As reported in the local press, top scorer Shaun Welford has opted to stay on with The Stones despite a lucrative offer from Ryman South winners Whitehawk. Penenden Heath-based Shaun officially signed this weekend and is looking forward to playing a big part in the Stones’ homecoming season.

Also signing on the dotted line is central midfielder Michael Phillips, who is fit once again after a knee injury which saw him last turn out in late February.

Finally, we can also announce that despite offers from clubs higher up the pyramid, Sam Bewick has opted to stay with The Stones. Sam quickly became a fans’ favourite last season, coming runner up in the supporters’ vote for their player of the year, and he will no doubt be looking to add to the 49 appearances he made for the club last season.

All three players have signed on non-contract terms, and join Jay Saunders, Steve Ward and Tom Mills (who signed a contract until the end of the 2012-13 season back in September 2011) in the squad for the upcoming season.

Ward, who comes from the county town, joins The Stones from Ryman League Premier Division club Canvey Island. He has achieved somewhat legendary status at the Essex club having played for them for 12 years in total over two spells (1996-2006 and 2010-2012). In between times Ward played for Chelmsford City and Grays Athletic.

During his playing career he has been capped at England ‘C’ level, won the Ryman League Premier Division title and also an FA Trophy winners’ medal.

At 41 years of age, Ward brings considerable experience of the non league game with him to the Gallagher Stadium. He will also sign player registration forms after playing 21 games for The Gulls last season.

Jay Saunders was delighted to have secured such an experienced man for the new season.

He said: “I’ve been chasing Steve for some time and I’m thrilled to have him as part of my backroom team. As well as being in the dugout I’ll also have the option of using him as a player if necessary. Steve is very fit and still keen to play.

“Steve was very keen to join Maidstone United as it is his home town club. He lives in the town and works locally so for him it is the perfect club for him to join after finally leaving Canvey.”

Photo from Facebook

Working with Train Together, the club will be offering a range of qualifications, certificates and awards, including A-level equivalent courses and coaching and refereeing qualifications. Academy students will also gain first aid skills and learn how to lead healthy lifestyles. Successful youngsters could win a first-team apprenticeship with the club.

There’s also the chance to play and train all year round on the stadium’s state-of-the-art 3G pitch. As well as football coaching, an academy team will play in the English Colleges League and Conference Reserves League.

Maidstone United chief executive Bill Williams said: “This is a great opportunity for anyone completing their GCSEs this summer to continue in education while playing the sport they love. The Gallagher Stadium is the perfect place for the academy. As part of the £2.6million development, we have included three classrooms and the synthetic pitch can be used daily. It’s a world away from traditional schools and colleges which will be an attraction in itself.”

Applicants will be invited to a trial and interview at which their footballing skills will be assessed. It is expected that young people will have achieved five GCSE at A*-C by the time the programme starts in September. Support will be offered to those who need to top up their qualifications, especially if they demonstrate particular talent for the game and have just missed GCSE grade(s).

• To register your interest, email education@maidstoneunited.co.uk
• Maidstone United Football Academy

The ground has become green this last week and what a difference that makes. It suddenly looks like a football ground, which is a good job really. Getting the pitch laid and trouble-shooting every day to solve problems is a real challenge.

Our group of clubs, 3G4US, is going strong and lobbying for greater awareness and change on 3G pitches. We are eagerly awaiting feedback from the Football League after their survey, to which many of you contributed. Even more so because we are targeting automatic promotion this season.

We are working with Jay to reorganise the squad for next season and give ourselves the best chance possible of achieving this aim.

• Read Oliver Ash’s blog in full

Here’s a breakdown of the votes:

1st - Tom Mills 31%
2nd - Sam Bewick 27% (only three votes behind Tom)
3rd - Shaun Welford 23%
4th - Tommy Osborne 10%
5th - Graeme Andrews 5%
6th - Alex Flisher 2%
7th - Baff Addae/Karl Murray 1% each

For the past three years the independent association, led by supporters of the club, have co-ordinated and organised a series of events, and had money donated to them from individual supporter endeavours.

The money will pay for the North Stand at The Gallagher Stadium.

Club director Terry Casey said: “It is difficult to put into words the gratitude I feel. The association’s fundraising efforts have been overwhelming. Thank you all on the Bring The Stones Home team so very much.”

