I'll score goals in the Ryman League, insists 42-goal Takaloo - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The 26-year-old striker netted his 42nd goal of the season on the stroke of half-time as the Stones comfortably beat Sevenoaks Town 4-0 in front of the highest Kent League crowd at Greatness Park when the majority of the 526 sun kissed fans were able to celebrate their title success.

The Stones had to better Beckenham Town’s result at Erith & Belvedere. Gavin Rose’s side had a better goal difference as both club’s went into yesterday’s games on 69 points.

There was no doubt who would win at Greatness Park, against a Sevenoaks Town side rooted at the foot of the table with only 14 points and 18 goals to their name.

And with the Stones taking a sixth minute lead through Lyden Rowland’s close range header - his 25^th goal of the season - Stones fans were feeling the tension as they were kept being informed of the latest score 21 miles away in Welling.

News filtered through that Erith & Belvedere were awarded a penalty - with the Stones 1-0 up - but the tension increased when former Margate striker Leon Braithwaite had his spot kick saved by Rob Tolfrey.

Takaloo headed home Maidstone’s second of the game on the stroke of half-time but the crowd erupted early in the second half when they found out Beckenham had gone a goal down.

But the tension increased again when news filtered through that Beckenham had equalised soon after, and Ryan Royston took his Maidstone tally up to eleven for the season with two goals in the final three minutes at Greatness Park.

The final whistle sparked emotional scenes of jubilation, and although Takaloo missed a 73^rd minute penalty, he was delighted at the end.

“I’m well delighted with that basically,” he said. “I sort of had a feeling that Beckenham we’re going to drop points because we had a bit of a blessing with the team they were playing.

“I mean if it was someone like Lordswood or someone on the last day of the season with nothing to play for - but Erith & Belvedere done us a favour.”

Both Maidstone and Beckenham have been praised for their title dual - and although both sides play contrasting styles of football - they are affective with what they do.

Takaloo, though, feels his side deserved the title as they’ve only lost two games this season compared to a Beckenham side that have lost two more games during their 30-match campaign.

He said: “I think we deserve to win, we’ve lost two games all season and they’ve lost four.

“So over the season I think we’re the better team, we’ve beat them as well and we’ve shown it so yes I’m pretty delighted with that and also delighted winning the golden boot as well.”

Last season Takaloo netted 32 goals for Ramsgate as he helped the Southwood Stadium club secure the Kent League double last season.

“Forty -two goals and 30 I think in the league. I’m well happy with that,” he said.

“But this year shows I’m playing in a better team so if I can hit 32 playing for Ramsgate and I’ve hit 42 for Maidstone, obviously we create more stuff. That’s what it says on paper so I think we’ll have no problems in the league above either.”

Stones boss Lloyd Hume insisted Takaloo was part of his plans when asked that question after their Kent League Cup Semi-Final second leg victory over Hythe Town, and the striker is raring to go.

“I got a bit of stick of Ramsgate for sort of deserting them. They said I was captain, won the league an everything and decided to leave so they weren’t happy with that but I’m not going to do that twice,” he insisted.

“I want to go up in the next league and prove more so to Jim Ward that I can play in the league above and score goals in the league above.”

Maidstone are expected to receive their Kent League championship trophy next Saturday when they tackle VCD Athletic in the Kentish Observer League Cup Final at Folkestone Invicta’s Buzzlines Stadium in Cheriton Road.

But Takaloo wants to make it another great day out - and secure the double just like he did 12 months ago.

“A great day out as well as this was the main one really,” he said. “We just wanted promotion and all that, we’ve got everything we wanted.

“On a personal level I’ve got all the things I’ve wanted, league championship, golden boot and I want the cup as well.

“I mean we’re not going to let that one go. I think that will be a great game, a good day out and hopefully loads of supporters will have another good day out. I’m looking forward to that one Saturday.”

His manager, Lloyd Hume, meanwhile, was very tense during yesterday’s 4-0 win - but insists his club will be aiming for the Ryman League Division One play-off’s next season.

In their first season in that league Cray Wanderers reached the play-off’s but lost after extra time at Horsham.

But Ramsgate went one better - winning the championship yesterday, thanks to their 0-0 draw against Ashford Town at Southwood Stadium, which also mathematically ensured Ryman League football will be played at the Homelands next season.

“We’ve been told we’ll be in Ryman One, which is a league we know very well,” said Hume.

“We’re already talking to people and already have been for a couple of weeks about next season but I have to say the squad this year have been fantastic.

“We’re looking to keep every single one of them involved next year - we’re just looking to add one or two quality players.”

Hume and his coach Alan Walker know this level of football very well. In fact Hume clinched titles with Sittingbourne and Fisher Athletic when Walker was manager at those two Southern League clubs.

“We know about that football than we do the Kent League,” Hume admitted. “We always said to the chairman, the first year would be difficult as we don’t know the players at this level (Kent League).

“But by the second year we’d get to grips with it. We were proved right with that so we’re very much looking to going up a standard and more than capable of acquitting ourselves in that league and Ramsgate have shown us this season what you can do without changing your squad around that much.”

And what are Hume’s expectations for next season. “I mean I would suggest in our first season, we’ve said this to the chairman, we’ve got to aim at he play-offs, whilst inside we’ll be thinking we can do a little bit better than that.

“I think we can get into the play-offs, anything can happen and that will be an achievement in our first season.

“But I would say to everyone involved at the club we would expect us to do better within two seasons and that’s what we said when we took over here and we’ll say that again in the next step up.”

Stones skipper, Jimmy Strouts, who turns 35 next season, thanked the club’s fans for their support throughout their championship and promotion winning season and the former Dover Athletic star is relishing the many Kent derbies next season.

“It’s been hard work,” he admitted. “We’ve definitely made hard work of it but in the end it’s come good for us.

“It’s been a good day today with all the fans coming down watching us - its amazing.”

Strouts was pleased his side - just like Beckenham - went ten league games unbeaten. That was enough to win the title on points.

“Even after the Beckenham game we dropped the points at home but we just said for the last few games of the season we just have to go out and win every game,” he said. “And that’s what we’ve gone and done and it turned good for us. Beckenham have dropped the points and we’ve kept going.”

Praising the fans, he added: “They’ve been brilliant all season. We’ve had a few hard times but they’ve kept with us and they’ve done that for he last few seasons so yes it was brilliant for them today and let’s hope we can go on.”

Maidstone aren’t expected to do much travelling next season. “It’s always good for the game to have a good derby. Next year there’s going to be about ten Kent clubs so it should be good fun.”

Meanwhile, Ian Muir, who reports on Beckenham Town’s matches told this website: “Both sides walked off to a standing ovation, they had provided a great afternoon’s entertainment. The match itself was of a very high standard and was a credit to non-league football.

“The result ensured that Erith & Belvedere would remain in the Kent League, whilst Beckenham Town, who, were already guarantee a runner up spot will have to wait until Monday until the Football Association decide if the ground improvements made at Eden Park Avenue have been enough.

“The average age of the Beckenham side is 20 and they have grown as a side during the season.

“Manager Gavin Rose and his assistant Junior Kadi have provided Beckenham Town Football Club with their best ever season in their 109 year history.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk  would like to congratulate EVERYBODY at Maidstone United Football Club on their success and we look forward to covering you in the Ryman League next season.