Maidstone United FC and those enterprises that bind you for life

In the heart of England, in the green hills of Kent, many are convinced that they have 'made history' and first of all the players of Maidstone United who are living an incredible fairytale, but which fairytale is not. It is pure reality. The 'Stones', a club that plays in the National League South, the sixth league of English football, have gained access to the fifth round of the FA Cup, the oldest and most magical official football competition in the world. Non-professional players, youngsters who do not live only by football, were able to eliminate teams from categories far superior to their own, last but not least the highly-rated Ipswich Town, who travel in the upper zones of the Championship. At the final whistle, the unbelievable joy of the 4,500 fans who followed Maidstone United at Portman Road in this historic away match was also joined by the sincere applause of the Ipswich supporters. A scene that is good for the heart and good for football.

At the end of the match the Stones' coach George Elokobi said: "I am proud of what my boys did. What happened today will bind us for life. It is the magic of the FA Cup and we are in history".

A story of real passion

The history of Maidstone United goes back a long way, from 1897, only to be interrupted and restarted in 1992. It is the story of thousands of clubs living off the passion and love for the game of football. A passion so strong that it has stopped at nothing, not even the wandering for years to different grounds, shared with other clubs, in order to play their home games. Until 2012, when a real gem was inaugurated, the 'Gallagher Stadium', two grandstands, 5000 seats and all nestled amongst the maple and cypress trees of the Kent countryside. No matter how hard their day's work has been, the Maidstone boys have within them the joy, the passion and the pride of wearing the amber and black jersey and giving everything on the pitch, dreaming of the feat. The dream, in some cases, becomes reality, an exhilarating reality to be shared with people you meet in the pub or along the banks of the Medway, as perhaps Chris Smalling did sometimes, who for three years wore the Maidstone jersey before taking off to the Premier League and donning the jersey of another United side, Manchester.

An exhilarating ride

The magic of the FA Cup is unique, a magic that Maidstone United players and fans have come to know this year, ever since the first round of the competition when the Kent club defeated Chesham United 2-0, then narrowly beat Barrow, a team two leagues above them. Never more than on this occasion, 'one stone after another' grew the conviction that they could achieve something unexpected. In this sense, the match played on January 6th against Stevenage FC, a club that plays in Football League One, was a real Epiphany for the Stones, who won 1-0 at the 'Gallagher Stadium' to win the right to play in the fourth round at home to Ipswich Town, at that time second in the Championship. The latest feat at Portman Road bore the signatures of Lamar Reynolds and Sam Corne, who scored the winning goals, and Brazilian goalkeeper Covolan, who was instrumental in resisting the hosts' final assault. Celebration erupted in the Kent capital, the joy incredible as Maidstone became the first sixth division team in 46 years to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The dream goes on

More than ever, 'Become Your Own Hero' fully expresses the reality of Maidstone United. Passion, commitment, sacrifice, unity of purpose and teamwork to achieve a goal. Believing in it, all the way and fighting hard, respecting your opponents, but fighting to win. The Stones have done that and are riding an incredible dream that now passes through the Coventry Building Society Arena. Monday 26th February will see the fifth round of the FA Cup against Coventry City, a club currently sixth in the Championship and, on paper, light years away from 'little' Maidstone United. The players in amber and black shirts, however, have amply demonstrated the instinct of the 'Giant Killer', and the Macron Hero that stands out on those shirts will be a further incentive to do the feat and become legends, the good ones that English football knows how to tell.