An old rivalry will be renewed this evening when Maidstone United entertain Gillingham in the Kent Reliance Senior Cup Quarter Final.

The history between the two local sides goes back a long way with clashes in the 80s and 90s still spoken about today.

This evening a big crowd is expected at The Gallagher Stadium with both teams set to field strong sides for the clash.

With Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders having admitted he will play a relatively strong side, Steve Lovell seems set to do the same with The Gills, although he may hand starts to the likes of Stuart Nelson, Alex Lacey, Greg Cundle and Conor Wilkinson.

Following Joe Pigott’s move to AFC Wimbledon, The Stones will be lacking in firepower for the clash, but both teams will certianly be looking to give it their all in the Kent FA competition.

Fans of a certain age will undoubtedly remember the clashes between the two teams with the Boxing Day match at Priestfield in 1989 still spoken about in Maidstone with the Stones coming out on top 2-1 in the Division Four game that day.

Gillingham fans will point to wins in the league in 1990 and the Leyland DAF Cup later that year and victory in the Autoglass Trophy twelve months later, but that all counts for nothing when the two teams take the 3G surface this evening.

With no competitive fixture between the two teams for over 25 years, tonight’s game will go a long way to giving one or the other the bragging rights for some time to come.