Maidstone United Football club has the luxury of having two talented Under 18 teams, who compete in the Kent Youth League and at present are playing well, writes Tom Howard. One of the sides plays in the Central league and the other in the Southern League.

This level of football offers a valuable learning curve for players and provides a stepping-stone to a possible place in the Maidstone first team in the future.

Players such as Andy Hart and Liam McCabe have progressed through the ranks of the Under 18s to achieve places in the first team.

Management

•  The South League team is mainly first year U18 players and are coached and managed by Phil Roxburgh and Tony Rivers.
  
  
•  The Central U18 team consists of a squad of 20 players of which 14 boys are second year and 6 boys are first year U18s. From this squad around six of the players regularly feature with the Reserves.
  
  
•  The Reserves and the U18 Central teams are co-managed and coached by Peter Nott (below left) and Tony Cornwell (below right) with assistance from Peter Morrison.
  
  

Home Venues

•  U18C: Larkfield & New Hythe FC, New Hythe Lane, Larkfield.
  
  
•  U18S: Grigg Lane, Off Oak Lane, Headcorn.
  
  
•  Reserves:: Cobdown Main Pitch, Aylesford, nr. Maidstone.

Stones fans are welcome to come along to watch and cheer on our youth teams.

Ones to Watch

Ashley Ulph
Ashley is a first year under 18 player, and had been with the Gillingham academy for several years, but was released towards the end of last season.

Ashley has always had close relations with Maidstone United and has represented the club when available. He has featured also regularly in the Maidstone District Schools and Kent Schools teams from an early age, and represents Maidstone Grammar School.

Butch as he is known to his friends, is a competent defender and can play anywhere in the back four, being two footed and strong in the air.

He communicates well and has very good positional awareness and has featured regularly in the U18C team even though he is playing in a very strong team and is playing with players at least a year older than himself.

Sam Morrison
Sam Morrison is a second year under 18 player and has been with the club a number of years. He has represented Kent and Maidstone District sides from an early age and has won many trophies during his time progressing through the ranks with Maidstone United in the Kent Youth League.

Billy as he is known to his friends, is a very versatile player who can play anywhere in midfield or alternatively as a forward. Sam has very good pace, and plays with a fully committed and determined attitude and never stops running or fighting for the team.

He has represented Maidstone Reserves from the end part of last season on a regular basis, and is a player most managers would love to have included in their squad due not only to his football ability, but also his eagerness and determination to succeed.

Sam Morrison has also had trials for England Schoolboys and has achieved a place in the last 32, which is an excellent achievement for him. He now has to attend a weekend in December at Lillishall to try and get in the final 16. We wish him the best of luck with that trial.