Maidstone United were the non-League team of last year’s FA Cup reaching Round 5, but this year “just” to reach the final Qualifying Round they have been drawn away to Herne Bay in one of the ties of the Round and Bay boss Steve Lovell has been talking to KSN ahead of the tie. 

“We couldn’t have wished for a better draw really,” Lovell admitted to KSN this week.  

“After beating Hendon and beating them convincingly, I thought it would be great to get a decent draw and to get Maidstone at home is probably the best one that we could have got!” 

“Their run last season shows you that it can be done by anyone. You have to be at your best all the time and they were last year to get to that point. We’ve been at our best to reach this stage after starting in the Preliminary Round and if we want to go any further, we will have to play above our best to get a result on Saturday. 

“They are a good side from two leagues above, and George (Elokobi, the Stones boss) has done a great job down there. It is going to be a tough old game but one that we can all enjoy everybody, the supporters, the staff, everyone it is going to be a good day and days like these are what the non-League is all about and cup days are all about. So, I am really looking forward to it!” 

For Isthmian League sides still involved in the competition, it means that they are already falling behind with league games and the Bay are no different!  

“Mark (Lovell’s son and assistant manager) and I worked out in the week that we have already played eleven games only losing once, but only three league games so far, and all three have been away!  

“We have not had a home league game yet and I do not think we have one until the middle of October! The cups have been the first part of our season but its good, I do not mind that as we are still in three cups, so it shows that we have been doing a decent job and that the boys are playing well, and we are looking forward to every game!” 

“As a player, I enjoyed the cup, I got to the Quarter Finals with Millwall. Managing Gillingham, I got to the Fourth Round and beat Cardiff then a Premier League side on the way to losing at Swansea in Round Four. But in non-league, I have not really done as a manger very far in the cup with any of my teams really. So, it will be nice to enjoy this one on Saturday because Herne Bay is a good club run by good people and they deserve a little bit of success.” 

“We’ll go into the game with a fit squad of my eighteen players, all of which I have no problem playing any of them at any time, so we’ve a good camp and it’s a good place to be at the moment as it gives me problems in picking the team as everyone is doing so well!”