30th April 2008. 9.30pm

Middlesbrough Football Club have signed 18-year-old England youth international Chris Smalling from Maidstone United.

The promising centre-back has signed a two-year contract and will start his new career at Rockliffe Park this summer.

Academy Manager Dave Parnaby said: “We tracked Chris through his international programme with England, and a member of our recruitment staff forwarded very favourable reports from his performances with both England and Maidstone. I am very happy to announce that Chris has agreed a two-year contract with Middlesbrough. He is a very intelligent and level-headed young man who we feel has a lot of potential to fulfil. We look forward to him joining us in July for pre-season training.”

Stones chairman Paul Bowden-Brown added: "I'm delighted for Chris, he thoroughly deserves this opportunity. I'm sure I speak for everyone connected with the club when I say how proud we are of him and we wish him every success in the future."

29th April 2008. 11.00am

Maidstone United have launched a new website to promote the club's homecoming to Kent's county town.

www.bringingfootballhome will be updated regularly with news and information on the new stadium at James Whatman Way.

Chairman Paul Bowden-Brown said: "As we prepare to submit our application to the Football Foundation, we wanted to establish a new website where anyone can find out about our plans and follow the progress. It's an important time in the club's history and it'll be good to have it documented during the coming months."

The website was designed and built by the club's communication team.

27th April 2008. 10.00pm

After the disappointment of losing one nil against the Republic of Ireland to a disputed penalty at the Stadium of Light the previous week, England took on Scotland in the final Centenary Shield match at Wembley stadium and to also play for the Bobby Moore Trophy.

On a glorious Saturday afternoon England proved to be worthy winners beating Scotland two nil in front of a crowd of 20,000.

For our two Maidstone players, Chris and Butch it was an experience and occasion that they will find hard to better and something that they will have everlasting memories of the dream of every footballer to play for England at Wembley.

PHOTOS FROM BOB ULPH

Wembley dressing room

Red carpet treatment for Smalling and Ulph

Action at Wembley Stadium

The Royal Box

22nd April 2008. 7.00pm

For the third year running Maidstone United will learn their fate at the final whistle on the last game of the season.

Yet again, all those involved with the club are in for a nail-biting 90 minutes on Saturday as the Stones play Folkestone Invicta. With both sides theatened with relegation the stakes will be high. For chairman Paul Bowden-Brown it will be another emotional rollercoaster.

"I would like to make an appeal to every supporter. Please make every effort to make the journey to Folkestone on Saturday. The club needs your support, the players need your encouragement. This is one of the most important matches in the club's history - let's show what a fantastic club this is and that we are all proud to part of it.

"Hopefully by our numbers we shall show everyone on Saturday at Folkstone that the chairman, directors, players and supporters are all 100% behind the club."

8th April 2008. 12.30pm

Maidstone United Football Club are looking for a new main sponsor, which will appear on their first team shirts next season, as well as enjoying many other benefits.

As a two-year deal with Britelite Windows comes to an end, the club are actively seeking a partner as they prepare to return to Maidstone at a new stadium on the outskirts of the town.

Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden-Brown said: “Main sponsorship is more than a name on a shirt; we are looking for a company that wants to share in one of the biggest moments in the club’s history as we build a new stadium in the town. The company will be heavily involved with the club and benefit from many advertising and promotional activities at a time when we will be in the public eye.”

The Stones have grown immensely over the last few years. Back-to-back championships saw the club rise from the Kent League to the Ryman Premier Division – just two promotions from the Blue Square Premier (National Conference).

Their youth and community work is among the best in non-league football – all part of a desire to be an integral part of the Maidstone borough by working with schools, sports organisations and many more.

Britelite Windows chairman John Baxter said: "During the two-year deal Britelite Windows was there as the club celebrated back-to-back promotions. As a supporter of the Stones and a businessman, it was a very rewarding time. Britelite will still be involved with the club but the door is open for another company to come in and support the club.”

For more information about the main sponsorship package, please contact Maidstone United chairman Paul Bowden-Brown on 01732 222127 or email paul@bowden-brown.demon.co.uk

7th April 2008. 1.00pm

Bob's Blog - England Schoolboys vs. Wales Schoolboys

Our two Maidstone players Ashley ‘Butch’ Ulph and Chris Smalling were again both in the 16 man squad which travelled to Wales for the second of the Centenary Shield International Matches to be played at Haverfordwest FC and after impressing in training were both picked to start the match, with Butch (2) at left wing back and Chris (4) on the right of the back three central defenders, in a 3-5-2 formation.

Before the match kicked off an impeccable minute silence was held for Jack Maddams, who was a fellow Kent Schools player of Butch and Chris and who also made the last 32 of the England Squad, who had tragically passed away on the previous Sunday morning.

The team had been told to expect a strong and physical Welsh team but after a few early crunching tackles from Butch in the opening stages and Chris playing well on the right side of defence the game settled down with England dominating possession and play.

While Chris and Butch normally play down the right side linking well together, with Butch playing down the left in this international match, this didn’t effect the good understanding of the two Maidstone lads, as Chris frequently picked out Butch with some excellent balls switching play across the park, for Butch to put in some good runs down the wing and crosses into the box.

England continued to dominate the match restricting Wales to just one half chance with the defence continuing in good form; however at the other end the English forwards were finding it difficult to finish the many chances that went begging. Just before half time England were awarded a free kick 35 yards out from goal on the left just inside the Welsh half. Butch stepped up to take the free kick and a well placed accurate ball picked out Chris powering in on the right side of the Welsh goal, with his resulting goal bound header being pushed out by the keeper, which fell to an English player whose shot was cleared off the line by a Welsh defender, the ball was then cleared out of the box and played across to Chris on the right side who riffled in a low shot inside the right post beating the keeper, for England to take a well deserved lead just before halftime.

The second half saw England continuing to dominate play and with 20 minutes remaining in the second half and after a number of substitutions saw Butch move to left back in a 4-4-2 formation. With no further goals being added to the score the match finished with another win for England.

The next England game will be at home at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light Ground against the Republic of Ireland on the 18 April and victory against the Irish will see England winning the Centenary Shield, which will take the pressure off the lads for the final international game at home to Scotland to be played at Wembley Stadium on the 26 April.