Maidstone United are just ninety minutes away from the last eight of the FA Cup and Gillingham lad Luis Binks is looking forward to facing them.

Standing in their way of a Quarter Final place in the Greatest Cup Competition in the World are a Coventry City side that on Monday evening could well include in their number a defender whose career KSN has followed from the MLS to Serie A and now our very own Championship.

What better reason do have to catch up with friend of KSN, Luis Binks. 

To remind you, Luis is on loan at the Coventry Building Society Arena from Serie A giant Bologna, and we asked him how he was enjoying his time after being “sent to Coventry”? “I am loving it”, he told us.

“I have found a club in Coventry that has amazing support, home and away, midweek and weekends it is something else. This league has always been one that I have watched closely growing up as it has everything and being in it you see that. 

City manager Mark Robins has become an increasingly well-respected young boss, and Luis told us when we asked about the boss, “He is great, he is obviously someone who has done so well here at Coventry and within the EFL so to come and work under him as my first manager in England has been brilliant.”

“The coaching staff with him as well have also been a big help to me, it is a good dynamic that we have here.” 

Until Friday’s home defeat at the hands of Preston North End, Coventry were in good form and sitting on the edge of the Championship’s play-off places.

Luis has featured in nearly every squad in the campaign, and he told us, “It has been great for me, the experience I have gained is something that can only help me going forward and for me to have been exposed to it at a young age is great for me.” 

He went on, “My debut away at Hull will always stand out to me as it was obviously my first league game in England but every game has been brilliant as all the clubs are supported well and playing at the CBS Arena with our fans is always a special feeling because the fans make it such a great atmosphere.”

“Going to away games is good because of some iconic grounds such as Elland Road, Stadium of Light, Loftus Road, Carrow Road etc.” 

“Being back home is also nice as it obviously allows me to see my family more often and for them to come to every game home and away.”

“I cannot really compare any other league I have played in to the Championship as it is like no other with how relentless the games are and how thick and fast, they come!” 

And so we came to Monday’s Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round tie, and the Sky Blues have reached the last sixteen after beating Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday, both at home.

Luis has played in all three ties (the Wednesday game settled in a replay), and we asked him his thoughts on the draw when it was made given that Coventry still had to get through.

“For me, the draw was great because obviously where I am from, and I know a few of their boys. Like you say we still had to beat Sheffield Wednesday in the replay so to have done that and now have the chance to play Maidstone is a great chance for us as a team.” 

“It is a great cup to play in because of the history behind it and it is always one of them you watch as a kid and watch closely when it is the draw so to play in it has been special and to play at grounds like Hillsborough on our run has been good.” 

“Maidstone have done brilliantly. They have been written off against the odds in their last three games against three sides who are flying in League Two, League One and the Championship so you cannot look past how well they have done.” 

“Of course, you want to win every match you play in but when you’re playing Maidstone being from Gillingham there is that additional excitement. I know the little “rivalry” between Gillingham and Maidstone, from talking to my family and yourselves, but it has never been something I have heard too much about as obviously Gills have always been the team in Kent.” 

Whilst the Stones are bidding to reach the last eight, City are looking to reach the last eight for just the second time since they won the Trophy itself back in 1987, a fact that is not lost on CCFC in 2024. “We have a great chance to go and do something special in the cup,” Luis conceded.

“I believe with what we have got so that is defiantly something we are wanting to do but obviously need to beat Maidstone before thinking about anything else.