Fellow director Oliver Ash added: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all the BTSH supporters who have raised all these funds over many months of fund-raising efforts. It is very reassuring to know that we are not alone in funding the development of the ground and that there is a loyal group of supporters now linked indelibly to our new stadium.”

For more information about the Bring The Stones Home association, log on to www.bringthestoneshome.co.uk

Sam Bunn looks back at some of the most memorable Stones games played at the home of The Brickies…

Maidstone 2-4 Sidlesham, 19 October 2002, FA Vase 1st Round
This FA Vase tie against Sussex County League Sidlesham may have been among the first games the Stones played at Bourne Park, but it also remains one of the most controversial, and lives long in the memory for many Stones fans. Tipped as one of the favourites for the competition, Maidstone went into the game anticipating a routine home victory against the West Sussex club, playing in their first ever season in the FA Vase. However Sidlesham did not read the script; their overtly physical style was complemented by some puzzling refereeing decisions, and the West Sussex side found themselves one up before Richard Sinden somehow conspired to miss from two yards. The Sids then doubled their lead thanks to a moment of madness from Kevin Hudson in the Maidstone goal, however the away side did also have Dave Towers sent off. The Stones came out for the second half with renewed vigour, and by sixty minutes found themselves level thanks to a Richard Sinden penalty and a Paul Foley header. With the clock ticking down and extra time approaching the Stones had their strong penalty appeal of the game turned down. Sidlesham then raced up the other end to grab an unlikely winner, before adding insult to injury with another in stoppage time.

Maidstone 1-1 Bishop’s Stortford, 11 October 2003, FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Kent League Stones took on Bishop’s Stortford, then at Step 2 of the pyramid, and held them to a more than respectable draw in front of 601 spectators. Maidstone took the lead on the stoke of half time; the pressure from Aaron Lacy’s throws, which caused the away side problems all afternoon, finally paid off as the Stortford ‘keeper could only clear to Ross Edwards who headed home. Stortford equalised early in the second half through Bunn, and although they peppered the Stones goal for much of the second half they could find no way through, whether it was thanks to the imperious Hudson or the woodwork. The Stones headed up the M11 three days later for the replay, backed by a large and noisy contingent, and Jim Ward’s side reacted superbly to going 2-0 down by pulling level thanks to Sinden and Nick Davis, however current Dover player Glen Southam’s mazy run and calm finish gave his side a 90th minute winner.

Maidstone 1-1 Beckenham Town, 25 March 2006, Kent League Premier Division
Leroy Huggins’ 78th minute equaliser gave the Stones an ultimately title-winning point in this top of the table clash. With the Stones and Becks neck and neck at the top, and there being some acrimony between the two sides following the transfers of Nathan Paul and Mario Celaire from Beckenham to Maidstone, this match was an edgy affair with the plethora of skilful players on both sides struggling to make an impact on proceedings. The deadlock was finally broken after half time when a certain Ellis Green fired past Pat Mullin in the Stones goal. However, with an unthinkable defeat only ten minutes away, debutant Leroy Huggins raced beyond the Beckenham defence before stroking home, winning the Stones a point and denying Beckenham two which would go a huge way to deciding the destination of the Kent League title.

Maidstone 9-0 Sporting Bengal, 8 April 2006, Kent League Premier Division
The Stones handed out an almighty hammering to the Mile End club, with the goals coming from Ryan Royston, Leroy Huggins (3), Mo Takaloo (2), Nathan Paul, Lee Sperring and Simon Austin. In truth the home side should have won by more, however some poor decision-making (or greediness!) and a great performance from Abdul Hakim in the Bengal goal stopped the Stones from reaching double figures.

Maidstone 4-1 Dartford, 3 March 2007, Ryman League Division One South
In a season that confounded all expectations as the Stones went on to win the Ryman South title, few wins were sweeter than this 4-1 victory against rivals Dartford in front of a season-high attendance of 814. With the Bourne Park pitch perhaps at its worst ever at this time, the Stones managed to turn this to their advantage as Hume and Walker’s charges comfortably beat the Darts, captained by Tommy Osborne. Our goals that day came from Rowland (2), Takaloo and Austin, who along with Alex Tiesse made up the Ryman South’s most formidable forward-line who (along with central defensive goalscoring sensation Ryan Royston) fired us into the Ryman Premier at the first time of asking.

