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Maidstone United reformed in 1992 following the demise
of the Football League side. The Stones started life again
as Maidstone Invicta under the leadership of Chairman Paul
Bowden-Brown whose dream was to return senior football to
the County Town. The club's promotion to the Bass Brewers
Kent League in the summer of 2001, was the culmination of
nine years hard work by him and other supporters who refused
to let their football club die.
Maidstone United joined the Kent County League Division Four
for the 1993/94 season and won the title at the first attempt.
They also picked up the West Kent Challenge Shield and the
Tunbridge Wells Charity Cup. They were promoted to Division
Two following a restructuring of the league and won the title
again as well as lifting the Kent Junior Cup and reaching
the final of the West Kent Challenge Shield.
After three seasons in Division One the Stones finally earned
promotion to the Kent County League Premier Division by winning
the title by a massive 13 points. Much of the credit for turning
the club around on the field must go to the then manager Jason
Lillis. Lillis has a place in Stones' history as the only
player to appear in Maidstone United's first and last games
in the Football League.
In their first season in the Premier Division Maidstone finished
third. This was an encouraging performance considering the
club changed their manager before Christmas when another former
player from the Stones' Football League days, Matt Toms, took
over. Toms was in charge again for the following season, during
which Maidstone United were awarded Senior Status and attempted
to win promotion to the Bass Brewers Kent League. Stones finished
the league season as runners-up to Bearsted to earn elevation
before a KCFA appeal hearing regarding an unplayed match between
Bearsted and Snodland prompted controversial changes to the
final league table.
The 2001/2002 season began a new chapter in the history of
Maidstone United, as the club returned to the Kent League
playing their home games at Central Park in Sittingbourne
and appearing in the FA Vase for the first time. The first
complete season as a senior football club brought unbridled
success to The Stones. An experienced Southern League strength
squad was assembled by the newly appointed team manager Jim
Ward. Maidstone's following was the envy of all Kent League
(and many Southern League) clubs, as regular attendances of
over 300 fans watched Maidstone home and away. The fantastic
following of supporters were treated to several highlights
during the club's inaugural Kent League season. The highlights
included a first ever match in the FA Vase, in which The Stones
defeated Hellenic League Carterton Town by 4-1. The FA Vase
run also included the club's first competitive fixture outside
of the county of Kent for almost 10 years, when Maidstone
visited Suffolk based Mildenhall Town in the 2nd Round. The
club's playing fortunes also took a massive upturn with the
return of Stones playing legend Steve Butler. He returned
to the area after leaving his coaching role with Premier Division
Leicester City and inspired the club to a fantastic season.
With just over two months of the league season remaining,
Maidstone were in what appeared to be a two-horse race for
the runners-up spot in the league with Deal Town. VCD Athletic
were 12 points clear at the top of the table. Come the end
of April it was a different story though. VCD Athletic's form
deteriorated following a two-legged defeat at the hands of
Maidstone in the Kent League Cup Semi-Final. The Stones went
on a long unbeaten run and eventually, on the very last day
of the season were faced with the task of beating Deal Town
at the Charles Sports Ground to secure the championship. The
highest Kent League crowd for many years of 818, saw Maidstone
United win by 3-1 with goals from Jamie Kempster, Neil Davey
and Steve Marshall, to secure the championship on goal difference
from VCD Athletic. The jubilant scenes from the championship
winning day were repeated a week later, when The Stones completed
the Kent League and Cup double after defeating Whitstable
Town by 2-0 at Folkestone Invicta's Cheriton Road ground in
front of another crowd of over 800.
Season 2002/2003 saw the Kent League newly sponsored by Go
Travel. The Stones again had a very successful season. A reserve
team was entered into Kent League Division One (South) and
the Kent Floodlight League. The season highlight was the return
of Maidstone United to the FA Cup. With the added attraction
of being the focus of the BBC's "Road To Cardiff,"
The Stones visited Kent League rivals Ramsgate in the Extra
Prelimnary Round. A then record crowd for the round of 747
saw Richard Sinden kick off the competition, as the teams
battled out a 1-1 draw. Further glory and TV exposure followed
as Maidstone travelled to Dr Martens Eastern neighbours Tonbridge
Angels in the next round. Another then record crowd for the
round of 1,027, saw a Steve Butler hattrick inspire The Stones
to a 3-2 victory. A trip to Newport on the Isle Of Wight followed
in the next round and a convincing 4-0 victory was achieved
over the Dr Martens Eastern opposition. A home record crowd
since reformation of 937, saw the club bow out of the competition
in the 2nd Qualifying Round at the hands of Ryman League Premier
Division side Boreham Wood. The cup run bolstered the clubs
coffers to the tune of £9,000 in prize money payments
and thanks to the TV coverage from the BBC, the country was
aware that Maidstone United were back.
In the league, the club were on top of the table for almost
the entire season. However, a poor run of form in the last
five games, which saw only four draws achieved, handed a title
opportunity to Cray Wanderers. With the late resignation from
the league of Faversham Town, the League Management Committee
decreed that the title would be awarded to the club with the
highest earned points per match average. So with Maidstone
and Thamesmead Town achieving 63 points from 30 games, the
unusual situation arose that the championship was won by a
club with 62 points (from 29 games.) The Stones lost the league
title by 0.14 points!! Silverware was forthcoming though,
as the club won the Kent Senior Trophy for the first time
in its history with a 3-0 victory over Cray Wanderers
at Chatham Town FC. The League runners-up spot was also augmented
by the addition of the Kent League Charity Shield following
a 3-1 win against Whitstable Town.
The Stones were crowned Kent League champions for the second
time in 2006 and secured the league and cup double with the
title being won on the last day of the season with a resounding
4-1 win away to Sevenoaks Town in front of a bumper crowd
of over 500 fans. Defender Ryan Rosyton scored two late goals
to ensure that The Stones pipped long time championship rivals
Beckenham Town to the title. The Kent League Cup was won again
with a 4-1 hammering of VCD Athletic at Folkestone Invictas
Cheriton Road ground. Promotion to Ryman League Division One
South was confirmed and co-managers Alan Walker and Lloyd
Hume were able to take their successful side up into Step
4 of the football Pyramid.
The Stones adapted to the higher level of football extremely
well and also enjoyed their foray into the FA Trophy where
a 2-1 away victory over a much vaunted Chelmsford City side
was achieved. Surprisingly, to many onlookers, The Stones
repeated their championship success for a second successive
season, when, yet again on the last day of the campaign, they
travelled to Walton Casuals and courtesy of two goals from
defender Ryan Royston (again!) they secured the Ryman League
Division 1 South title with a 2-1 win following a titanic
end of season tussle with Tooting & Mitcham United and
Hastings United.
Maidstone United now find themselves facing the challenges
of Ryman League Premier Division Football for the second successive
season. A tense relegation tussle towards the end of season
2007-2008 saw The Stones secure their Premier Division status
with a last day 1-0 victory away to Folkestone Invicta in
front of a crowd in excess of 1300. Mo Takalobighashis
goal was enough to save Maidstone but it also condemned the
home side to relegation.
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