Maidstone United: From homeless and league-less to FA Cup legacy

With no ground, no league to play in and only two players on the books, there was a moment in history where success seemed impossible to Maidstone United supporters.

In 1992, the Kent club reluctantly resigned from the Football League amid crippling financial woes and folded.

But fast forward 32 years and a new look Maidstone United, the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup, are preparing for one of the biggest matches in the club's history - a fourth round tie against Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town.

Maidstone played at the Athletic Ground for 90 years until 1988, when the club's board sold it to property developers, intending to build a new stadium in the town.

Despite gaining promotion to the Football League the following year, unsuccessful ground shares and financial setbacks forced the club to fold in 1992.

In a matter of weeks, a new club was formed by taking over junior club Maidstone Invicta. The club started the long climb through Kent's minor leagues and renamed themselves Maidstone United in 1997.

After ground shares in Ashford and Sittingbourne, the club finally moved back to Maidstone in 2012 with the opening of the community-owned Gallagher Stadium.

Nguyen Thien Nhan founded the Maidstone United Supporters Club in Vietnam following the team's 2021-22 National League South winning campaign.

Unable to afford a match pass to watch games and forced to listen to commentary of their matches on the club radio station, Stones Live, Mr Nhan said the FA Cup run meant more games were given international television coverage.

"I'd heard about the magic of the FA Cup before, but now I can see it with my own eyes," he said.

"It's a great occasion for the club and just like fans in Maidstone, I'm looking forward to the match. It's an amazing occasion for the club and the fans.

"The dream is still very much alive, and I hope we can beat Ipswich to prolong our magical journey in the cup."

Lifelong fan and a former commentator for Stones Live, Callum Owen, said: "Having followed Maidstone since my dad took me to games as a child, I've experienced a lot of great moments - the play-off final win against Ebbsfleet, the title winning 2021-22 campaign.

"But in my eyes, the third round win against Stevenage is best thing that has happened in my time as a supporter.

"The club and everyone connected with it deserve the trip to Ipswich. I can't wait to see the Stones on the big stage."

Maidstone United club shop manager Helen Terrell said more than 300 bespoke scarfs had been made ahead of the match.

"It's been manic and all hands to the pumps to get everything done," she said.

"We've had a special scarf made. I just hope the fans will like them."

Meanwhile, Maidstone United manager George Elokobi said the FA Cup run had helped bind the community closer than ever.

"This is the magic of the FA Cup. It makes us even stronger - inspiring the younger generation, most importantly," he said.

"The fairy tale continues. Win or lose, it's win-win for Maidstone United."

Ipswich Town are second in the Championship, while Maidstone United sit 97 places below them, fourth in the National League South.

The match will be covered on BBC One and iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app at 12:30 GMT on Saturday.

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