Maidstone United enter a new era this week when their players start daytime training.

Pre-season starts on Saturday for Stones, who will then train on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at the Gallagher Stadium.

The latest step towards professional status is a far cry from Jay Saunders’ early days as manager when the club had no training ground at all.

He said: "We had to train at Mote Park and once it got dark, that was it.

"We had to train as early as possible because we were ground-sharing at Sittingbourne and couldn’t use their pitch or organise friendlies.

"We also trained at a school in Rochester that had literally one floodlight and the area it covered was probably the size of the 18-yard box.

"The club have moved on a long way and I’m proud we’ve been able to do it.

"You’ve got to give (owners) Terry Casey and Oliver Ash credit. Every time they’ve had to step up and move the club forward, they’ve done it."

A huge amount of work has gone on to help Stones make the transition from evenings to mornings. Harrison Grant has replaced Paul Booth as fitness coach with the former striker unable to commit to the new hours.

Saunders said: "We’re ready and everyone’s looking forward to it.

"It is a new era and it’s going to be a little bit ‘suck it and see’ for the first month.

"We’re going to try things and they might not be quite right at first.

"Ever since I left Gillingham as a YT, it’s something I always wanted to go back into, full-time football.

"I never got that chance so to be able to do it now is something I’m looking forward to."