Brave Stones fans raise more funds for Ground Fund

Maidstone United fans have yet again beat the odds to raise over £1,000 for the promotion chasing club's ground fund, writes Sam Bunn.

Four Stones fans set off from Oxford on Friday morning aiming to get to Maidstone's home game with Kingstonian before the 3PM kick-off.

One fan, Adrian Sharpe, succeeded in this feat, reaching Bourne Park just after 2 o’clock. Sharpe went on to collect more cash prior to kick-off, proclaiming the money would be going towards getting him a new pair of legs!

Two other fans, Huw Egginton and Matt Wright, reached Sittingbourne at half time, just in time for a presentation and photo with Stones chairman Paul Bowden Brown.

Sadly, the other cyclist, John Gooch, had to bow out at the end of day one after suffering crippling leg cramps.

"I couldn’t go on," said a disappointed Gooch. "I started feeling leg cramps when I stopped off to get some water a few miles in.

"I hoped it would go away but I soon realised I wouldn’t be able to carry on. So I hooked my iPod up and took a leisurely stroll towards London and eventually got picked up and taken home in Maidenhead."

Gooch was left feeling especially frustrated as he felt absolutely fine apart from his leg.

He said: "I wasn’t feeling exhausted or anything like that, at the time I was on course to reach London for the over-night stop-over. It’s just very annoying because if my leg hadn’t played up I’m almost certain I would have finished in time for kick-off."

Despite not finishing the course, Gooch got many words of praise from fans on the clubs message board, with supporters proclaiming that he had still done everyone at Maidstone proud.

Event organiser and one of the cyclists Huw Egginton was glad to have raised some much needed money for the clubs ground fund.

He said: "It was most certainly a tough feat, but with the funds helping the club come home, it was definitely worth it.

"I would yet again just like to thank all of those who donated, as without them the ride obviously wouldn’t have been worthwhile. I would also like to thank the other cyclists, Adrian, Matt and John."

Matt Wright added: "The second day never seemed to end but suddenly we came down a hill into Sittingbourne, what a brilliant feeling!"

The cyclists, and those who walked to Dover in February, will have their achievements commemorated by the club with a plaque at the new Whatman Way ground.

Everyone at Maidstone United and www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to congratulate all four cyclists on their efforts.

You can still donate to the clubs ground fund at their website, www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

After beating Kingstonian 2-1 on Saturday, Stones can go a long way to clinch promotion into the Ryman Premier League with victories at Ashford Town (Tuesday) and at Walton Casuals on the final day of the season on Saturday.