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Maidstone United boss John Still repeats his 1989 Kent Senior Cup success

10:12, 17 April 2019

updated: 10:13, 17 April 2019

John Still won his second Kent Senior Cup with Maidstone on Tuesday night - 30 years after lifting his first.

Still was in charge when the Stones beat Welling in the 1989 final at Gillingham, the same day they were confirmed Conference champions.

Three decades on, he saw Maidstone beat Bromley on penalties.

Maidstone head of football Picture: Sean Aidan
Maidstone head of football Picture: Sean Aidan

Still said: "Performances have been a lot better lately and it was good for all the players tonight.

"It's nice to win something and we've won something.

"It's been a disappointing season league-wise but we've shown what we can do.

"We came here a few weeks ago in the league and they were all over us but they weren't tonight - we've made loads of progress, loads of progress.

"I remember the 1989 win - the same day we got promoted after Enfield beat Kettering.

"I like the history and I like coincidence as well, how things can happen twice.

"I'll be honest, I wouldn't have looked upon this particular competition when we first came here, we just focused on the league.

"We were fully aware how hard a task that was but we were committed to changing the structure of the team and the way the team played and it's taken a long while but we've done that.

John Still and Jim Thompson celebrate Maidstone's 1989 promotion and Kent Senior Cup success
John Still and Jim Thompson celebrate Maidstone's 1989 promotion and Kent Senior Cup success

"We're going to lose a lot of these players but even the ones that are still here, they can influence the ones that come and that's the key, to have people here that know what's required."

With Still in the stands, head coach Hakan Hayrettin looked after the team from the dugout and was pleased to reward Stones fans with a trophy.

Hayrettin said: "I said to John, we're going to have a lot of support here and it's important for them to see the hard work that's going in.

"Hopefully we've shown that we've made a difference and that since we've been here they can see the structure we've put in place and the way we're trying to play.

"We care about them, we care about the players, we care about everything.

"We just wanted to give something back to them.

"It isn't nice for any group of supporters that are on the end of relegation, so I'm pleased for them to win a trophy.

"I'm pleased for the players, too, because they needed to end on a high."

Read the match report from Maidstone's Kent Senior Cup success

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