Fans’ joy as Stones come home


After some 11 years away from the county town, Maidstone United have played their first match at their new stadium in James WhatmanWay. A £1.6million fundraising project by owners Oliver Ash and Terry Casey has delivered a 3,000- capacity stadium in the heart of town, making the Stones one of the first English clubs to build a new stadium with a third-generation (3G) surface. NEIL NIXON was present to savour a momentous day for the Isthmian League Division One South club


MAIDSTONE United’s home support happily trooped away from the inaugural match at Gallagher Stadium on July 14, feeling a great deal had been achieved, despite pouring rain and a comprehensive 5-0 defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion. The pre-match announce-


ments featuring the words “Gallagher Stadium, home of Maidstone United” went down very well with the capacity crowd of 2,226. David Prosser was one of sev-


eral fans seeking out the name- plate showing he had sponsored a grandstand seat. “Maidstone United FC will


be a more real entity with a home in the town whose name it wears on its badge,” he said. “There is a definite sense of be- longing among the fans, who have followed the club all round Kent, just waiting for the day when it comes home. “No matter how bad things


got, these supporters and their fundraising activities made the whole thing worthwhile.” David’s point was supported


by the sight of a small army of Maidstone shirts trooping out of pubs in the town and head- ing for the 3pm kick-off, some- thing not seen in the town for almost a quarter of a century.


Another supporter, David Us- borne, said: “This is a great day for the town and the club, foot- ball can bring prosperity here.” The club had organised events to make sure the first game was a real celebration; a move mirrored by fans like Ian Packer, a supporter for 12 years, who dressed as a penguin with a commemorative message scrawled on his white front. Perhaps the best news for the


club was the presence of somany children, some attending their first Maidstone United game. Once the game started, stories


were swapped amongst fans. Some hold memories of a freez- ing night at a Kent League Cup game at Sittingbourne in No- vember 2006, with a crowd of less than 100 and no away fans. The hope among the home support is that such low atten- dances and such footballing lows will now be consigned to history.


Extra class provides more school spaces


PARENTS in Grove Green have won their campaign for more local school places. St John’s CE Primary School


hasagreedtoexpandtotwo forms of entry from September 2013. Theywill also provide an extra class in Year 1. More than 40 families were dismayed to find their children were not allocated any of their choices for primary schools in the area. Kent County Council leader


Paul Carter faced a barrage of angry parents when he attended a meeting of Bearsted Parish Council, but promised to do all he could to help. Earlier this month, the head of


St John’s – which as an acad- emy is not bound by KCC’s funding constraints – wrote to parents announcing it had been agreed to expand the school to help alleviate the problem. Liz Slavik-Smith, one of the founders of SAT – Schools Al- location Trouble – was due to address KCC as the Downs Mail


20 East


went to press.She said: “Clearly Paul Carter has pulled out all the stops. Our parents are de- lighted that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. However, we would like to know if tempo- rary provision can be made for this September – or even Octo- ber half term or January 2013.” Mrs Slavik-Smith said parents


now had the choice of whether to send their children to their allocated school for one year, to keep them at pre-school until the term after their fifth birth- day or to home school them. St John’s had already admit-


ted making a legal error in its admissions procedure and of- fered three additional places to children, increasing the recep- tion class size from 30 to 33. Cllr Carter, member for Maid-


stone Rural North, said: “This is excellent news for our commu- nities. This will make a huge difference for many families.” KCC will provide the funding


for the additional classroom, for occupation by September 2013.


The Bard just as we like it


As You Like It by Hazlitt and Changeling productions


THE first night of this outdoor production at Boughton Monchelsea Place only reached half time before rain intervened. But days later, atUpnor Cas-


tle, there was just one heavy shower, then it was dry. The production was great. Madeleine Knight was a mem- orable Rosalind. Thomas Christian’s Orlando had no chance against her allure. This was her professional debut. Esther Button, who played


Celia, is also a young actor worth watching. Daniel Wilt- shire played the nasty duke and Le Beau and a quite won-


derful, laid-back Jaques. His “All the world’s a stage” speech could have been based on Week Street experiences.


JOHN


MUNSON SHOW TIME


There was a really convincing fight between Charles and Or- lando, and lovely music from Alexander Scott and his team. Hazlitt manager Mandy Hare has the team to produce this quality of show, and Rob Fork- nall the directorial gift.


Drink-driver gets 18-month ban CAROL Saysell (66), of Sandy Mount, Bearsted, was banned from driving for 18 months at Mid KentMagistrates’ Court. She pleaded guilty to drink driving, following an incident in


Ware Road, Bearsted, on June 15, when she was at the wheel of a Fiat Panda. When stopped, she gave a breath test of 67 mgs of al- cohol in 100 mls of breath. The legal limit is 35 mgs. Magistrates also fined her £200 with £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. The ban can be reduced by 139 days if she completes an aware-


ness course. Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


Above: David Prosser with the seat he sponsored. Below, Abigail, five, gets her first glimpse of the new ground Left, Thirteen-year-old Amy Browne gets a hug from MUFC mascot Iggy


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56