FA Cup Anniversary

[Deleted]

He was great value.

[Scot Stone]

Leagues: Football
Alliance Premier → Conference → National
Southern, Isthmian
Kent, South-Eastern, Athenian, Corinthian
Kent County  [Intermediate status]
Maidstone & District  [Junior status]
Kent Youth  [Youth status]

The 3rd last right-hand column being the round the top seeds joined the competition, named R1 until 1925/26

FA Cup history of Maidstone United

EP

P

1Q

2Q

3Q

Lge

FAC

4Q

5Q

R1

R2

R3

ineligible

1886 formed as Maidstone North End

86-92

1892 name changed to Maidstone Invicta

92/93

M&D

93/94

[NB Maidstone FC play in KL1 as Maidstone Utd]

M&D

94/95

did not enter

take senior status

KL2

95/96

did not enter

turn pro 14/11/1896

KL1

96/97

did not enter

name changed to Maidstone United

KL1

97/98

Folkestone

Leytonstone

Sheppey Utd

KL

98/99

Dartford

KL

99/00

Ashford Utd

Sittingbourne

Clapton

KL

00/01

Folkestone

Sittingbourne

Grays Utd

KL

01/02

Chatham

Cray Wand

Sittingbourne

Woodford

KL

02/03

New Brompton

Folkestone

Sheppey Utd

Sittingbourne

Ashford Utd

KL

03/04

Chatham

Eltham

Sheppey Utd

KL

04/05

Bromley

Chatham

SEL1

05/06

Sheppey Utd

Gravesend Utd

SEL1

06/07

Deptford Invicta

Maidstone CI

Gravesend Utd

Bromley

SEL1

07/08

Woking

did not enter

SEL1

08/09

Sittingbourne

Chatham

KL1

09/10

Ashford RW

Dartford

KL1

10/11

Sittingbourne

KL1

11/12

Dartford

KL1

12/13

Bromley

Sheppey Utd

Chatham

KL1

13/14

EP

P

1Q

2Q

3Q

4Q

Lge

FAC

5Q

6Q

R1

R2

R3

Dartford away - Kent FA suspended matches, home teams advanced by FA

14/15

football suspended due to WW1

15-19

Ashford RW

Sheppey Utd

KL1

19/20

Bostall Heath

Ashford RW

Charlton Ath

Northfleet Utd

Gillingham

KL1

20/21

Tufnell Park

KL1

21/22

Guildford Utd

KL1

22/23

Brentford

Chatham

KL1

23/24

Chatham

KL1

24/25

EP

P

1Q

2Q

3Q

4Q

Lge

FAC

R1

R2

R3

R4

R5

Erith & Belvedere

Ashford RW

KL1

25/26

Sheppey Utd

KL1

26/27

Whitstable

Folkestone

KL1

27/28

Beckenham

KL1

28/29

did not enter

KL1

29/30

Tun. Wells Rang

KL1

30/31

[go Amateur again]

Canterbury Wav

KL1

31/32

Ashford

KL1

32/33

RM Deal

KL1

33/34

Tun. Wells Rang

KL1

34/35

Lloyds (S'bourne)

Sittingbourne

KL1

35/36

Chatham

KL1

36/37

Lloyds (S'bourne)

Sittingbourne

KL1

37/38

Whitstable

UGB (Charlton)

KL1

38/39

football suspended due to WW2

39-45

did not enter

45/46

Margate

Ashford

KL1

46/47

Ramsgate Ath

KL1

47/48

did not enter

KL1

48/49

did not enter

KL1

49/50

Ramsgate Ath

Sittingbourne

CL

50/51

Gravesend & N

CL

51/52

Bromley

CL

52/53

Sheppey Utd

Margate

CL

53/54

Bromley

CL

54/55

Sheppey Utd

Tonbridge

Margate

CL

55/56

Betteshanger CW

CL

56/57

Whitstable

AL

57/58

Tun. Wells Utd

AL

58/59

Tun. Wells Utd

IL

59/60

Gravesend & N

Dartford

IL

60/61

Tun. Wells Utd

IL

61/62

Hastings Utd

Bexhill Tn

Tun. Wells Utd

Dartford

IL

62/63

Bexhill Tn

Tun. Wells Utd

Tonbridge

IL

63/64

Hastings Utd

IL

64/65

Bexhill Tn

Hastings Utd

IL

65/66

Eastbourne

Crawley Tn

IL

66/67

Chatham Tn

IL

67/68

Ashford Tn (K)

