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Weekly’s wrap marks football triumph after ‘roller-coaster ride’

A weekly’s front page wraparound marked a football club’s triumph after a “roller-coaster ride”.

The Kent Messenger cleared both the front and back pages to celebrate the achievement of Maidstone United.

United were promoted to the National League, the fifth level of English football, after topping the table in the National League South.

The wrap showed happy fans of the club, nicknamed ‘The Stones’, celebrating the promotion, with further coverage inside the newspaper from sports reporter Craig Tucker.

KM United

Editor Denise Eaton told HTFP: “There are few stories which would convince the editor to clear both the front and back pages for, but Maidstone United’s breathtaking climb from relegation to title winners – either side of two seasons not completed due to Covid – is most certainly one of them.

“Anyone who has followed the club will know of their roller-coaster ride to this point – they were liquidated and dropped from the Football League at one stage.

“Our readers have shared the delight and despair along the way so it was only fitting to make the most of The Stones glory in securing the National League South crown.

“We’ve had a great relationship with the club since their return to the town and we’ll be marking that 10-year anniversary at the Gallagher Stadium over the summer, too.

“We’re also following it up this week with a souvenir eight-page pullout, written by our excellent Stones reporter Craig Tucker, so fans can look back with pride at the team’s astonishing achievement.”