Maidstone United, from bankruptcy to the unthinkable

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: The players and coaching staff of Maidstone United pose for a team photo at full-time following their victory in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Ipswich Town and Maidstone United at Portman Road on January 27, 2024 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
By Nnamdi Onyeagwara
Jan 29, 2024

Their performance at Portman Road against Ipswich Town epitomised Maidstone United’s story as a club.

Gritty, determined and resilient. Not fazed when faced with adversity. Simply regroup and go again. 

Maidstone are fourth in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. Ipswich are 98 places above them.

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Yet George Elokobi’s side pulled off the type of result that was hard not to get carried away by. An old-fashioned giant-killing.

And the club is full of people whose stories deserve to be told.


Maidstone United were founded in 1897 and have spent the majority of their time in non-League. They won promotion to the Fourth Division (now League Two) in 1989 and reached the play-offs that season, only to have their hearts broken by Dion Dublin’s Cambridge United in the semi-finals.

In 1992, the club was liquidated due to financial problems and resigned from the Football League. They reformed later that year, initially as Maidstone Invicta, before adopting the Maidstone United name again in 1995. At this point, they were playing in the Kent County League Premier Division (which is now Step 7, the 10th tier of the English football pyramid).

Despite the tumultuous early years, Maidstone battled through the lower leagues until reaching the National League in 2016. They have yo-yoed between the top two tiers of non-League and are now in the sixth tier following relegation last season.

Nevertheless, this season’s FA Cup run has highlighted a multitude of feel-good storylines, both around the club and within the team itself.

Elokobi celebrates the victory against Ipswich (Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images)

Goalkeeper Lucas Covolan is a former Brazil Under-20 international who shared a dressing room with Philippe Coutinho and Juninho Pernambucano while playing for Vasco da Gama in his native Brazil.

The 32-year-old, who scored a famous stoppage-time goal for Torquay United against Hartlepool Town in the 2021 National League play-off final, was arguably Maidstone’s player of the match against Ipswich, making a string of saves to keep his side in the game.

Captain Gavin Hoyte came through Arsenal’s youth academy alongside his brother Justin, who made 66 appearances for the north London club.

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Sam Corne, the matchwinner against Ipswich, also scored against League Two Barrow and Stevenage of League One during this historic cup run.

Midfielder Sam Bone overcame testicular cancer as an 18-year-old shortly after leaving League One side Charlton Athletic. He joined Maidstone in January 2023 after a successful spell in Ireland.

Twenty-three-year-old striker Timmy Abraham is the younger brother of England international Tammy. He was ineligible having played for parent club Boreham Wood in round one.

Assistant coach Craig Fagan made 69 Premier League appearances during his time at Birmingham City, Derby County and Hull City.

And then there is the musical link.

Before the game, British pop star James Arthur said: “I’m backing you (Maidstone) on Saturday against Ipswich. Mainly because we want to stick it to Ed Sheeran. 

“He has had too much success in his career and I want to bring him down a peg or two. I’ve played at your stadium a couple of times. Even scored a backheeled penalty. If you need me, I’m about. Good luck!” 

There’s been no reply from Ipswich fan Sheeran yet…

However, it is manager and fans’ favourite Elokobi who often steals the headlines, and rightfully so.

Liam Sole leads the celebrations (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

The 37-year-old ended his career playing career at Maidstone at the end of the 2021-22 season, before becoming manager in March 2023 following a brief interim period in the role. He is still revered by Wolverhampton Wanderers fans from his time at the club for his incredible physique, enthusiasm and dedication. A whole-hearted player who would hold nothing back, his characteristics have been transferred to his managerial career. 

A social media clip showed Elokobi alongside his players and coaching staff addressing the Maidstone fans who had traveled from Kent to Suffolk for the Ipswich game on Saturday morning.

After the win, he said: “Today is about them. It is about the community. Without them, there is no Maidstone United. To see them turn up in their numbers, it is just incredible. I wanted to show our gratitude and appreciation for them. It is their day. I wanted them to enjoy every bit of today. 

“I wanted them shouting and screaming their lungs out. Days like today don’t always come around. I want them to trust the process. Believe. One day, Maidstone United will be smiling again.”

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Liam Sole, the 24-year-old winger who provided the assist for Maidstone’s first goal, told The Athletic: “He’s an unbelievable guy. I’ll run through brick walls for him. He is very intense, but he’s been there and done it. Craig (Fagan) as well. It is not every day you get to come in and get coached by two ex-Premier League footballers. 

“The gaffer has been brilliant with me from my trial game. He gives me the freedom to play without any pressure. I’m really happy to be working with him.”

After the game, an emotional Elokobi explained some of the realities of football at this level: Some of his squad have jobs on the side and his team often travel to away matches on the day as they do not have the budget for accommodation. 

“This was a historic occasion for us. Our players, supporters, and community. It helps us in terms of whatever finances come into our football club. It helps keep our club sustainable. 

I came from humble beginnings in Cameroon. Born in the city of Kumba. I lost my dad to diabetes when I was 10 years old. I never thought this day would come. Everything I do is to become a better man, a better manager, and a better person. I am still learning my trade but I’m loving it.

“We are a club who have a limited budget. We are not overly blessed but our owners try their best. We look after our players. 

The squad jump for joy (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

“When we sign players from other teams, we always ask, ‘What do you do?’ Find out if they have other jobs. We understand sometimes they can’t come into training so we try our best to create that balance. It is about trust. We believe in one another.

“Every project that I am a part of, I give my all,” Elokobi added. “We believed. I believed. My job is to instill that belief into my players and staff. My director of football, Mr Bill Williams, has been in football for 62 years. He is 82, a fantastic man. When we drew Ipswich, I told him, ‘If this is our last dance in this competition, we are going to go out dancing and dancing well’. We had nothing to lose today so what should we fear? I told my players before the game, I am immensely proud of them whatever happens. 

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“We are hoping to play away at a Premier League club because it will help our club in terms of finances. Hopefully, we can give our fans another historic day out.” 

They didn’t quite get their wish. An away trip to Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry awaits in round five. Not Premier League, but still two former FA Cup winners with big fanbases. And surely another TV appearance that will go so far to securing their financial future.

(Top photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

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Nnamdi Onyeagwara joined us in November 2022, initially helping us cover the World Cup before becoming a Junior News Editor in January 2023. Born in North London, Nnamdi attended Nottingham Trent University and previously worked at The Voice and the Barnet Post. Follow Nnamdi on Twitter @nnamdionye