Maidstone United F.C.

Maidstone United F.C. is a professional football club in Maidstone, Kent. The team plays in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football, wearing black and amber. Its nickname, ‘The Stones’, dates back to the club’s early years. The club moved into the Gallagher Stadium in 2012 after years without a permanent ground. Before that, it shared grounds in Sittingbourne and played on a training pitch beside the old London Road Stadium. The club’s history includes two spells in the Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After bankruptcy forced the original club out, a new side was built around the youth team and entered the Kent County League. Under managers like Jack Whitely and Bill Tucker, the team won league titles and cups in the 1990s. Later, under Jim Ward, it claimed the Kent League and Cup double in 2001. The club’s progress through the non-league pyramid led to promotions to the Isthmian League and then the National League. Visitors to the Gallagher Stadium find a modern ground near Maidstone town centre. The stadium seats several thousand and hosts league matches and FA Cup ties. The pitch sits on land once used as a training ground. The club’s offices and changing rooms are built into the main stand. Away fans are accommodated in a separate section. The atmosphere is lively on match days, with supporters wearing the club’s black and amber colours. The stadium is the first permanent home the club has owned since its reformation.