Paul Booth, Ian Draycott, Rory Hill, Danny Lye, Charlie Mitten, Tommy Osborne, Michael Phillips and Jerrome Sobers are returning for the Ryman Premier Division campaign.

Jay Saunders is still speaking to other squad players and his phone has been ringing off the hook with others keen to join one of the best-supported non league clubs in the country.

He said: “It’s great to be this advanced with preparations for next season. We’ve got the nucleus of the squad now and the other players have had offers and I am waiting to hear from them.

“I’ve also organised a trial day next month to have a look at all those who’ve emailed the club about playing for us – the interest has been phenomenal.”

In other news, the Stones will host FA Vase runners-up Tunbridge Wells at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday 9 July, kick off 19:45.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who joins from Ryman Division One South side Merstham, is Jay Saunders’ sixth signing for the 2013/14 season.

Saraiva scored 18 league goals for The Motesiders during the 2012/13 season and impressed Jay Saunders when the Stones played Hayden Bird’s side. He scored in three of the four recent matches between the two sides.

The former Lewisham college student also had trials with Championship sides Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.

MONDAY 20 MAY
U14 GIRLS CUP FINAL: Rainham vs. Rochester (kick off 17:00)
Soccersixes (19:30-22:00)
Spitfire Lounge open (16:30-22:30)

TUESDAY 21 MAY
KENT YOUTH: Maidstone United U18s vs. Hythe Town U18s (kick off 19:45)
Spitfire Lounge open (18:00-22:30)

WEDNESDAY 22 MAY
Maidstone United Player Development Centre (17:00-18:00)
Soccersixes (20:00-22:00)
Spitfire Lounge open (16:00-22:30)

THURSDAY 23 MAY
KENT YOUTH: Maidstone United U18s vs. Cray Valley U18s (kick off 19:45)
Spitfire Lounge open (18:00-22:30)

FRIDAY 24 MAY
FUNDRAISER: Match for Luke Pye (kick off 18:30)
Spitfire Lounge open (18:00-22:00)

SATURDAY 25 MAY
Maidstone United Pebbles Club (09:00-10:00 – registration at 08:45)
Maidstone United Raiders (10:00-12:00 – registration at 09:45)
Spitfire Lounge open (09:00-17:00. Private hire after 17:00)

SUNDAY 26 MAY
KENT YOUTH: Maidstone United U18s vs.  (kick off 11:00)
TOUR DE KENT: End of Stage Two (Between 14:00 and 16:00)
Soccersixes (18:00-21:00)
Spitfire Lounge open (10:00-22:00)

• What’s on calendar
• Venue hire at the Gallagher Stadium
• Directions to the Gallagher Stadium

Gallagher Stadium
James Whatman Way
Maidstone
ME14 1LQ

The club’s deaf team beat a side from Bury Town by seven goals to one. The Stones had a couple of goals disallowed in the opening 20 minutes and hit the post before Adam Brown opened their account after 26 minutes. Captain Thomas Paull doubled the advantage four minutes later and Steven Wynn added a third before half time.

Bury came out for the second half strongly but Maidstone dealt another blow 10 minutes into the second half when substitute Jamie Chang slotted home. James Paull made it 5-0 after 68 minutes but Bury’s Paul Kidd went straight down the other end for what turned out to be a consolation goal.

Phil Kamps it 6-1 with 80 minutes on the clock and the team were in seventh heaven when Duncan Rowley grabbed another goal.

There was no hiding the joy from captain Thomas Paull when he collected the trophy from Alan Turvey (Ryman League) and James Watkins (Football Association).

Team manager Clifford Lane said: “I am so proud of the team and so happy with the game – I couldn’t ask for better than that. I didn’t expect a big score but we played really well. At half time, when we were three nil up, I told them not to stop until the 90 minutes were up, keep going, no resting, keep working hard. The whole team played well, it would be hard to pick out one player.”

The Stones made it to the final after victories against East Thurrock United (4-1) and Folkestone Invicta (2-1).

