Maidstone new signings and fixtures – 2021/22
Maidstone United have added several new faces to their squad plus confirmed those that have been retained ahead of the 2021/22 season.
Returning to the Gallagher Stadium for the 2021/22 season are Raphe Brown, Sam Corne, Joe Ellul, Gavin Hoyte and Dom Odusanya.
The Stones boss, Hakan Hayrettin, has also signed Perri Iandolo from the club’s football academy and Max Sutton who started playing for Maidstone when he was eight years old.
Conversations are ongoing with other players from last season’s line-up, with several having deals on the table or invites to pre-season.
Two players not returning are Justin Amaluzor and Chris Lewington, both announcing their departures last month.
Joan Luque will return to the Gallagher Stadium after agreeing a one-year deal with the Stones.
The 28-year-old midfielder joined the club last October, making 12 appearances and scoring five goals.
He left at the end of January to join National League outfit Weymouth, which turned out to be a good move for him when the North and South divisions were axed a few weeks later.
A former Barcelona academy player, he moved to England in 2017, signing for Heybridge Swifts. His impressive tally of 30 goals earned him a move to Lincoln City, before he returned to the non-league game with spells at Bromley, Concord Rangers and Dagenham & Redbridge.
Canterbury-born shot-stopper Tom Hadler has been handed a one-year deal by Hakan Hayrettin and cannot wait to make the No. 1 shirt his own.
The 24-year-old came through the Gillingham Academy and made his Football League debut in April 2018.
After his release from Priestfield in the summer of 2019, he signed for Eastbourne Borough and spent last season with Ebbsfleet United.
The Stones have also added to their attacking options with the arrival of Reece Grant. The 26-year-old played under Hakan Hayrettin at Braintree and it was while at the Essex side he had one of his career highlights.
His equaliser in the 2018 National League South play-off final took the game to penalties and a shoot out win for The Iron saw promotion to the top tier of non-league. He spent last season at Stonebridge Road, signing for Ebbsfleet United from Dagenham & Redbridge.
Other clubs include Aldershot Town, Heybridge Swifts (where he came to prominence after scoring 26 goals) and Wealdstone. He got a taste of the Gallagher while with the other Stones in the 2013/14 season opener.
Jack Barham has also arrived at the Gallagher Stadium.
The 25-year-old striker has put pen to paper on a deal for the new season, after agreeing terms with Hakan Hayrettin.
He started his playing career at Chelmsford City and got his break while banging in the goals for Greenwich Borough. His prolific form saw a move to Barnet, where he first met the Stones boss.
While with The Bees he had loan spells at Bromley and Dorking, moving to the latter permanently the season before last. He signed for Dartford last summer and made 15 appearances before the campaign was declared null and void.
Jake Gallagher is the next man to arrive at the Gallagher Stadium.
The midfielder brings a shedload of non-league experience, having clocked up more than 300 appearances for Welling United, Aldershot Town and most recently Dorking Wanderers.
He started his playing career with Fulham, going on to earn his first professional contract with Millwall. Prior to three seasons with Welling, he was briefly on the books of Icelandic side IBV Vestmannaeyja. His form at Park View Road saw call-ups to the England C side.
Hakan Hayrettin has also secured the services of midfielder Roarie Deacon.
It’s a deal the Stones boss has been keen to do for some time and his persistence has paid off with the contract signed, sealed and delivered.
Tushaun Walters joins the Stones with a point to prove.
The speedy winger joins the Stones from Herne Bay where in two curtailed seasons, he made 46 appearances, scored 11 and chipped in with numerous assists.
The Stones have completed the signing of former Notts County & Bradford Park Avenue midfielder Regan Booty.
The Yorkshireman started playing for Huddersfield Town in their under-9s team and went through the age groups, making his under-18 debut at the age of 15. He was also part of the Terriers’ under-21 side that won the Professional Development League in 2016.
Maidstone United have also signed goalkeeper Billy Johnson.
The 22-year-old will provide back-up and competition for Stones number one Tom Hadler.
Back for a third season at the Gallagher, is club captain George Elokobi.
A fans’ favourite since his arrival in summer 2019, George will continue his dual role with the Stones. Alongside first team duties, he will be inspiring and mentoring the next generation at the club’s football academy.
Hakan Hayrettin has brought a familiar face back to the Gallagher, as Michael Phillips puts pen to paper on a deal for the 2021/22 season.
Christie Pattisson has extended his stay at the Gallagher Stadium.
The 24-year-old wide-man joined the Stones last season. His debut in the opening game of the campaign was cut short after picking up an injury 20 minutes in. When he returned to full fitness, progress was hampered by Covid isolations and winter weather, prior to the league being declared null and void.
Maidstone have clearly been busy and more new signings are expected before the season gets under way in August.
Pre-season friendlies
10 Sat – 15:00 – BEARSTED 0-2 MAIDSTONE UNITED
13 Tue – 19:45 – MAIDSTONE UNITED 6-0 SHEPPEY UNITED
24 Sat – 15:00 – MAIDSTONE UNITED VS SOUTHEND UNITED
27 Tue – 19:45 – CHATHAM TOWN VS MAIDSTONE UNITED
29 Thu – 19:45 – HYTHE TOWN VS MAIDSTONE UNITED
31 Sat – 15:00 – MAIDSTONE UNITED VS CHARLTON ATHLETIC XI
The fixtures for the 2021/22 Vanarama National League South season have been published.
It all starts with a home match against Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday 14 August, a game that marks the return of spectators for a league fixture after a gap of some 554 days.
The first Kent derby is scheduled for Saturday 16 October, away to Ebbsfleet United – although that date will shift if either side makes it to the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.
It’s derby December, with all three scheduled league games against Kent sides. Stones play Dartford at home on Saturday 11, Tonbridge away on Boxing Day and Welling at home on Tuesday 28 December.
The return match against Tonbridge takes place on Sunday 2 January, it’s Ebbsfleet at home on Tuesday 25 January, Dartford away on Easter Monday and Welling away on Saturday 7 May.
Matches against Dulwich Hamlet – always a favourite amongst the Stones faithful – are away on Tuesday 26 October and home on Tuesday 15 March.
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