We need your support at Bourne Park, says Stones chairman

The Stones are the tenth best supported club in the Ryman Premier League with an average of 401, which is down nearly 10% on last season.

But Mr Bowden-Brown, who put the club up for sale four weeks ago, told fans that they should be turning up at their shared ground at Bourne Park in Sittingbourne to help fund the club, instead of handing their money over to their grateful rivals.

The chairman urges the same 500 to flock through the Bourne Park turnstiles for the visit of Hastings United on Saturday to watch the fifth placed side in action.

“I am still at a total loss how some so-called supporters of this fine club can line the pockets of other clubs within our league, so those clubs that we visit can pay better wages to get and keep players due to our travelling away support, rather than join the true hardcore supporters base that week after week go to Bourne Park and support the club,” the chairman told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.

"They may not like Bourne Park and I am truthfully fed up with this excuse. Moving to Bourne Park was an integral part of our success on our rise through the pyramid to date.

“If this missing home contingent travel the miles the records show, they can surely travel the 10 miles to Bourne Park and let their club benefit from the gate money."

The Stones chairman has a start warning for the stay-away fans, saying, “"The failure of these supporters to attend home matches at Bourne Park could be the downfall of this fine club, and delay even further the Stones returning home.

“I hope that somehow this large away contingent try and visit Bourne Park regularly for the remainder of the season, as many of them have done in the past."

Saturday's match at Dover, watched by more than 2,500 people, was further proof of what the homecoming means.

Mr Bowden-Brown added: "There was a fantastic atmosphere at the Crabble - something which the town of Maidstone could benefit from every other week or more. With our proximity to the shopping centre, the additional footfall to shops, pubs and restaurants would surely boost the local economy."

Saturday’s opponents, Hastings United, meanwhile, are the third largest supported club in the division, with average crowds of 496 flocking to The Pilot Field, although that is dwarfed by Kent giants Dover Athletic (1,379) and Dartford (1,048).

For those supporters that have forgotten how to get to Bourne Park, Sittingbourne FC provide details here:   www.sittingbournefc.co.uk/direct.htm

Quotes courtesy of www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Maidstone United v Hastings United
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 3^rd January 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB