Hume issues rallying cry to missing fans'

Thursday 23rd April 2009

AHEAD OF his side's final game of the season at home to Billericay Town at Bourne Park on Saturday, Maidstone United joint-boss Lloyd Hume has issued a rallying cry to the club's "missing" supporters, writes Mike Green.

After just 216 hardy souls braved Tuesday's disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Harrow Borough - a crowd that was comfortably the Stones worst for a home league game this season - a disconsulate Hume seemed baffled as to the missing support.

"This time last year we were one game away from being relegated, and yet this season we've taken a massive step forward and until a couple of weeks ago were in contention for the play-off's, yet some people are still not happy," he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

"Games like Tuesday have given us an ideal chance to blood some of the youngsters who are the future of the club and it's about time that some of the stayaway fans really showed their appreciation for just how much we have achieved this season.

"Let's face it, until we hit the financial problems at Christmas, and had to let a couple of our top players go and couldn't really replace them, as I said, we've been in the play-off hunt until very recently.

"The chairman's done a fantastic job, if a very lonely job, and surely Saturday gives all of our fans the chance to show the players and the chairman a bit of thanks for what we've achieved."

Hume's threadbare squad will literally be stretched to breaking point as, as many as four of the starting eleven from Tuesday's defeat will be unavailable for the weekend, leaving the distinct possibility of quite possibly the youngest subs bench that Hume has ever named in his time in charge with Alan Walker.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk therefore calls upon all Maidstone United fans to make the trip to Bourne Park this weekend and give Hume, Walker, the players and the chairman the same vocal support as they did during the dark times of last season.

There may not be anything to play for on Saturday, but isn't that more reason to celebrate a successful campaign.

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

Maidstone United v Billericay Town

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 25th April 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

at Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB