We're all pushing in the right direction, says Maidstone United academy manager Jack Parkinson

MAIDSTONE UNITED academy manager Jack Parkinson reflects on a fantastic season for the club.

Jay Saunders’ first team sealed promotion back to the Ryman Premier League after beating Folkestone Invicta and Faversham Town in two home play-off games after finishing runners-up to Dulwich Hamlet after 42 league games.

Attendances at James Whatman Way were beyond expectations throughout the club’s first season back in the county town and the youngsters certainly excelled playing on the club’s artificial surface.

The club won six trophies out of a possible seven, including winning the Conference Youth League, John Ullmann Cup, the League Cup, along with two English Colleges League titles and winning an international cup in Amsterdam, Holland.

Maidstone United also defeated the likes of Gillingham, Brighton & Hove Albion, AFC Wimbledon and Crawley Town throughout the season.

“The boys have been fantastic again this season,” said Parkinson, 23.

“It’s a fantastic club to be at. It’s got a great feel about the place.

“Terry (Casey) and Bill (Williams) have been brilliant with myself and the lads within the academy and really shows with seven of the boys representing the first team last season.

“We’re all pushing in the right direction to help the boys’ progress.  Next season Jay is really keen to get some of the boys in pre-season and look to get them involved within his already really strong squad.

“We’ve also had boys playing for other first teams such as Cray Wanderers, Whitstable Town, Chatham Town and Thurrock.”

One player who grabbed all the limelight was striker Alfie Pavey, 17, who scored a whopping 124 goals in 54 games for the Stones in youth and Academy football this season.

Pavey made one appearance for Saunders’ first team, coming on as a 62^nd minute substitute against Whitehawk in the Ryman League Cup.

“Alfie has just signed a two-year scholarship at Millwall,” said a proud Parkinson.

“Alfie scored over 100 goals for us last season and has got a fantastic chance there.

“He’s one of the nicest lads you will meet, always looking to improve and has been a real pleasure in the three years I’ve had him and we all wish him the very best and will be keeping a real close eye on a player that has huge potential.

“It shows the club are willing to push lads on and Alfie is an example of that.”

The last player to leave Maidstone United for the professional ranks was Chris Smalling, who left to sign for Fulham and the defender is now at Manchester United and is involved with the England set-up.

Last summer, Parkinson left then Conference South club Welling United to sign for Conference Premier side Woking.

Both clubs will be locking horns against each other again next season after Jamie Day guided the Wings to the Conference South title.

“It’s been a good season for myself,” added Parkinson.  “I have really enjoyed it at Woking.

“It was always hard leaving such a fantastic management set-up at Welling and seeing them go up was fantastic.

“But it’s a very good league, playing at some big grounds and some big clubs has been a good challenge for me and feel we’ve done really well in our first season.  There’s some really good players there and had some really good loan players come in that have helped us do well.

“I have played centre midfield for a lot of the season and finished playing centre half and I’m hoping with a good pre-season under my belt that we will have a great chance of finishing even higher next year.  It’s a great club and one that’s really looking to kick on.”

Despite their status in the top flight of non-league football, Woking are a part-time club and Parkinson revealed that his full-time employment at Maidstone United fits in well.

The former Tonbridge Angels, VCD Athletic player said: “It works out really well with being part-time at Woking, training in the evenings that I can still run the football side of the academy during the day.

“Maidstone are great with me in days I need to leave early for games. It’s something I love doing and being able to combine the both is great for me at the moment.”

When asked about his plans for Maidstone United’s youngsters next season, Parkinson revealed: “Next year within the academy we are taking on another 30 players so will have two teams in the Conference Youth League, one in the Premier and one in the regional division, along with having two sides in the English Colleges League.

“We’ve managed to sign some really good lads ahead of the new season and are still looking to take a few more on.

“If there are lads out there that are interested and want to be involved, they can contact the club at any time.”

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