Bill is ‘mr maidstone’

BILL WILLIAMS is a Maidstone United legend who has filled every role at the club.

From player to manager, general manager, chief executive, assistant secretary and now, at 82, he is director of football.

But even after a 52-year association with the club, this FA Cup run and another upset would be the biggest achievement of all.

Williams (right) said: “I grew up as a Newcastle fan and remember that Hereford game so maybe that was bigger – but considering what we’ve done and where we’ve come from then maybe this tops it.”

The former Gillingham, West Brom and Maidstone player has seen it all at the club now in the National League South.

Maidstone went bust in 1992, they lost their place in the Football League and only had two players left in the squad.

“We were 12 leagues down, we had to fight all the way to get back up and it’s taken a good 15 years to get back to where we are now,” said Williams.

“The club ran out of money, we tried everything but then suddenly we’d gone out of business. It was a terrible day. It’s a long way back.”

Williams, christened ‘Mr Maidstone’ by manager George Elokobi and his coaches, said: “Me and George are so different in every sense. I’m old, he’s young. He’s laid-back and I’ve got a temper.

“George is a great man, a great talker and it’s no wonder people love him.”

Days cannot get much better than the FA Cup fourth round at Ipswich, and Williams added: “It’s so good for the club, so good for the community and has got people talking about us. There’s been queues for tickets, excitement and it shows what the club is about.”