IL

68/69

Tonbridge

Ashford Tn (K)

IL

69/70

Sittingbourne

Hastings Utd

IL

70/71

[turn semi-pro]

Tunbridge Wells

Herne Bay

Folkestone

SLS

71/72

Tonbridge

SLS

72/73

Canterbury C

Ashford Tn (K)

Ramsgate

Wimbledon

SLP

73/74

Eastbourne Tn

Hastings Utd

Medway

Hendon

SLP

74/75

Nuneaton Bor

Swindon Tn

Eastbourne Utd

Ringmer

Ramsgate

SLP

75/76

Gravesend & N

Cray Wand

SLP

76/77

Dover

Burgess Hill Tn

Crawley Tn

Wealdstone

SLP

77/78

Horsham YMCA

Dover

Ramsgate

Waterlooville

SLP

78/79

Wycombe W

Exeter C

Charlton Ath

Chesham Utd

APL

79/80

Ramsgate

Folkestone

Bromley

Barking

APL

80/81

Kettering Tn

Gillingham

Exeter C

Barking

APL

81/82

Gravesend & N

APL

82/83

Weymouth

Sutton Utd

APL

83/84

Exeter C

Worcester C

Darlington

Bishop's Stortford

APL

84/85

Bromley

APL

85/86

Fareham Tn

Plymouth Arg

Southwick

Conf

86/87

Welling Utd

Cambridge Utd

Watford

Dartford

Conf

87/88

Dagenham

Kidderminster H

Sheffield Utd

Conf

88/89

Newport Co

Reading

FL4

89/90

Yeovil Tn

Exeter City

FL4

90/91

Torquay Utd

Aldershot

FL4

91/92

Sutton Utd

Kettering Tn

ineligible

as Maidstone Invicta

KYLU18n

92/93

Swansea City drawn a Bye

KCL4w

93/94

KCL2w

94/95

KCL1w

95/96

name changed to Maidstone United

KCL1w

96/97

KCL1w

97/98

KCL1w

98/99

KCLP

99/00

KCLP

00/01

KLP

01/02

Ramsgate

Tonbridge Ang

Newport (IoW)

Boreham Wood

KLP

02/03

Greenwich Bor

Cowes Sports

Hythe Tn

Bishop's Stortford

KLP

03/04

Chichester C

Ash Utd

Redbridge

Leatherhead

KLP

04/05

Winchester C

Burnham

KLP

05/06

Burgess Hill Tn

Ashford Tn (M)

ILS

06/07

Erith & Belvedere

Billericay Tn

ILP

07/08

Tooting & M'ham U

Fisher Ath

Halesowen Tn

AFC Wimbledon

ILP

08/09

Bedfont

Harefield Utd

Woking

ILP

09/10

Whitehawk

ILP

10/11

Corinthian

Banstead Ath

Bognor Regis Tn

ILS

11/12

Colliers Wood U

Chipstead

Grays Ath

East Thurrock U

ILS

12/13

Three Bridges

Merstham

Boreham Wood

ILP

13/14

Littlehampton Tn

Brentwood Tn

Biggleswade Tn

Welling Utd

ILP

14/15

Stevenage

Wrexham

South Park

Dunstable Tn

Chippenham Tn

NatS

15/16

Yeovil Tn

Billericay Tn

NatP

16/17

Rochdale

Enfield Tn

NatP

17/18

Cheltenham Tn

MK Dons

Leyton Orient

NatP

18/19

Macclesfield Tn

Oldham Ath

Cheshunt

Hitchin Tn

Kings Langley

NatS

19/20

Torquay Utd

Blackpool

Hendon

Wimborne Tn

NatS

20/21

Chichester C

Dartford

NatS

21/22

Needham Market

NatP

22/23

Steyning Tn

Winchester C

Torquay Utd

NatS

23/24

Chesham Utd

Barrow

Stevenage

Ipswich Tn

Coventry C

[61666]