Maidstone United Deaf FC were founded in the summer 2011 by Clifford Lane and John Harvey. They got together and started signing up deaf players from all over Kent. The club grew very quickly during the first year and at the beginning of this season they entered the England Deaf Football South League – an 11-a-side competition played against five other deaf teams – and Ryman Disability Cup.

STONES TEAM: Michael Roberts, Ryan Marshall, Andrew Belcher, Adam Brown, Aeron Glidewell, Thomas Paull, James Paull, Phil Kamps, Tommy Hobson, Duncan Rowley, Clifford Lane

SUBS: Steven Wynn, James Sullivan-Monk, Michael Harvey, Jamie Chang, Ben Miller

• Maidstone United Raiders are sponsored by Carewatch, CSiS, Hilton Maidstone, Kent Events, Maidstone Borough Council, NMU, Riveroak and Sainsbury’s.

So Maidstone United DFC are through to the final of the Ryman Disability Cup, how does it feel?
Fantastic. We have a really strong group of talented lads this year and it has been proven in our cup run. It’s the first year this competition has been established so to be in the final and have a shot at being the first name on the trophy is obviously a great opportunity and one all of the guys are working hard to take advantage of.

Besides the cup, how has Maidstone United DFC’s season been this year?
I think progressive is probably an appropriate word to use. It’s the squad’s first year in EDF South and although results aren’t exactly the most enjoyable reading, the team has improved tremendously and recruitment has gone up.

The state the team is in now, in comparison to the same time last year, there has been a huge progression into a much bigger team with higher quality players.

As you said it’s the first year of the Ryman Disability Cup, what are your thoughts on the competition?
I think it’s fantastic for disability football in the south east, it’s really good to see the Ryman League taking an interest in disability football and creating extra opportunities for the players here.

The Kent Disability League is run as a 7v7 format and there are very limited opportunities for these disabled athletes to play any competitive 11-a-side matches.

The cup provides that platform and helps to develop the quality and standard of the players in hope of feeding them through to better disability-specific national squads.

You’re up against Bury Town FC in the final, what are you expecting?
A very tough match, Bury have put up some fantastic results in the cup so far winning their semi-final 6-2. They are a solid team with a tremendous amount of depth in their squad so competition for places is high and they will field an incredibly strong team.

But if you want to be the best you have to beat the best and that’s what we intend to do.

The squad has been training hard and come into Sunday’s match feeling quietly confident and ready to add some silverware to what has already been a reasonably successful season.

Maidstone United Deaf vs. Bury Town
Ryman Disability Cup Final
Sunday 19 May
Kick off 15:00
Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, ME14 1LQ

ADMISSION

Adults £3
Concessions (60+/students) £1
Under 11s Free (when accompanied by a paying adult)

• Parking at the Gallagher Stadium will be limited on the day. The pay and display bays on James Whatman Way are free on Sunday. Alternatively, try Invicta House car park – a five-minute walk from the ground.

The line-up is:

AFC Hornchurch
Billericay Town FC
Bognor Regis Town
Bury Town
Canvey Island
Cray Wanderers
Dulwich Hamlet
East Thurrock United
Enfield Town
Grays Athletic
Hampton & Richmond Borough
Harrow Borough
Hendon
Kingstonian
Leiston
Lewes
Lowestoft Town
Maidstone United
Margate
Metropolitan Police
Thamesmead Town
Thurrock
Wealdstone
Wingate & Finchley

As in previous years, there are a number of issues that may yet impact these allocations and therefore they remain subject to change until the dates of the AGMs of the four competitions.

In other Kent news, Chatham Town are to remain in Ryman North and will be joined by Sittingbourne and newly-promoted Erith & Belvedere and VCD Athletic.

The top two teams in Premier Division One of the Kent Youth League contested the final of the John Ullmann cup at Corinthian FC and after 90 minutes of football couldn’t separate the sides, it was Maidstone who prevailed in extra time.

