News


downsmail.co.uk Stones’ big plans as they go up


VICTORIOUS Maidstone United have reached the highest tier of non-league football – and now they need a bigger ground. The club – which qualified for Na-


tional League status next season after beating Ebbsfleet United in the play-offs – need to increase the Gal- lagher Stadium’s capacity by an- other 1,000 to meet requirements. The riverside ground can already


hold 3,030 but must be able to demonstrate it can raise it to 4,000 by the end of March 2017. The club will submit a planning application to Maidstone Borough Council in due course, outlining a desire to extend the terracing at the Springfield end. The new terrace, with a capacity


of 1,500, would be built into spare land behind the current structure. Aspokesman for the Stones said:


“We have to increase the capacity to 4,000 by the end of next March. “We’ll get an application into the borough council and hopefully they will give us the green light.” The promotion at Ebbsfleet’s Stonebridge Road on Saturday,May 14, marks a remarkable turnaround for a club which won a place in the football league in 1989 but went bust three seasons later. It re-emerged as a small non-


league entity and in recent years – with investment, a solid business


Stones fans celebrate as the last-gasp equaliser goes in and right, Stones keeper LeeWorgan was the shoot-out hero


model and good management – has seen the club on an upward curve. The Gallagher Stadium is re- garded as one of the best non-league stadia in the country and has en- joyed higher attendances than most other clubs at a similar level in non- league football. There are few fans who believe they cannot be serious contenders, even at the higher level. The Stones triumphed over Ebbs-


fleet –watched by 3,800 fans - in one of the most dramatic play-off finals


in years. Maidstone looked to be heading out until a last-gasp equaliser in the dying seconds of extra time sent the tie through to penalties, which the Stoneswon4-3, thanks largely to goalkeeper Lee Worgan’s heroics. The spokesman added; “The play-


off finalwas a bit heart-stopping, to say the least. Butwe got there in the end.


“Now we have next season to look forward to.”


Garden of flowers to remember loved ones


HEART of Kent Hospice is inviting families, relatives and friends to cel- ebrate and remember the life of a loved one this summer by taking part in its Sunflower Appeal. The Sunflower Appeal provides


an opportunity for families and friends to dedicate a sunflower in memory of someone special and make a donation; ensuring more pa- tients and families get the very best hospice care and support. The appeal will culminate in a day


Outgoing mayor, Cllr Owen Baldock hands over the mayoral chain to his successor, Cllr Mark Rhodes.


Mayor Mark takes the chain


THE new mayor of Tonbridge and Malling is Cllr Mark Rhodes, who will be taking to Twitter and Facebook throughout his year in office to talk about his visits and events. Cllr Rhodes (60), an electronics engineer, has represented Hildenbor-


ough ward since he was first elected to the borough council in 1987. His wife, Julie, is the new mayoress. He was handed the chain of office by outgoing mayor Cllr Owen Bal-


dock at the council’s annual meeting. The charities that themayor has chosen to support during his year of of-


fice are Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, and Wide Horizons in Wrotham, a children’s centre providing outdoor activities and adventure learning..


of remembrance and celebration at the Aylesford-based hospice from 11am to 1pm on Saturday June 25, when the hospice garden will be turned into a sea of flowers. There will be time for reflection


with a short service at 11.30am led by the hospice’s chaplain, followed by a plant sale and refreshments. For Shirley Town’s daughters,


Sara and Louise, the Sunflower Ap- peal will be an opportunity to re- member their mum, from Loose, who spent her final two and a half weeks at the hospice last year. “Mum settled in very quickly and


it soon became evident just how friendly, caring, calming and safe the hospicewas,” said the girls.


“The care given was exemplary


and all the staff were very profes- sional. For any family, remembering their loved ones is important and for us the Sunflower Appeal is a lovely way to rememberMumas she loved flowers and enjoyed gardening.” Ann-Marie Kelly, director of in-


come generation for Heart of Kent Hospice, said: “Many people find our Sunflower Appeal a really posi- tiveway to keep happy memories of their loved one alive. By supporting our Sunflower Appeal you will en- sure that even more patients and their families will be able to benefit from the skilled and compassionate carewe offer.” For details, go to our website www.hokh.org/ways-to- donate/our-appeals/sunflower- appeal


Malling June 2016 15


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