Go on, my son!
Of all the memories from Maidstone’s FA Cup win over Stevenage, the father-son moment between Dave and Jay Saunders on live television is right up there. Proud Dave inadvertently gatecrashed an interview with BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey to give Jay a kiss and a cuddle after United’s first-round replay triumph. Dave has been with Jay, 35, every step of the way in football, ever since taking him along to Bearsted FC as a seven-year-old. He picked him up after things didn’t work out at Gillingham, watched every game for Margate, Gravesend, Lewes and Maidstone and was the man Jay turned to for advice when he was offered the manager’s job at Stones. You can only imagine how Dave felt after seeing Jay enjoy his proudest moment in football by leading his hometown club into the second round of the FA Cup. Dave, 66, said: “I’ve been with him right the way through. I never miss a game. “That’s what that was all about after the game against Stevenage. “I felt a bit of a fool afterbut the night was so overwhelming. “It’s lovely when he walks out at home games, he always looks up to where I’m sitting and gives me a little wave. “I’ve met a lot of friends at the club and people say ‘hello Mr Saunders, give Jay my regards’ or the women say ‘give him a cuddle’ or ‘give him a kiss’ and that’s another reason I did it. “It was lovely for me after all those years of tearing back from London to make sure his boots were ready and he got to training on time. “It was also my 66th birthday the day after the game and Jay couldn’t have given me a better present. “He’s more like his mum in being laidback. He doesn’t show his emotions but that night against Stevenage, he had tears in his eyes like the rest of us.” It was a chat between father and son that helped Jay decide to succeed Andy Ford as Stones boss in 2011. Busy Jay was in his early-30s with three children – he’s since had a fourth – but Dave had no hesitation in telling his son to go for it. Dave said: “When Jay’s in a corner he looks up to me and asks my advice, like when he got offered the Maidstone job. “I said ‘Jay, it’s what you love and for them to ask you, it shows they respect you.’ He had everything to gain. “The thing with Jay is he’s always been a leader of men. When he worked for me, he used to supervise and manage 100 cleaners. “He’s good with people and in my eyes he couldn’t go wrong. He always rallied and motivated people on the pitch as a player and everywhere he goes, people respect him.” Away from football, Jay is a big family man and the game takes a back seat. Dave added: “He never speaks about football at home. We’re in touch all the time but when he comes round for Sunday lunch, I don’t bother him with football. He’s a real family man with Hayley and the four kids. “The two girls are models and Jay’s always running them up to London or taking them swimming. “His oldest boy, Fran, is playing at Maidstone now and he couldn’t have a better teacher. Every Saturday, before he takes the main team, he takes Fran to football and watches him. “Raff, Jay’s other son, is only two and he’s already kicking a ball about. He’s a proper pipe and slippers man when it comes to family life and his kids. I’m so proud of him.”