Still’s not fazed by results
K SPORTS MAKE FIVE NEW SIGNINGS
John Still is reading nothing into Maidstone’s preseason results.
The Stones are yet to win in four friendlies – drawing with Herne Bay and Folkestone and losing to Bromley and Dover.
Results are irrelevant to head of football Still, who is looking at other things.
He said: “When we bring players in, we tell them why and what ingredients they need to give the club. “We’ve worked hard at that and we look pretty tight-knit.
“I’ve been reasonably happy with what I’ve seen so far.
“There’s a lot of teamwork still to go into this team but we’ve got two-and-a-half weeks to keep working on that.
“I’ve been happy with how we’ve trained, the players’ attitude and their work rate in games. “They’re the main things at the moment.
“Can we play a bit better? Yes, we can but I don’t look too deep into the games.
“I look at fitness, organisation and work rate. “The team side and the extra little bits of quality will come but preparation is the first thing you look for and we’re quite happy.
“The thing we’ll find against a Bromley, a Dover, a Dagenham, is their changes will be stronger than our changes.”
Maidstone lost 2-0 at home to Bromley on Saturday – both goals coming in the second half – and conceded two late goals in a 3-0 defeat at Dover on Tuesday night.
Trialists Ibby Akanbi, Ayuk Tarh, Simon Mensah and Matt McClure featured at Crabble and are likely to be involved at East Grinstead tomorrow night (Friday).
Still said: “If they’re involved against Dover they’ll near-enough certainly play on Friday night.
“It won’t be our strongest team, it’ll be a team of people we’ve looked at and some of the younger boys.
“We’re looking at one or two trialists but not too many.
“We didn’t want vast numbers because we’ve got a lot of work to do with the new players.
“If you’re going to look at a trialist, you’ve almost got to know they could be all right.
“We’d still like to find two more players but we’re not going to rush it.
“We know we’re not shopping at Harrods but we know our market and where to go.”
Maidstone host Still’s old club Dagenham on Tuesday night (7.45pm). Third from the right at the front is Charles Craven, the first club secretary of Darlington. Five years ago, the Northern Echo printed his life story to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Northern League, which he founded in 1889. The account ended with his move to Headingley cricket stadium in 1890. It K Sports announced five new signings on Tuesday.
The Paperboys have brought in defenders George Benner and Chris Elliott, midfielder Connor Pring and strikers Adam Hooper and Ricky Gundry.
Sports lost 6-0 at home to National League Dover in Saturday’s friendly at Cobdown, ex-Maidstone defender Will De Havilland among the scorers.
K Sports have been drawn away to Redhill in the FA entirely missed out his subsequent career as secretary of Maidstone FC and inaugural secretary of the Athletic Ground, and his local influence as a football administrator. Ironically, when Maidstone United finally joined the Football League in 1989, the club replaced would be Craven’s own Darlington. Cup extra preliminary round on August 10, with the winners hosting Balham or Rusthall a fortnight later. Bearsted visit Horley Town, playing for a preliminary round tie at CB Hounslow or Sheerwater.
Sports go to Little Common in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase on August 31. A home tie against Guildford City or Glebe awaits on September 14, while Bearsted skip the early qualifying rounds. George Elokobi has been appointed Maidstone’s new skipper following his summer move from Aldershot.
The former Premier League defender was the obvious choice for the armband and head of football John Still wasn’t about to disappoint the 33-year-old.
Still, who has made goalkeeper Jake Cole his vice-captain, said: “If George hadn’t been captain I think he’d have hit me!
“He wants to be captain and he’s captain material, without a shadow of a doubt.
“Coley will be our vicecaptain.
“He’s a cool head, I’ve known him for years, he’s an experienced player, he’s a knowledgeable player and I knew within two or three training sessions that our players respected Coley.”
Maidstone player shirt sponsorships are available for the new season.
Cost is £180 for the home kit, £150 for the away kit or £280 for both.
To sponsor a player, email clubshop@maidstoneunited. co.uk with your top three preferences.
Justin Amaluzor, Jake Cole, George Elokobi, Jake Embery and Gavin Hoyte have been taken.
The Stones are hosting summer holiday soccer schools on the following dates: July 25-26, August 7-9 and August 21-23.
Sessions runs from 10-am-3pm and are for boys andgirlsinYears2to9at school. Cost is £20 per day or book a block of three days for £50.
Visit the club website or call 01622 753817.