Historical Football Kits

 

Maidstone United

Formed 1897

Promoted to the Fourth Division 1989. Resigned 1992.

Kit History

1904-1905 a

1921-1922 a

1922-1960

1960-1963 a

1963-1965 d

1970-1973 a

1975-1976 a

Admiral

1978-1981 a e

1983-1984 b

Uhlsport

1984-1985 f

1986-1987 b

1987-1988 a

Umbro

1988-1989 c f

Spall

1989-1990 c f

Spall

1990-1991 a c f

Spall

1991-1992 c

 

Background

The Stones were formed at the end of the nineteenth century and played in the amateur Kent League. It was not until 1951 that they stepped up from county competition to join the Corinthian League and six years later they became members of the Athenian League. In 1970 the club turned semi-professional and transferred to the Southern League First Division: two years later they were promoted to the SL Premier Division.

In 1979, United became founder members of the Alliance Premier League, the forhad unner of the Conference, winning the championship in 1984. Five years later, United won the Conference title and with it, automatic promotion to the Fourth Division of the Football League in 1989. Off the field, however, the club was in serious difficulty. A year earlier chairman Jim Thompson sold their ground for retail development and the Stones were forced to play their home matches in Dartford.

In their first season in the League, the Stones reached the play-offs but the following two campaigns were mediocre. As their debts mounted, concern grew about their ability to pay their players and fulfill their commitments. At the start of the 1992-93 season, United postponed their first fixture in the new Nationwide Division Three, away at Scunthorpe. They were given 48 hours to provide guarantees that the club could fulfil their fixtures for the rest of the season. Unable to secure the backing needed, Maidstone resigned and went into liquidation. Since this debacle, the Football League has introduced financial viability criteria as well as stadium standards for clubs who qualify for promotion from the Conference.

A new club, Maidstone Invicta, was formed and in 1993, they started at the very bottom of the pyramid by joining Division Four of the Kent County League. In 1996 the club adopted Maidstone United as their name and in 2001, they achieved senior status and transferred to the Kent League.

Records are sparse for this club and any contributions are welcome.

Sources