Hume brings in kids' due to budget cuts

Wednesday 12th August 2009

MAIDSTONE UNITED boss Lloyd Hume is expected to throw in a number of unproven youngsters for their season opener against Carshalton Athletic, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Stones play their first Ryman Premier League game at Ashford Town’s Homelands Stadium against Carshalton on Saturday - before travelling to newly promoted side Waltham Abbey next Tuesday.

Senior stars Jamie Turner, Roland Edge, Peter Hawkins, Nathan Paul, Nick Barnes, Alan Pouton, Jay Saunders, Meshach Nugent, James Pinnock and Lynden Rowland are surrounded by hungry youngsters that are looking to impress for the Stones this season.

And Hume, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk said: “I’m looking forward to competitive football. Pre-season feels like it’s gone on for ever, although it’s only been six weeks, its good to get some competitive stuff.

“It’s disappointing that we haven’t got all of our best players available, but it’s a fantastic opportunity for our youngsters to blood into our new team very quickly.

“They’ve (our youngsters) done very well in pre-season. We knew due to budget restraints if we wanted to keep the quality that we have we had to build a squad of younger players who are unproven at our level, but in pre-season they’ve done very, very well. They’ve stood out and will get their opportunity on Saturday.”

Hume is looking forward to the season’s opener, against a Carshalton Athletic side that lost in last season’s Ryman Premier League play-off final.

“Three points would be a great start for us on Saturday,” said Hume. “Carshalton are one of the favourites in the league (as) they’ve spent a load of money in the summer and they have high expectations.

“But we certainly won’t be running scared of them on Saturday.”

Hume has urged the Stones faithful to get themselves to Homelands in Ashford - although it’s a nightmare for supporters who cannot drive to get there.

“I’ve never made a secret that our fans have been a big part of our success over the last few years,” said Hume.

“They get behind our team and when they do they’re second to none and I hope on Saturday they travel to Ashford full of enthusiasm.

Barnes, Saunders and Edge, meanwhile, are suspended and the club are awaiting international clearance for Dean Hernandez-Bradshaw.

“He’s got a lot of experience, his last team was Lavente in Spain but he’s played at Grays and Histon,” said Hume of Hernandez-Bradshaw, a 21-year-old model, now with his TENTH club.

Looking ahead to visiting Waltham Abbey next Tuesday, Hume added, “We had them watched in pre-season and we know they’re a hard working, good footballing side.

“But we go into this game a lot stronger in terms of experience.”

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

Maidstone United v Carshalton Athletic

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 15th August 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

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