{"id":1868,"date":"2020-04-18T17:28:38","date_gmt":"2020-04-18T16:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/?p=1868"},"modified":"2025-06-10T18:04:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T17:04:17","slug":"watling-street-maidstone-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/index.php\/1990s\/watling-street-maidstone-united\/","title":{"rendered":"WATLING STREET &#8211; MAIDSTONE UNITED"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-style-stripes wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Only County Visit:<\/td><td>Wednesday 13th March 1991<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Competition:<\/td><td>Barclays League Division 4 &#8211; (Tier 4)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Result:<\/td><td>Maidstone United 2 &#8211; 3 Stockport County<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Attendance:<\/td><td>1,412<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Away Trip:<\/td><td>51<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Away Day:<\/td><td>208<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>County Line-up<\/td><td>1 David Redfern; 2 Malcolm Brown; 3 Paul R Williams; 4 Andy Thorpe; 5 Tony Barras; 6 Alan Finley; 7 Jim Gannon; 8 Neil Matthews; 9 Paul A Williams; 10 Chris Beaumont; 11 David Frain<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Scorers:<\/td><td>Chris Beaumont; Neil Matthews; Paul A Williams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Manager:<\/td><td>Danny Bergara<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>County Visits:<\/td><td>1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n<a class=\"maxbutton-11 maxbutton maxbutton-subtitle\" href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class='mb-text'>BIG WILLOW WINS A MOVE<\/span><\/a>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignwide has-background wp-block-media-text has-very-light-gray-background-color\" style=\"grid-template-columns:18% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"727\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-727x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1869 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-727x1024.jpg 727w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-107x150.jpg 107w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-768x1081.jpg 768w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-1091x1536.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-1455x2048.jpg 1455w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/50-Watling-Street-Maidstone-United-scaled.jpg 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Nigh on six months had passed since the trip to South Wales and two since the first visit to the Bescot Stadium.&nbsp; <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Those six months had involved 12 more away days but all to the familiar environs of places like Edgar Street; Millmoor; Gresty Road; Turf Moor and other points north.&nbsp; Mid March saw us in 8<sup>th<\/sup> place, 14 points adrift of leaders Darlington, with 15 games to play.&nbsp; However the recent form had not been encouraging, and after a 5-1 demolition of Halifax in mid January which saw us in the promotion places the subsequent 7 games had yielded but 7 points.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">So it was with slim expectation of a positive outcome, but more than a little interest in visiting a new ground that Arthur Brotherton and I set out down south to Watling Street Dartford to see us take on Maidstone United.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Over the years there have been visits to a series of temporary homes.&nbsp; The Moss Rose when Chester had vacated Sealand Road and were awaiting the construction of the Deva; Twerton Park for Bristol Rovers; the Victoria Ground Bromsgrove where serial itinerants Worcester City found lodgings and Whaddon Road who hosted Gloucester City.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">All of these are still extant, but Watling Street was not only temporary for Maidstone but also for the landlords, Dartford.&nbsp; Not much longer than 12 months after this visit, both Maidstone and Dartford had folded and the ground quickly became a housing estate.&nbsp; Maidstone had overstretched themselves \u2013 a combination of rent payable and a significant deterioration in gates made the whole thing unviable.&nbsp; They took a gamble and paid \u00a3400k for some land back in Maidstone, but failed to get planning permission, and with mounting debts folded only 53 weeks after this game.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">They were the first to go mid-season since Accrington 30 years previously and sadly for the Dartford supporters took them with them.&nbsp; Having spent \u00a3500k bringing the ground up to scratch Maidstone then managed the to pass the cost, (and the associated debts), onto Dartford and they went under a matter of months later.&nbsp; Our path did cross with both successor clubs nearly 30 years later, but more of that anon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Maidstone had been promoted to the League in 1989 and one of their first home games had featured County.&nbsp; It wasn\u2019t a game I got to.&nbsp; Early September still saw my Saturday afternoons occupied by cricket, although that wasn\u2019t to last much longer.&nbsp; Robert had arrived a few months earlier and the time demands of playing in the Central Lancashire League, (involving virtually every Saturday and Sunday from late April until mid September), were simply too much in the context of the additional family responsibilities.&nbsp; The Stones home ground since 1898 had been at the Athletic Ground, but fears that the aged stadium was unfit for league football and the anticipated crowds had seen them find a temporary home at Dartford \u2013 a move which was to prove fateful and indeed fatal for both landlord and tenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Watling Street is a famous name to students of Roman Britain.&nbsp; It provided the route from Dover and thereabouts to St Albans and further points north and seeking to cross the Thames headed up to London from the far southeast. Presumably the road that ran past the ground was that self same thoroughfare.  Images of legions; centurions and so on might have come to mind as Arthur and I drew up an hour or so before the game but in reality they were far from our mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignwide has-background wp-block-media-text has-very-light-gray-background-color\" style=\"grid-template-columns:18% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"306\" src=\"http:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Mark-Payne.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1870 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Mark-Payne.png 250w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Mark-Payne-245x300.png 245w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Mark-Payne-123x150.png 123w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">The immediate thought was to find the players entrance and try and make contact with Mark Payne, (left), a reasonably constant feature of the midfield from 1988 to 1991.&nbsp;  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Born in Cheltenham he had arrived at EP from Dutch football, having spent 7 years with SC Cambuur.&nbsp; Now Arthur worked at Ringway, (more commonly known as Manchester International Airport), for the Dutch airline KLM, and had met Payne on a flight back from the Netherlands.&nbsp; To cut a long story short a deal had been struck between the pair of them which involved Arthur gathering together the Dutch newspapers left on the flights into Manchester and letting Payne have them.&nbsp; The quid pro quo for which was the provision of a couple of \u201ccomps\u201d for games in far flung places.&nbsp; And Dartford was deemed to be sufficiently far-flung.&nbsp; So a whole sheaf of papers had lain on the back seat of the car on the way down and sure enough after a 5 minute wait at the gate the exchange was made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">The ground looked to be the best place to get some pre-match refreshment and there was a Supporters Club under the stand \u2013 garlanded in Dartford regalia, with little evidence of their temporary tenants.&nbsp; Arthur tucked into his normal 3 or 4 pre-match pints whilst yours truly, conscious of a 200+ mile drive later that evening, was content with a brew and a peruse of the programme.&nbsp; We took our places in the Main Stand, noting a smattering of travelling faithful in various parts of the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">The Main Stand was reasonable impressive, but the rest of the ground had seen better days.&nbsp; A barely discernible pathway behind the goal to our left, and at the opposite end uncovered terracing.&nbsp; There was a small covered stand along the far touchline, but even with pretty limited facilities it was hardly tested by the 1,412 hardy souls who had ventured out.&nbsp; Presumably a 45 mile round trip, and a league standing only just above the dreaded relegation line had thinned out the interest of the homesters, and a 450 mile trip for the visitors on a Wednesday evening were more than contributory factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignwide has-background wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-very-light-gray-background-color\" style=\"grid-template-columns:38% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"593\" height=\"301\" src=\"http:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-Main-Stand-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6761 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-Main-Stand-2.jpg 593w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-Main-Stand-2-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-Main-Stand-2-150x76.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Watling Street &#8211; Main Stand<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">As it turned out the game was pivotal in County\u2019s season.&nbsp; From a position of 8<sup>th<\/sup> place at kick-off, the win was the first of 11 in 15 games which culminated in a promotion sealed with a 5-0 home win over Scunthorpe on the final day. It was marked by a tremendous goal from Paul A Williams after strikes from Neil Matthews and Chris Beamont.&nbsp; Some may suggest that William\u2019s goal was the precursor to a surprising move to West Brom 15 days later, although a wonder goal against Rochdale 2 days before his move had probably more significance. &nbsp;The move might have been surprising but the fee was even more so.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignwide has-background wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-very-light-gray-background-color\" style=\"grid-template-columns:38% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"476\" src=\"http:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace-1024x476.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6762 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace-1024x476.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace-150x70.jpg 150w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace-768x357.jpg 768w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace-1536x714.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-side-terrace.jpg 1664w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Watling Street &#8211; covered terrace opposite the Main Stand<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Williams had arrived at the start of the season after leaving Hartlepool and had proved to be a decent acquisition, (ending with 15 goals from 26 games).