Fine piece of work!
Apart from a couple short periods - most recently 2024-2019 - we really don't do that well in the FA Cup and dreams of reaching the third round and a premier League club are poorly founded. Like just five times, the last back in the 80s, from what I can see.
Oh well - this year, maybe?

[jdl]

Oct 12, 2023 7:41:56 GMT 61666 said:

Fine piece of work!
Apart from a couple short periods - most recently 2024-2019 - we really don't do that well in the FA Cup and dreams of reaching the third round and a premier League club are poorly founded. Like just five times, the last back in the 80s, from what I can see.
Oh well - this year, maybe?

True as that is, it rather misrepresents our 'golden' period. Under Jim Thompson, we got to the first round 11 times (including 4 automatically), the 2nd round 10 times, and the third round 5 times - all in just 14 years. Great days - even if he was spending our future!

A good illustration of why some of us vets view the club - old, new, and Wilderness Years - the way we do. If you started watching Stones in 1980, as I did, you expected to be in the Cup proper every year, and to get at least as far as the second round. A season where we didn't make the 3rd round was a disappointment. We never really hit lucky - although the Watford game was pretty special - but there was always next season.

And then there wasn't.

As good as it is these days (and it is), and even with the knowledge of the terrible price we paid for that period of success, it still doesn't feel like those days. Now we struggle to survive in the NL, then we were the Kings of non-league. And, even knowing how things have changed, and how different the NL is to the old Conference (and, indeed, the EFL is to the FL of that time), for us oldies, those memories will always be there.

But the Trophy is another matter - there we do have a problem!

[nws]

Jan 7, 2020 4:29:05 GMT hongkongstone said:

I see from the FAC 4th round draw that IF we had beaten Blackpool and IF we had beaten Reading in the third round and IF Carlisle beat Cardiff in their reply we would have a home game against Carlisle. Surely this is NWS dream fixture?

Was it the year Rochdale beat us in a replay we were up to Carlisle next. I was miffed by that

[pigbag]

My son was a ball boy at Watford, they treated him very well and it is one of his best memories.

Darlington - we had our own train which took forever to get us there and back (what a contrast to not being able to fill a coach this Saturday). We were robbed after Bartley's goal was ruled out for offside and I could clearly see from the other end of the pitch that he was miles onside.

Why did we keep drawing Exeter in the cup. I remember having difficulty finding the ground. I was looking for floodlight pylons but they have them on the roof of the stands. No satnav in those days.

[meerkat87]

Its not really a contrast. It hasn't been easy with coaches this season so far, we've had a ridiculous amount of consecutive away games, then getting drawn against Torquay away for the fa cup (a week after having them away in the league) was just laughable. I think Tim has been conscious of the cost of living etc and been a struggle getting people on coaches to most games so far.

Not a rant BTW, just thinking how things are, it's not a contrast to compare.

[nws]

Oct 12, 2023 14:02:55 GMT meerkat87 said:

Its not really a contrast. It hasn't been easy with coaches this season so far, we've had a ridiculous amount of consecutive away games, then getting drawn against Torquay away for the fa cup (a week after having them away in the league) was just laughable. I think Tim has been conscious of the cost of living etc and been a struggle getting people on coaches to most games so far.

Not a rant BTW, just thinking how things are, it's not a contrast to compare.

Why are you ranting?