Maidstone 2-1 , 22 September 2007, Ryman League Premier Division
A late winner from debutant Luis Cumbers gave the Stones only their second league victory of the season, and who better to do it against than one of your fiercest rivals who you haven’t faced in the league for over 20 years? Nick Hegley gave the Stones an early lead, pouncing onto a delightful cross-field pass from Nathan Paul and curling the ball into the top corner, and it looked like it would finish 1-0 until Jon Main equalised for the Angels in the 82nd minute. However just two minutes later Cumbers popped up with a scrappy winner, and the Gillingham loanee went on to register eleven vital goals in thirteen matches before being recalled by the Gills.

Maidstone 0-1 AFC Wimbledon, 25 October 2008, FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
Although the Stones were comfortably beaten by Blue Square South leaders AFC Wimbledon, this game will go down in the history books after hosting the Stones’ highest attendance since reformation (1719) and being the culmination of the club’s best FA Cup run since reformation. A solitary goal from Sam Hatton gave the Dons a deserved win, however for Maidstone to host a game played in front of a huge crowd with an electric atmosphere gave a tantalising glimpse into what the future would be like when Maidstone finally returned to their home town.

Maidstone 2-0 Dulwich Hamlet, 29 October 2011, Ryman League Division One South
This comprehensive victory earlier this season took the Stones top of the table, taking the place of our opponents, and left the Stones fans wondering what just might be possible for the rest of the season. Shaun Welford gave us a fourth minute lead, bundling home a lofted ball from Michael Phillips, and Ellis Green soon made it 2-0 after an exquisite one-two with Danny Lye. The Stones continued to dominate, and although they didn’t add to the scoreline the game will go down as the Stones’ best performance of the season against a side who go into today with every chance of winning the league.

I go into every game both as a player and a manager wanting to win and tomorrow will be no different, I don’t want a similar situation to last season when we found out that Hastings had lost, meaning that if we’d beaten AFC Hornchurch we would have stayed up. It is also important we perform for the fans, who have brilliant all season, in the last game before we come home.

Saturday’s game will obviously be a very big test for us, for me Bognor have been the best side we have faced this season and I am surprised they haven’t already won the league.

It will be interesting to see how our newer players such as Ben Davisson and Karl Murray fare against a side who have set the standard this year, and it will also be good to look at how we are as a whole, and how we can improve to reach their level next season.

After missing last weeks game we will welcome Ben Davisson and Graeme Andrews back into the squad tomorrow. However Danny Lye will unfortunately not recover in time from his back injury.

In addition, Michael Phillips trained on Thursday but Saturday will most likely be too soon to welcome him back into the fold.

The sponsorship deal will see the clubhouse at The Gallagher Stadium named The Spitfire Lounge, after one of the family-owned brewery’s most famous brands. It will open on Saturday 14 July – the day when The Stones entertain Championship club Brighton and Hove Albion.

To celebrate Maidstone United’s return to Kent’s county town, the Faversham-based brewer will launch an ale, named after the club.

Club chief executive Bill Williams said: “Shepherd Neame has supported Maidstone United for many years, so it is great that the brewer will be part of our homecoming. As well as kitting out the bar and stocking it with some of the company’s famous brands, it is a real coup to get an ale named after the club. This will help promote The Stones and celebrate the long-awaited return.

Head of Freetrade at Shepherd Neame Giles Hilton said: “These are exciting times for Maidstone United and we are delighted to be part of their homecoming. Shepherd Neame is committed to supporting sport, investing more than £500,000 annually across the south east. The Stones’ first game, against Brighton, promises to be a fantastic day for the county town.”

Shepherd Neame is an independent, family brewer which operates more than 350 pubs, inns and hotels across the south east. The company brews a portfolio of distinctive Kentish ales, including Spitfire, Bishops Finger and Master Brew in addition to international lagers Asahi, Sam Adams Boston Lager and Oranjeboom, which are brewed under licence.

• Shepherd Neame online

On the field, which is a lot less stressful than the events concerning the stadium, I feel we have done remarkably well to stay in the hunt for a play-off place.

Off the field we are making great progress and next week we will be laying the 3G carpet.

I cannot thank enough those people who continue to express their support both financially and in their efforts behind the scenes for what we are trying to achieve – it means a great deal to Oliver, Bill and myself.

• Read Terry Casey’s blog in full