IT’S THE BIG ONE!

Santa will have been and gone. Maybe a few hangovers will be nursed, but it’s Boxing Day, it’s Derby Day and all the anticipation that comes with the fixture.

Both teams enter the Christmas period in good form, a rich vein of form in Maidstone United’s case, but for ourselves, it is not so shabby either!

This is the sixth A26 derby in the league since we won promotion to National League South in 2019. It is always a special occasion with a big atmosphere. It's the third of the six to take place at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium on Boxing Day.

All fears from Maidstone United fans of a poor season have been forgotten as, after losing 5-1 at home to Chelmsford City in the first week of September, the Stones have not lost a league game since, a run stretching to 15 games. Saturday's impressive 4-0 win over Farnborough put them fifth, four points behind leaders Torquay United and four points above the Angels having played a game more. Although Maidstone have lost cup ties at Horsham and Solihull Borough this season, they haven't lost a league game away since losing to Truro City, in Gloucester, in April.

After making a fair few changes to their squad during the close season, they made a quiet start, winning just one of their first seven, but made crucial additions including Antony Papadopoulos from Crawley Town, the returning Matt Rush from Sutton United and Sol Wanjau-Smith from Bath City and, since the return from injury of the man who created the highlight of last Christmas, Jordan Higgs, Maidstone haven't looked back.

Higgs needs little introduction to Angels’ fans. Last season's Player of the Year here at Longmead, he moved to the Stones in the summer, but left us with the memory of last year's stunning late equaliser in this fixture. Bivesh Gurung is also a former Tonbridge player, although his time at Longmead is less memorable, playing just 45 minutes during a loan spell in 2022/23.

Papadopoulos plays in an attacking midfield role and scored his sixth goal of the season at the weekend. He is on loan from Crawley Town and has previously played against the Angels for Welling United. Wanjau-Smith returned to the club from Bath City having been in the Stones side last season. Matt Rush returned on loan from Sutton United having been a Stones player for much of last season. Having had a brief spell at Tonbridge during covid from Southend United, he has proved himself to be a consistent goalscorer in National League South at Aveley and Braintree Town, while Aaron Blair is the Stones' top scorer with 13. He was a summer signing from Braintree where he scored the goals which helped the Essex side reach the National League's top division last season.

The five derbies since promotion have resulted in three Maidstone wins and two draws. Last season's game here ended 1-1 with Rush scoring for Maidstone and, as mentioned, Higgs levelling late for Tonbridge.

Our last win against Maidstone was a Kent Senior Cup tie in February 2022, Adam Coombes scoring in a 1-0 win. Our last league win was in August 2014 when Alex Teniola scored in stoppage time for a 1-0 win to coin the hashtag TeniolaTime. Coincidentally, Teniola played for Hashtag United last season!

The Angels form going into Boxing Day has been good with only one defeat in eight games. Following Saturday’s resolute performance and hard-earned point at Boreham Wood, Jay Saunders looked forward to the Boxing Day encounter: “I look forward to every game at the moment, I’m enjoying it, and we are on a good run. We had the blip against Enfield Town, Maidstone are flying at the moment, they haven’t been beaten away from home, so that adds a little incentive for us and, obviously, we want to keep among that pack and try to get amongst it. It is a big game for us, it means a lot to the fans and we will prepare right and go from there.”

The game is ALL TICKET and there is no provision to purchase on the turnstile. Admission prices are Adults £17 Concessions £14 Youths £7 U12s Free with accompanying adult and can be purchased HERE. Tonbridge supporters in need of paper tickets have one last chance to obtain them from the club shop between 10am and 12 midday on Christmas Eve. The match will be segregated with Angels supporters occupying and entering at the South end of the stadium (turnstiles adjacent to the Upz and Downz cafe) and Maidstone fans the North (Marquee end). There has been Spectator Guidance published and that can be viewed HERE whilst the stadium regulations can be read HERE. All is contained in the guidance but it’s important to emphasise that any supporters found to be in the opposition end will be ejected from the stadium.

Supporters are also advised that once the car park is full the car park gates will be closed.

Gates will open from 10.30am with extra food and drink outlets in place in addition to the Sports Bar, Tea Hut and Pie Shack and after the game, for a period of time, the Sports Bar will remain open.

Sponsoring the game will be Michael Canham and Family and we hope they enjoy their afternoon.

Our award-winning programme is available from the Programme Hut, priced at £3 and will feature columns from Jay Saunders, club captain Scott Wagstaff and board member Geoff Curtis with Half-Term Reports from our Women, Academy and U18 teams.

Enjoy the game!