Reading at Maidstone FA Cup 1988

[bobbybottler]

Well, it was in Dartford, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B1mKhDW3eo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR1ZokwEvKc

Elsey, Gernon, Knight, ConROFLoy, it takes you right back.....

I really miss Sportsnight to be honest. Apologies if these have been posted before.

[smiler62]

As I live in kent was well happy with that draw, didnt the game take place at welling utd ground as maidstone at the time were homeless?

[Irvinchangeyaname]

I really miss Sportsnight to be honest.

Same here. The music took me back to an age where a bit of televised football was something to really look forward to.

Jesse Roast in defence for Maidsone. Not if this was before or after his pornstar career!

[The Rouge]

I remember it well. I was an 11 year old schoolboy from Maidstone sitting in the home end. I watched maidstone between the ages of 7-12ish. It wasn't too long after this game that Maidstone sadly went out of business.... A friend's Dad took me with his kids to Reading a little after that and the rest is history.

I cant watch the video from where I am. I remember thinking at the time that one of the Reading goals may have been offside - was it?

[Irvinchangeyaname]

I remember it well. I was an 11 year old schoolboy from Maidstone sitting in the home end. I watched maidstone between the ages of 7-12ish. It wasn't too long after this game that Maidstone sadly went out of business.... A friend's Dad took me with his kids to Reading a little after that and the rest is history.

I cant watch the video from where I am. I remember thinking at the time that one of the Reading goals may have been offside - was it?

Maidstone had a goal diallowed for offside (although there weren't a multitude of camera angles to confirm this for certain). I don't think there was a doubt about either of our's.

[strap]

Lived in sunny Dartford at the time, so was great for me, just a short walk up the road! Even spotted myself on the telly that night!

BTW, the Dartford and Maidstone stories are salutory lessons of greedy chairmen taking over clubs and selling the grounds for a vast profit. Both the Darts and Maidstone both effectively went out of existence when their chairmen sold the grounds from underneath them and then scarpered, no doubt to a beach in Caymens or somewhere.

Thankfully both clubs reformed at the bottom of the pyramid, and with the support of their respecxtive local councils and businesses are both on the up again. Dartford's new "communitry" stadium is literally just across the road from where I lived.

We have a lot to be thankful for in his Madj, believe me!

[The Rouge]

In the case of Maidstone it was a little more complicated than that as their London Road ground didn't have enough space in the perimeter (of the land they owned) around the stadium to pass football league safety standards. So they had to get out of that ground somehow...

Before they introduced the automatic promotion from Conference/Fourth Tier, there used to be a vote between supporters of the two clubs as to who should be in the football league. Obviously in most cases the established league club had more fans and I remember Maidstone finishing top and losing out to Hartlepool in a vote.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Did we play Welling loads of times in the cup one year. Back when you just kept playing replays?

[Gordons Cumming]

Did we play Welling loads of times in the cup one year. Back when you just kept playing replays?

Early 90's and about 3 replays I think. Eventually beat them 1-0 with a Moran goal?

[bobbybottler]

Did we play Welling loads of times in the cup one year. Back when you just kept playing replays?

Early 90's and about 3 replays I think. Eventually beat them 1-0 with a Moran goal?

We'd had a couple of replays against Bristol Rovers in the previous round IIRC.

In round 3 we beat Sunderland 2-1, Lyndon Jones scored all three.

[Jerry St Clair]

In round 3 we beat Sunderland 2-1, Lyndon Jones scored all three.

And thus prevented a Tyne-Wear derby, because we got Newcastle in the 4th round. A classic 3-3 at Elm Park with Gilkes equalising in the 89th minute. That game was infamous for, allegedly, hundreds of forged tickets being printed for the Town End. It was certainly about as packed as I've ever seen it. There were pissed-up Geordies everywhere that day.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

In round 3 we beat Sunderland 2-1, Lyndon Jones scored all three.

And thus prevented a Tyne-Wear derby, because we got Newcastle in the 4th round. A classic 3-3 at Elm Park with Gilkes equalising in the 89th minute. That game was infamous for, allegedly, hundreds of forged tickets being printed for the Town End. It was certainly about as packed as I've ever seen it. There were pissed-up Geordies everywhere that day.

McGhee played for Newcastle. 1st game I really remember, big atmosphere.

[Whistle]

In the case of Maidstone it was a little more complicated than that as their London Road ground didn't have enough space in the perimeter (of the land they owned) around the stadium to pass football league safety standards. So they had to get out of that ground somehow...

Before they introduced the automatic promotion from Conference/Fourth Tier, there used to be a vote between supporters of the two clubs as to who should be in the football league. Obviously in most cases the established league club had more fans and I remember Maidstone finishing top and losing out to Hartlepool in a vote.

Maidstome have just finished sharing with Sittingbourne and moved to Ashford - still hope to get home one day - but it must be 20 years exile now.

[Uncle Andy]

do the cockney royals who had the flag on show still go?

[The Rouge]

In the case of Maidstone it was a little more complicated than that as their London Road ground didn't have enough space in the perimeter (of the land they owned) around the stadium to pass football league safety standards. So they had to get out of that ground somehow...

Before they introduced the automatic promotion from Conference/Fourth Tier, there used to be a vote between supporters of the two clubs as to who should be in the football league. Obviously in most cases the established league club had more fans and I remember Maidstone finishing top and losing out to Hartlepool in a vote.

Maidstome have just finished sharing with Sittingbourne and moved to Ashford - still hope to get home one day - but it must be 20 years exile now.

When they get home I think the support will increase significantly and they may be able to get up a couple of divisions...