[jdl]

Oct 12, 2023 13:21:32 GMT pigbag said:

My son was a ball boy at Watford, they treated him very well and it is one of his best memories.

Darlington - we had our own train which took forever to get us there and back (what a contrast to not being able to fill a coach this Saturday). We were robbed after Bartley's goal was ruled out for offside and I could clearly see from the other end of the pitch that he was miles onside.

Why did we keep drawing Exeter in the cup. I remember having difficulty finding the ground. I was looking for floodlight pylons but they have them on the roof of the stands. No satnav in those days.

The Sheffield Utd train took ages to get home (kept getting parked so other trains could go by) and I started a bloody migraine about halfway. Possibly the longest and worst journey of my life - I felt every bump and jolt of the latter part of the journey. As for the game, I don't remember much (probably deleted by the migraine) and for some reason I get that game mixed up with the Cambridge play-off (were we penned in in both games?). But I do remember the police escort on the way from the station to the ground - I think there were more coppers than us! And being stuck in the cages for ages after the game. Thank God those days are over.

As for coaches/trains, I daresay if Oliver forked out to hire a train for an EFL opposition 3rd round Cup game, we'd probably fill it just as much now! It would be full with fans who'd watched the Stones for year (but weren't entirely sure where the ground was), of course - but all would be welcome!

One of those trains (Watford probably) - while we were waiting at ME, it started to bloody snow! I think that was the game where the supporters club sold merchandise on the train - including rosettes, which were attached with 6" long hat pins - all confiscated at the turnstiles! Also, Elton John was the owner of Watford at the time, but couldn't be there because he was ill - if memory serves, our ball boys held up a banner saying 'Get well soon Elton' - while our fans chanted "Elton John’s a homo"! (Different times...)

We scored the first goal at that one (went on to lose 4-1, I think) - everyone was taking photos of the scoreboard!

[Scot Stone]

Oct 12, 2023 16:19:54 GMT jdl said:

One of those trains (Watford probably) - while we were waiting at ME, it started to bloody snow! ...
We scored the first goal at that one (went on to lose 4-1, I think) - everyone was taking photos of the scoreboard!

Yes, the Watford game was the one with the snow
& their stoppage time goal made it a 3-1 result.

[daveu]

Oct 12, 2023 8:30:48 GMT jdl said:

Oct 12, 2023 7:41:56 GMT 61666 said:

Fine piece of work!
Apart from a couple short periods - most recently 2024-2019 - we really don't do that well in the FA Cup and dreams of reaching the third round and a premier League club are poorly founded. Like just five times, the last back in the 80s, from what I can see.
Oh well - this year, maybe?

True as that is, it rather misrepresents our 'golden' period. Under Jim Thompson, we got to the first round 11 times (including 4 automatically), the 2nd round 10 times, and the third round 5 times - all in just 14 years. Great days - even if he was spending our future!

A good illustration of why some of us vets view the club - old, new, and Wilderness Years - the way we do. If you started watching Stones in 1980, as I did, you expected to be in the Cup proper every year, and to get at least as far as the second round. A season where we didn't make the 3rd round was a disappointment. We never really hit lucky - although the Watford game was pretty special - but there was always next season.

And then there wasn't.

As good as it is these days (and it is), and even with the knowledge of the terrible price we paid for that period of success, it still doesn't feel like those days. Now we struggle to survive in the NL, then we were the Kings of non-league. And, even knowing how things have changed, and how different the NL is to the old Conference (and, indeed, the EFL is to the FL of that time), for us oldies, those memories will always be there.

But the Trophy is another matter - there we do have a problem!

To be fair, our golden era under Jim Thompson was largely funded by money we didn’t possess. I’ll take where we are now as long as the club keeps going.

[pwoodstone]

Oct 12, 2023 16:19:54 GMT jdl said:

Oct 12, 2023 13:21:32 GMT pigbag said:

My son was a ball boy at Watford, they treated him very well and it is one of his best memories.

