget was further cut, with captain Peter Hawkins and terrace favourite Nathan Paul two of the highest profile departures. Meanwhile the club's money problems meant there continued to be little movement at James Whatman Way, and dwindling crowds coupled with disputes with Ashford officials^[12] left the club considering a return to Sittingbourne's Bourne Park. However after weeks of uncertainty and conflicting stories in the press, it was announced on the eve of the new season that Maidstone were to remain at Ashford where they became sole tenants due to Ashford Town's ban from football.^[13]

As the season began Maidstone's financial predicament continued to worsen. Rumours circled that the club's days could be numbered and chairman Paul Bowden-Brown once again expressed his desire to sell the club. For the second time in three years David Folb showed interest in taking over,^[14] however after much publicised and extensive negotiations an agreement could not be met.^[15] However soon after in October 2010 the club's future was secured when it was taken over by existing shareholder Oliver Ash and supporter Terry Casey, with Paul Bowden-Brown stepping down as Chairman.^[16] The new owners first move was to write off some of the club's debts and to pay back a loan from Maidstone Borough Council, and soon after they announced their plans to finance the club's move to Whatman Way, which they anticipated would see the Stones home by 2012.

Despite things looking up at boardroom level, the situation was not quite as rosy on the pitch, with the team lying bottom of the table and an early exit from the FA Cup leading to manager Peter Nott and his backroom staff being sacked in November 2010.^[17] Former Gravesend & Northfleet manager Andy Ford was swiftly appointed manager with Steve Butler brought in as his assistant.^[18] The new management triggered huge changes in playing personnel and by February 2010 well over 50 players had turned out for the club in the 2010-11 season. Notable player movements saw homegrown favourites such as James Peacock and Ashley Ulph leave the club with new signings including Nathan Paul and Jay Saunders, back for their second spells at The Stones. However the new management and players did not bring an upturn in the teams fortunes. By March 2011 they were bottom of the league and eight points from safety, and a 1-0 home loss against 2nd bottom side Croydon Athletic on March 15 saw Ford and Butler resign from the club.^[19] On 17 March 2011 club captain Jay Saunders was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season,^[20] and he appointed former Maidstone player Alan Pouton as his assistant.^[21] Saunders oversaw a startling upturn in the clubs fortunes, with 5 wins from eight games giving Maidstone a chance of survival going into the last game of the season. However a 2-0 loss away to AFC Hornchurch on the last day saw the Stones relegated from the Isthmian Premier Division, with the team finishing in 20th place. Saunders was subsequently appointed permanent manager of the club, signing a one year rolling contract.

In the summer of 2011 the club moved back to Sittingbourne to groundshare at Bourne Park for the 2011-12 season.^[22] The club also announced it had bought the freehold for the site at James Whatman Way, and after raising over £1million^[23] construction started in earnest with the installation of an electric substation in August 2011,^[24] with full construction beginning on 26 September 2011.

References

1. ^ Alan Walker Injured in Belfast
2. ^ Walker Returns Home
3. ^ PBB Welcomes New Director
4. ^ Double jeopardy killer Mario Celaire gets minimum of 23 years jail
5. ^ Folkestone Invicta 0-1 Maidstone United
6. ^ Chris Smalling Announcement
7. ^ Sam Wallace: It's sad that Maidstone miss out on share of £10m Smalling windfall
8. ^ Stones dealt ground funding blow
9. ^ Maidstone United put up for sale
10. ^ Fulham reject Maidstone cash plea over Chris Smalling
11. ^ Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume cite Maidstone's off-field problems for quitting the club
12. ^ Ashford Town chairman Don Crosbie says Maidstone United groundshare at Homelands has been terminated
13. ^ Ashford Town Football Club placed under suspension by the FA
14. ^ Lashings owner David Folb's proposals for Maidstone United set to be revealed on Tuesday
15. ^ Unrealistic Offer Rejected
16. ^ New owners take over Maidstone United
17. ^ Maidstone United part company with manager Peter Nott
18. ^ Andy Ford appointed Maidstone manager
19. ^ Maidstone boss Andy Ford resigns after five months
20. ^ Saunders delighted to become Maidstone United caretaker boss
21. ^ Pouton named as Saunders' assistant at Maidstone
22. ^ Tervet, Steve (25 February 2011). "Maidstone United to ground share with Sittingbourne next season". Your Maidstone (KOS Media). http://www.kentnews.co.uk/p_12/Article/a_11739/Maidstone_United_to_ground-share_with_Sittingbourne_next_season. Retrieved 5 April 2011. 
23. ^ Hoad, Alex (31 March 2011). "Maidstone United reach £1m barrier in quest to raise finance for new stadium". Kent Messenger (KM Group). http://www.kentmessenger.co.uk/kentonline/sport/2011/april/1/maidstone_united.aspx. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
24. ^ Casey, Terry (10 May 2011). "Planning the future of our club". Maidstone United Directors Blog (Blogspot). http://maidstoneunited.blogspot.com/2011/05/planning-for-future-of-our-club.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011.