&nbsp; But an upwards move of 2 Divisions from a Tier 4 side, with a deal done in the dying minutes before the transfer deadline smacked of desperation from the Baggies.&nbsp; Tales have been told that WBA signed the wrong player.&nbsp; I suspect they are apochryphal but it makes for a good story.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">That season County had 3 Williams two of which had the same forename but the difference couldn\u2019t be much greater.&nbsp; \u201cPaul A\u201d was well over 6\u2019 tall, a striker, and white.&nbsp; \u201cPaul R\u201d was a diminutive 5\u20193\u201d, a full back and black, and was a regular in the team and had contributed more than successfully.&nbsp; Both played in that game against Rochdale at which Bobby Gould, Albion supremo at the time was present.&nbsp; By all accounts he called 48 hours later and offered the staggering sum of \u00a3250k for Paul Williams!&nbsp; Whether or not he got the right one will probably never, ever, be revealed, but it didn\u2019t turn out well for the striker.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignwide has-background wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-very-light-gray-background-color\" style=\"grid-template-columns:38% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"103\" src=\"http:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-end-terrace.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6763 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-end-terrace.jpg 200w, https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Maidstone-United-Watling-Street-end-terrace-150x77.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Terrace behind the goal looking left from the Main Stand <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">He had an unhappy time at the Hawthorns, albeit that half a dozen games into the 1991\/92 campaign, with Albion having been relegated and County promoted the two sides met at the Hawthorns and with depressing certainty it was Williams that got Albion\u2019s winner!!&nbsp; (Strangely enough this game featured as the next Away Trip!!).&nbsp; 16 months later he returned to EP for a tenth of the price, and promptly scored as County demolished the Baggies 5-1.&nbsp; He never struck the same heights again and after 3 goals in 16 games moved on to Rochdale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">With Maidstone\u2019s financial oblivion it looked as though this would be the last encounter.&nbsp; However, some 28 years later the phoenix club which had returned to its home town roots visited EP in an FA Trophy tie.&nbsp; It ended in a draw with a replay in Kent 3 days later.&nbsp; Sadly health grounds prevented me making this trip, which was a pity as it would have been a \u201cnew ground\u201d, (The Gallagher Stadium), and a victory to boot!&nbsp; I did however, make it to the reborn Dartford, and their new home at Princes Park for a Conference game only a matter of weeks before the drop into the 6<sup>th<\/sup> Tier.&nbsp; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/index.php\/2010s\/princes-park-dartford\/\">Away Trip 142 will tell more.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">April 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#ffffff\" class=\"has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color\"><strong>VISITS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"is-style-stripes wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Day<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Date<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Competition<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Tier \/ Round<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Opponents<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Res<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>F<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>A<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Crowd<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Away Day<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wed<\/td><td>13\/03\/91<br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DEo1am2qrS8&amp;t=4408s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Highlights)<\/a><\/strong><\/td><td>Barclays League Division 4<\/td><td>Tier 4<\/td><td>Maidstone United<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">W<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">1,412<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">208<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#ffffff\" class=\"has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color\"><strong>ON MY JOURNEY WITH COUNTY AROUND 180 GROUNDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\">..<\/p>\n\n\n<a class=\"maxbutton-9 maxbutton maxbutton-previous-away\" href=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/index.php\/1990s\/bescot-stadium-walsall\"><span class='mb-text'>Previously &#8211; BESCOT STADIUM<\/span><\/a>\n\n<a class=\"maxbutton-10 maxbutton maxbutton-next-away\" href=\"https:\/\/57hattersyears.co.uk\/index.php\/1990s\/the-hawthorns-west-bromwich-albion\"><span class='mb-text'>Next stop &#8211; THE HAWTHORNS<\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Only County Visit: Wednesday 13th March 1991 Competition: Barclays League Division 4 &#8211; (Tier 4) Result: Maidstone United 2 &#8211; 3 Stockport County Attendance: 1,412 Away Trip: 51 Away Day: 208 County Line-up 1 David Redfern; 2 Malcolm Brown; 3 Paul R Williams; 4 Andy Thorpe; 5 Tony Barras; 6 Alan Finley; 7 Jim Gannon; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1990s"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>57 Hatters Years : WATLING STREET - MAIDSTONE UNITED<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Stockport County - a single visit for me to Watling Street back in 1991. 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