A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT

MAIDSTONE UNITED’S LAST GAME AT LONDON ROAD

The original Maidstone United were founded in 1897 and their Athletic Ground in London Road first saw an Athletic meeting on 24th April 1895. Then came a cricket match in the May and in 1896 an amateur soccer team called Mid Kent played there. The first competitive match for Maidstone United came on Sepetmber 10th 1898, a Kent League game with Swanscombe though a friendly had occurred three years earlier. In time and after the Second World War the club joined the Corinthian League, the Athenian League and then the pinnacle of Amateur Soccer, the Isthmian League. In 1971/72 they decided to go professional and joined the Southern league with considerable success meaning that in 1979 they became founder members of the Conference Alliance Premier League. In the meantime Greyhound Racing also took place at their ground but in 1988 they decided that the fabric of the ground was too much to upgrade.

Our Match Programme with a Black and Grey cover to give it a Victorian feel was 100 pence and dated 23rd April 1988. A souvenir edition it was for their game with Stafford Rangers. It is interesting to note that their sponsors were ” Wimpey Welcome Home” but they actually sold out to MFI! Jim Thompson gave a Fond Farewell, then the History of the Ground from which I found my information, Photos from 1903/4, the Top Five favourite players, 30 years of memories, photo of the all conquering 1921 side, honours board, Supporters page and, of course, all about Stafford Rangers with teams on the back cover. The Maidstone keeper was Mervyn Cawston who had played for Norwich, Southend United, Chicago Sting and latterly, Southend Manor in the ESL. The referee was one of the finest, Graham Poll. The game resulted in a 9th place finish behind champions Lincoln City and 8 points ahead of Kettering Town.

In 1988-89 Maidstone United moved to share with Dartford at Watling Street but never looked back winning the Alliance League in 1989 and moving up to the Football League
finishing 5th but losing promotion to Cambridge United in the play-offs, Dion Dublin scoring twice for them. Sadly grave financial reasons found them bankrupt in 1992 and re-forming as Maidstone Invicta but as our story is about their old ground, all that is for another day.