A PLAYER once-deemed surplus to requirements by Maidstone United has been handed the chance to play international football for New Zealand.

One-time Staplehurst resident Adrian Webster left the Stones two years ago. "I went back to Australia," Webster explained. "I was playing out there for a while and was due to stay, but I did my knee in. I came back here and Darlington picked me up."

Webster left United after a furious touchline argument with the then-manager Jim Ward. He had to be restrained from attacking the Scot after being substituted during a 1-1 draw with Herne Bay.

He left the club soon afterwards but says he bears Ward no ill will: "He was very passionate and so was I but it was one of those things. I still speak to him and I still look for Maidstone’s results.

"I’m good friends with Richard Sinden, but he’s left now and I don’t know how many of the others are still there. I enjoyed that season (2001/2002)."

He joined Darlington earlier this season and made 18 appearances in League 2.

The Quakers released 10 players this week, but Webster was rewarded with a new one-year contract. He was also called into the New Zealand squad ahead of their friendly with Australia in London on June 9.

Ironically Webster was nicknamed "Oz" during his Maidstone days because of his Australian accent. "It is a bit odd, he admitted, but I was born in New Zealand, I just moved to Australia, I was never eligible to play for them - I always wanted to play for New Zealand."

Kiwi coach Ricki Herbert has been casting his net wide in an attempt to strengthen a traditionally weak soccer nation who have only qualified for one World Cup (Spain 1982) in their history.

New Zealand soccer official John McGrath explained: "Webster has been the subject of a 'talent identification program'. Up until now the only question we asked of possible players was, 'Is he warm?'"

Stones chairman Paul Bowden Brown wished his former player well: "He was always criticised for his attitude because he thought he was better than everyone else. He got frustrated because Jim didn’t pick him - he wasn’t one of his boys.

"But he’s proved that he was right. I first met him at Faversham and he was a great guy. He buckled down when he was told to and he was great to watch when you could see him running."