On a cool evening, on a pitch that was in excellent condition, the Stones dominated the game from the start. They had an early effort on five minutes when Charley Robertson’s long range shot flew just wide before they had a goal disallowed minutes later when a ball into the box saw Pavey stretch for the ball as VCD keeper Mark Worsfold went to gather. The ball fell loose and Pavey turned the ball into the empty net but the Referee deemed that it was dangerous play by Pavey and the goal was chalked off.

However they went close again on 13 minutes when Ross Bassan’s cross from the left was headed back across goal by Dan Parkinson at the far post to Pavey who had his close range header well saved by Worsfold high to his left for a corner. Shortly afterwards VCD had a good chance when Connor Taylor whipped in a cross from the left that was just flicked narrowly wide by a stretching Tom Blowers. Robertson then had a long range shot that flew straight at Worsfold before the Stones should have taken the lead on 20 minutes when James Goode’s cross from the right found an unmarked Pavey some 10 yards out but he sent his half volley over.

After this promising start the game became a bit fractious and Pavey was booked for dissent, then Blowers was booked for not retreating at a free kick, and on 35 minutes Lee Pleau booked for a foul. The Stones then nearly took the lead on 40 minutes when Dan Johnson made a good run down the left before sending in a low cross that was fired goalwards by Pavey but superbly blocked by the left foot of Worsfold for a corner. From the corner taken by Robertson, Pavey rose highest and saw his goalbound header flicked on by Parkinson high to the right of Worsfold but cleared off the line by Joe Raishbrook.

The second half started with Parkinson being booked for dissent on 49 minutes and minutes later VCD’S Taylor sent in a good cross from the right that Gary Smith turned just wide. Shortly afterwards Parkinson was warned by the Referee for kicking the ball away after VCD were awarded a free kick and then on 59 minutes he received a second yellow for repeating the offence and was sent off. Shortly afterwards things got even worse for the Stones when VCD scored with their first shot on target and it was a superb strike from Smith, hitting a 30 yard shot on the turn that beat Tom Wellham high to his left, the ball entering the net via his left hand post.

However the Stones were not behind for long as with virtually their next attack they drew level from the penalty spot. The ball was played into the feet of Bassan who was pulled to the ground by Ben Gorham and a penalty awarded that Pavey dispatched low to the left of Worsfold as the keeper dived to his right.

Raishbrook was booked for a foul shortly afterwards before the Stones went close to taking the lead when Johnson’s shot from the edge of the box was charged down by a VCD defender, the ball falling to Robertson who shot over when well placed. Then Pavey had a header from a Jack Sullivan cross fly straight at Worsfold before the action switched the other end as Sam Corne put Smith in on goal but his close range shot was well blocked by Wellham. Taylor then made space well on the edge of the Stones box before firing in a shot that flew narrowly wide.

On 80 minutes Ryan Mahal was booked for a foul on Robertson and from the resultant free kick Sullivan nearly scored as his curling 30 yard free kick from the left floated over Worsfold high to his right, struck his left hand post and rebounded back hitting the keeper before going out for a corner. Despite being a man down it was the Stones who continued to press for a winner and on 85 minutes they went close again as Sullivan’s corner was met by a fierce header from Pavey that was blocked by a VCD defender, the ball falling to Ollie Lee who beat Worsfold low to his left but the ball was cleared off the line by Mahal.

Shortly afterwards another long ball forward from Sullivan saw Pavey rise highest and head the ball goalwards. Worsfold appeared to have it covered but dropped the ball and just managed to gather before it crossed the line. Into the final minute of normal time Stones substitute Bradley Webb, who had been a willing runner supporting Pavey, got free on the half way line and raced through down the right before squaring the ball to Pavey who had his shot well blocked by Gorham for a corner.

Sullivan then had a fierce shot from wide right of the area that Worsfold did well to beat away high above his head before George Pettitt was booked for a foul. Deep into stoppage time the Stones went close to winning the game as Bassan’s right wing cross fell to Robertson at the far post but Worsfold did really well to get down at his right hand post to save his close range effort. So the game went into extra time with the 10 man Stones continuing to dominate the game.