Darlington - we had our own train which took forever to get us there and back (what a contrast to not being able to fill a coach this Saturday). We were robbed after Bartley's goal was ruled out for offside and I could clearly see from the other end of the pitch that he was miles onside.

Why did we keep drawing Exeter in the cup. I remember having difficulty finding the ground. I was looking for floodlight pylons but they have them on the roof of the stands. No satnav in those days.

The Sheffield Utd train took ages to get home (kept getting parked so other trains could go by) and I started a bloody migraine about halfway. Possibly the longest and worst journey of my life - I felt every bump and jolt of the latter part of the journey. As for the game, I don't remember much (probably deleted by the migraine) and for some reason I get that game mixed up with the Cambridge play-off (were we penned in in both games?). But I do remember the police escort on the way from the station to the ground - I think there were more coppers than us! And being stuck in the cages for ages after the game. Thank God those days are over.

As for coaches/trains, I daresay if Oliver forked out to hire a train for an EFL opposition 3rd round Cup game, we'd probably fill it just as much now! It would be full with fans who'd watched the Stones for year (but weren't entirely sure where the ground was), of course - but all would be welcome!

One of those trains (Watford probably) - while we were waiting at ME, it started to bloody snow! I think that was the game where the supporters club sold merchandise on the train - including rosettes, which were attached with 6" long hat pins - all confiscated at the turnstiles! Also, Elton John was the owner of Watford at the time, but couldn't be there because he was ill - if memory serves, our ball boys held up a banner saying 'Get well soon Elton' - while our fans chanted "Elton John’s a homo"! (Different times...)

We scored the first goal at that one (went on to lose 4-1, I think) - everyone was taking photos of the scoreboard!

I still have my Watford Maidstone rosette. The train was late and we froze on the platform at Maidstone East. Good day though. Was only young

[pwoodstone]

[jdl]

Oct 12, 2023 17:21:34 GMT pwoodstone said:

View Attachment

Got that on our fridge! There's a bit of a train spottery aspect to that day as well, as we got off the train at Watford FC's own station - which no longer exists.

They built that just for matchday trains on an old, mostly unused bit of track. Then, some time later, there was a plan to use that same track to reroute the Watford tube service away from it's current, rather inconvenient, terminus to terminate at Watford Junction instead - or High St? - wherever the Overground serivce (ex-Bakerloo) terminates now. But, although some of that work was completed, ultimately TFL didn't have the money to complete it (a particularly expensive bridge was needed at the tube line end), so the plan was abandoned - and Watford FC's station (or the tube stop that would have replaced it) went with it.

So, that was a unique day in more than one respect.

[jdl]

Oct 12, 2023 16:56:45 GMT daveu said:

Oct 12, 2023 8:30:48 GMT jdl said:

True as that is, it rather misrepresents our 'golden' period. Under Jim Thompson, we got to the first round 11 times (including 4 automatically), the 2nd round 10 times, and the third round 5 times - all in just 14 years. Great days - even if he was spending our future!

A good illustration of why some of us vets view the club - old, new, and Wilderness Years - the way we do. If you started watching Stones in 1980, as I did, you expected to be in the Cup proper every year, and to get at least as far as the second round. A season where we didn't make the 3rd round was a disappointment. We never really hit lucky - although the Watford game was pretty special - but there was always next season.

And then there wasn't.

As good as it is these days (and it is), and even with the knowledge of the terrible price we paid for that period of success, it still doesn't feel like those days. Now we struggle to survive in the NL, then we were the Kings of non-league. And, even knowing how things have changed, and how different the NL is to the old Conference (and, indeed, the EFL is to the FL of that time), for us oldies, those memories will always be there.

But the Trophy is another matter - there we do have a problem!

To be fair, our golden era under Jim Thompson was largely funded by money we didn’t possess. I’ll take where we are now as long as the club keeps going.

Me too - without a doubt. But, those of us who went through that time (good and bad) will always be marked by it. The comparisons (unforntuately) will always be there.