Big plans for club’s ladies

Maidstone United have announced a shake-up of women’s football at the Gallagher Stadium.

The Stones want to get the women’s first team moving through the leagues.

They’ve separated them from the community and youth section and appointed a new player-manager.

The new boss is Tori Campbell, a former Charlton and

Ipswich striker who’s joined from Haringey Borough.

John Jackson will continue to oversee the rest of the sides. Maidstone finished eighth out of 11 teams in the South East Counties League Premier Division this season.

With women’s football thriving and interest at an all-time high, United see big potential. Co-owner Oliver Ash said: “At first-team level we are in the seventh tier of the game and we believe the women’s section should be playing in the fourth or fifth tier, which is similar to where the men are. “That would be appropriate for the club.

“So we’ve given ourselves an ambition of trying to rise two or three divisions in three or four seasons and in order to do that we’ve reinforced our structure and we’re going to put more resources into the club.” Campbell, who lives in Maidstone, can’t wait to get started in her new role.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining Maidstone United and helping the women’s first team improve further.

“There are so many good people already at the club and I am optimistic for the forthcoming season.

“There is a real buzz about the place and we want to play an attractive style of football, which will lead us to success. “It’s important for the women to have a strong fanbase as the crowd really do become the 12th player on matchdays.

“I’m excited to see many Stones fans there cheering the women’s team on and backing us as we look for promotion next season.”

As part of the changes, men’s head of recruitment Zach Foster-Crouch has taken on the extra responsibility of community football coordinator. He said: “I’m incredibly passionate about development, putting structures in place which align with where I think the club should be.

“So the idea of taking on a project which aligns the men’s and women’s first teams is really exciting.

“There’s some really good things at the club we already have in place but for me it’s about freshening up with some new ideas and just giving the women and girls’ section more support.”