In the first minute they went close when a long ball forward was headed on by Pavey into the path of Webb who released Robertson in on goal but his shot flew straight at Worsfold. Then another long Sullivan ball forward found Webb whose shot on the turn was deflected by Gorham to his keeper. Lee then had a long range shot fly over before on 102 minutes the Stones went close again when Robertson’s left wing cross was met by a powerful header from Pavey that was well saved by Worsfold high to his right for a corner.
However from their tenth corner of the game, the Stones took the lead as Robertson’s ball in was glanced home by Lee at the near post high to the left of Worsfold. Shortly afterwards VCD got their first corner of the game but it was well dealt with by the Stones defence.

Early in the second period of extra time and with VCD now having to press the game, Mahal’s great through ball put Corne in on goal but his shot flew straight at Wellham. Taylor was then booked for VCD before on 114 minutes Mahal and Johnson tangled on the left touchline earning them both a yellow card, but for Mahal it was his second and he was sent off.

Shortly afterwards Antonio Pessoa was booked as the card count reached nine yellows and two reds. The final action of the game saw a high ball forward fall to Smith who had his low shot well blocked by Wellham diving to his left.

STONES SQUAD: Taylor Gable, Dan Johnson, Ashley Long, Ollie Lee, Jack Sullivan, Lee Pleau, Dan Parkinson, Jimmy Good, Ross Bassan, Charley Robertson, Martin Remess, Bradley Webb, Alfie Pavey, Taylor Mc Donagh.

STONES SCORERS: Pavey 65 (pen), Lee 102.

Tim joined the Stones last summer after making a cameo appearance during the 2011/12 season, while on dual registration with Tonbridge Angels. He went on to make 41 appearances (39 starts, two sub) during the promotion-winning campaign – scoring six goals.

He quickly became a fans’ favourite and the Timmy Olorunda song to the tune of ‘Do The Conga’ was a highlight in the stands.

In Shaun Welford, the club found one of their most passionate captains. He led the team in his own unique style throughout the first season at the Gallagher Stadium. Despite a transfer approach from Hythe Town ahead of the Reachfields clash, Welford opted for the Stones and scored twice against The Reds during a memorable 4-3 victory in January.

During the 2011/12 season, he was the leading goalscorer with 32 from 43 games. The highlight of that campaign for him was bagging five goals in the Stones 9-0 away win over Corinthian in the FA Cup.

Jay Saunders said: “They’ve both been superb and a big part of the club. Shaun wants to be playing week in, week out and has had a number of approaches, so it’s only fair he has the opportunity to look at those. We will miss him on and off the pitch, he’s a great character and whoever he signs for will get 110%. Tim is a brilliant lad and played a massive part in the successes we’ve enjoyed this season. These were tough decisions but something players and managers accept happens at this time of the year.”

• Stones archive: read articles featuring Tim Olorunda
• Stones archive: read articles featuring Shaun Welford

After announcing his departure from Longmead at the weekend, Worgan was linked with Maidstone and Jay Saunders has pulled off one of his biggest signings to date with this vastly-experienced shot stopper.

Worgan, who came through the youth ranks at Wimbledon, made more than 150 appearances for the Angels and was vital to their promotion to Blue Square South at the end of the 2010/11 season.

Lee Worgan said: “I am delighted to be joining and relishing the opportunity next season. It’s a massive club and the infrastructure is here with the academy and the stadium and I cannot wait to get going now. I am coming here with the ambition to win the league or win promotion through the play-offs. I want to achieve big things and take my career on here.”

Jay Saunders added: “This is a quality signing for the club. Lee has a proven track record and, at 29 years of age, his best years are still ahead of him. He’s seen what the club have achieved this season and was really keen to be part of it – even taking a pay cut to come here. These initial signings show our intent – we’re not just there to make up the numbers, we want to challenge and push for promotion again.”

The accolade was presented at the Non League Paper’s National Game Awards in association with Budweiser.

The ceremony held at Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage celebrates the non league game with awards including Fair Play, unsung hero and Fan of the Year.

Read more in the Non League Paper this weekend. (Photo: Andy Nunn)