Teaming up for Maidstone

Maidstone United and Maidstone Rangers Football Clubs propose to join together, under the Maidstone United name, to create a major community club.

The combined forces of the borough’s senior semi-professional football club and one of the leading community clubs in Kent will help to raise the profile of the expanded Maidstone United and bring community football activity to a population of almost 140,000.

As part of their Club Development Strategy, the Football Association is actively encouraging the development of community clubs such as this in order to provide football for all under one roof.

The existing Maidstone United teams, which incorporate the Ryman Premier Division first team, reserve team and seven youth teams, will be joined by an additional 17 Maidstone Rangers teams, which include teams as young as under eights, a girls’ team and PAN disability teams – bringing a total of 26 Maidstone United sides.

Maidstone Rangers, formerly South Park Rangers (SPR), were formed in 1971. They became a respected force in community football, earning FA Charter Standard in March 2004. Six months later they were granted the FA Charter Standard Development Club Award (only the 17th club in Kent) and the FA Charter Standard Adult Club Award (only the sixth club in Kent and the first in Maidstone).

After much effort on the part of the then SPR Executive Committee, they achieved the highest award, an FA Charter Standard Community Club title (the first in Maidstone) in March 2005. In November 2005, they were established as the first amateur FA Ability Counts Football Club in the South East and only the third in the whole of the UK.

Chairman of Maidstone United Paul Bowden-Brown said: “It is the belief of all of us here at Maidstone United Football Club that clubs who operate at this level of football will not survive unless there is a major focus on the local community and a strategy that involves bringing the two together.

“It is only through the generation of strong community links and sharing activities, at all ages, sexes and abilities that the current financial problems that affect both communities and football be minimised.

“I’m delighted that Maidstone Rangers will bring with them their youth and girls sections, along with their disability, social and volunteer administration sections; this will go a long way to bridge the void in our club’s present community set-up.”

Executive Club Chairman of Maidstone Rangers Mike Littleboy said: “For the last 18 months, Maidstone Rangers FC has been involved in a successful partnership with Maidstone United FC with respect to the girls and disability sections.

“It was therefore a natural progression to merge the two clubs together for the benefit of all players, coaches and volunteers. Last Sunday’s vote was unanimously for the merger.

“Personally, I believe that the combined club will provide a focus for the future of community football in and around Maidstone and I am very proud to be involved in such an exciting development for the county town.”

Maidstone United Youth Development Advisor Damien Matthew added: “As a local lad I’m delighted to see the expansion of Maidstone United through the proposed amalgamation with one of the leading Kent community clubs.

“The challenge now is to build on the successes of both organisations and involve other local clubs, so Maidstone’s talented players get the opportunity to develop and play at the highest level.”

The amalgamation is subject to ratification by the Kent County Football Association.