Hume gives youngsters a chance to prove their worth

Thursday 09th July 2009

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Lloyd Hume says now is the time for his younger players to step up to the plate, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Stones welcome John Coleman’s Accrington Stanley to Homelands Stadium on Saturday - the club’s first ever home match in Ashford.

And Hume, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk , is looking forward to the match against Coca Cola League One opposition.

“John Coleman has become a good friend of mine over the last couple of years and we said if we had an opportunity to pit our wits against each other we will,” said Hume.

“His (side is) down in Colchester all week so it gives us an opportunity to have a game on Saturday, which we’re looking forward to.”

Hume said his players are looking forward to bedding into new surroundings, having vacated Sittingbourne’s Bourne Park at the end of last season.

“It’s something that we’re looking forward to, to be honest,” said Hume. “No disrespect to Sittingbourne, but Ashford is a quality facility with a good pitch and as a club, or shall I say as a team, we’re very much looking forward to going down there and experience it as a home venue for the first time.”

Hume and Alan Walker will be giving trialists Dan Stubbs (Margate), Jimmy Bottle (Ashford Town) and Shannon O’Donovan (Whitstable Town) an amber shirt on Saturday.

“We’ve got a number of trialists there at the moment, who look very, very promising and they will certainly be involved in the next two or three games,” said Hume.

“We will be making quick decisions (about signing them), because they’ve impressed us in training.

“Stubbs from Margate, we’ve got Shannon from Whitstable, who used to be in our reserves, we’ve got Jimmy Bottle - all three have impressed.

“We’ve got our youngsters that came through into our (first team) squad last season so we’ve got eleven players starting and we’ve (got) three trialists who have impressed us and six or seven youngsters to try and get into the first team.”

When asked how many players the club can afford this coming season, Hume replied, “We can probably afford 13-14, but then we’ve got the players who stepped up last year who will be involved in the first team a fair amount this year.”

With midfielders Nick Barnes (who has returned to the club for the third time), Roland Edge and Jay Saunders all suspended for their opening league game, Hume needs reinforcements.

He added: “It gives players a good opportunity to step up to the plate.”

Meanwhile, Stones youngster Rob Carter, who is an England Schoolboy International, is on trial with Coca-Cola League One side Charlton Athletic. The defender played during the whole of the second half of the Addicks’ 1-1 draw at Blue Square South side Welling United last night.

Mike Green will be covering this game for www.kentishfootball.co.uk on Saturday.

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Maidstone United v Accrington Stanley

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 11th July 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At The Homelands Stadium, Ashford Road, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NJ