The club is definately going the right way, says Maidstone United Academy manager Jack Parkinson

MAIDSTONE UNITED’S academy manager Jack Parkinson says the club offers a nice environment for their teenage footballers to develop both on the pitch and in the classroom.


The Stones will travel to League Two outfit Southend United in The FA Youth Cup First Round on Tuesday 5 November (7:30pm), after beating Sutton United on penalties after a 1-1 draw at James Whatman Way seven days ago.

“It was great,” reflected a proud Parkinson.

“We got knocked out in the second qualifying round last year, so we’re one step ahead.

“Sutton are a good side with a really good record in the league. They’ve played six and won six, without conceding a goal.

“It was a tough game and the boys’ done really well. I’m disappointed that we didn’t win it in the 90 minutes. We felt we done enough and created enough chances but fortunately enough it went to penalties and we came out on top.”

Charley Robertson, who has first team experience this season, stepped up to score Maidstone United’s winner as the Kent club prevailed 6-5 on sudden-death penalties.

“In a way, I think it was justice though because we done enough over 90 minutes to win the game,” said Parkinson.

“The only shot they had on target was the penalty they scored during the game, from a mistake from us.

“It’s not the nicest thing in the world for the poor lad that misses, it’s not a nice experience but fortunately enough for us we’re through and we’re in the first round.”

Maidstone United have beaten Whitstable Town (5-2), Carshalton Athletic (3-1) and Corinthian (2-0) and can now look forward to a trip to Roots Hall next week.

The Stones were drawn at home but The FA Youth Cup does not allow clubs to play on artificial playing surfaces so the game has been switched to Southend United’s stadium.

Parkinson is disappointed that the club cannot play at home.

He said: “We’ve been getting some quite good gates. We had 235 against Corinthian and there was 222 here the other night against Sutton, so it would have been nice to play at home.

“At the same time we can’t so there’s nothing we can do about it!  We’re getting it switched to play it at Roots Hall. It will be a nice experience for the boys.

“It’s a good opportunity to showcase what we can do against a League club and see how far we can go really.

“It’s a nice, old fashioned ground. It’s a big, nice pitch, so it will be a good experience for the boys and we won’t be overawed about it.

“We’ll be prepared to go out and show what we can do.”

Parkinson who runs the Academy alongside his younger brother Tom (who now plays for Ryman League Division One South side Leatherhead); Jim Bodle and Ollie Lee, praised first team manager Jay Saunders and the board for taking an interest in the club’s impressive youth set-up.

“The club’s going the right way,” explained Parkinson.

“It’s a nice family club as well. The gates the first team attract are fantastic and a few of those supporters have been down to watch the youth team as well.

“Jay has been fantastic with the boys. I speak to Jay three or four times a week.

“It is definitely a place at the moment where the club is definitely going the right way.

“One thing I would say – and no disrespect to other clubs – the one thing I’ve noticed the owner is brilliant, Bill Williams is brilliant and they want young lads coming through and they really look after the boys.

“We have got some good lads, some strong players and that has been noticed. We’ve taken some very good first years’ this year and we’re hoping we can do the same with our new intake next year and by having a young manager (in Jay Saunders) who wants players involved and in training.

“It shows the boys’ there’s an opportunity for you and as a young lad that’s all you can ask for – for the first team manager, chairman, chief executive are interested in young lads, so there’s no more incentive to do you bit when you play.”

Parkinson spoke about former Maidstone United’s Academy striker Alfie Pavey, who scored 124 goals in 54 games last season, which attracted the attention of Championship club Millwall, who snapped him up on a two-year scholarship.

“Alf’s doing really well. We’ve had some really good reports from Neil Harris and Justin in regards to the under 18’s,” revealed Parkinson.

“He’s been playing with the 21’s quite a bit. He’s got six goals for the youth team already and four of those were in one game.  He started the other night against Cardiff in the under 21’s.

“He’s doing really well and it shows that there’s other lads here that they’ve got futures as good as Alfie’s and we hope that we can produce a few more of those as well.

“It does show the gap between ourselves and the league clubs is not huge.”

Maidstone United hold an Academy open evening at the club’s Gallagher Stadium at James Whatman Way on Monday 18 November which is open to anybody currently in year 11 at school.

“We’ll do a presentation on what we offer,” said Parkinson.

“We run a level three extended diploma. They train every day and play in the Conference Youth Alliance on a Wednesday afternoon. We’ve got two teams in that and two teams in the English Colleges Divisions.

“On the academic front we do a level three betec, they do level 1 and level 2 coaching badges. It’s an opportunity to get out to the workplace as well. We had a lad go to America on a full scholarship, one went to University in Bath and lads are going in the workplace to do coaching.

“All the classrooms are at the ground, they train on the pitch every day and all home games are placed on the pitch. It’s a nice environment to be in.”

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