30dec03

Maidstone fans raise £10,000 for ground appeal

Go Travel Kent League club Maidstone United's Supporters' Association announced that the £10,000 target for their 'New Ground Appeal Fund' had been reached with just two days to spare before the funds' closing date was due, writes Darrell Lovell.

Fund organiser and club website editor Jonathan Parr paid tribute to those who had contributed to the success of the ground appeal which was launched in January 2003.

"For a club with an average home support of around 300 fans, to achieve this kind of fund raising figure within the timescale we originally set is absolutely phenomenal.

"We have had people paying by direct debit, we have had bucket collections at home games where supporters have thrown in their loose change, significant one off payments, people paying via our online website facility and even the players have donated in the region of £300 to show their support to the club.

"There have been fundraising events too, the latest of which was on the Sunday after Christmas at a town centre pub in Maidstone. Around 50 fans and players got together for a lunchtime drink and another £250 was raised.

"I must also thank our main club sponsor KF Concept, in particular director Kevin McNab, who on hearing that the fund was only £500 short of its target immediately contacted me to say that he would make up the shortfall in the target figure."

Maidstone United Supporters' Association can now approach club chairman Paul Bowden-Brown and offer some significant financial assistance to the football club, as the club nears the date when an application can be made to Maidstone Borough Council for planning permission to build a new 6,000-capacity stadium at James Whatman Way in Maidstone.

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