As thousands of Maidstone United fans make the two-hour, 88 mile, journey to Suffolk to watch a historic fourth-round FA Cup tie against Ipswich, hundreds of Vietnamese nationals will also be supporting the Stones.

Kent football has attracted support from the likes of Denmark and Norway, but one community 6,350 miles away has fallen in love with the National League South side which is aiming to make history as Sean McPolin reports…

Aspiring doctor Nyguen Thien Nhan set up the Maidstone United Supporters’ Club In Vietnam last February having followed the club since its 2021/22 championship season and has connected with hundreds of people around his country as a result.

The 16-year-old, who dreams of visiting the Gallagher Stadium one day when he’s older and can afford it, stumbled across the club and pledged his support when he found out Ex-Premier League defenders George Elokobi – who is now manager – and Chris Smalling played there.

Despite a disappointing season in the National League last year, where Nguyen watched highlights of his favourite players Regan Booty and Jack Barham, who have both since departed, he regularly listens to StonesLive radio – despite a seven-hour time difference.

He was over the moon when he was able to watch Maidstone’s incredible 1-0 Cup win over Stevenage at the beginning of the month as it was aired on Vietnamese TV.

Nguyen, who is also a Spurs’ fan, said: “I started the Vietnamese fan club as I wanted to let Vietnamese people know that there’s an interesting club like Maidstone. I think my page has attracted many football fans in Vietnam and hundreds of them have started supporting the club, especially in the Stevenage match, about 200 viewers were watching it on TV according to the broadcaster.

“My favourite players last season were Booty and Barham, but I love to watch everyone equally. We have a quality squad.”

The student, who has one sister, has only connected with fellow Maidstone United fans online but is hoping to organise a meet-up in the future and watch a game together if it’s aired on TV.

“I’m still a student so I can’t afford a trip to England but I’ll visit there when I grow up and have the money,” he explained.

“I’m preparing to study in a medical university and I want to be a doctor when I’m older. I watch or listen to Maidstone every single match day – including friendlies or Kent Senior Cup matches as I’m a big fan of the club.

“Unfortunately, I can’t afford a match pass on National League TV so I usually listen to the StonesLive and watch the highlights later. But this year’s FA Cup I can watch as a television station in Vietnam broadcasts every cup match since the third round.”

Nguyen isn’t the only sports fan in his family, with his dad a Manchester United supporter. Both also back their local team Ba Ria Vung Tau FC and the national team.

He’s been hoping to get his hands on some Maidstone United merchandise, whether it be a shirt, hat or scarf, for some time but the club doesn’t offer international shipping when ordering online.

He added: “I have a friend who is living in Lancaster and he promises to buy me a Stones’ shirt when he comes back to Vietnam.”

The youngster loves Harry Kane, despite his move to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, as he’s a striker himself and plays.

Speaking about his favourite Maidstone players, he said: “It’s a hard question as I really like the way Lucas Covolan, George Fowler, Matt Rush, Sam Corne, Paul Appiah, Conor Kelly play on the field.

“It’s amazing, but it’s a pity that Levi Amantchi has left. I think we’re doing well in the league. We’ve just lost seven out of 27 matches – that’s fine. I hope we can improve our position in the future and achieve promotion at the end of the season.

Sadly, Nyguen won’t be able to attend the historic fourth-round tie against Ipswich this weekend, but thousands of Stones’ fans are set to make the trip despite train problems.

Long queues have formed as some season ticket holders arrived two hours before they went on sale to make sure they got one.

Angela Racklack and David White have been supporters for years and were at the stadium in James Whatman Way to secure their tickets.

Angela said: “I can’t wait for the Ipswich game. It’s going to be a big game for the club; win or lose it’ll be about the excitement and atmosphere of the day.”

The game is being broadcast on BBC1 at 12.30pm and can be watched in Vietnam on FPT and MyTV.

Elsewhere in the county, Dartford FC captured the heart of a Danish man who ‘took’ the club from the sixth tier of English football to European and international dominance.

Mikkel Enemark, 44, has spent the last 11 years playing Football Manager – a hugely popular football management simulation computer game – and in that time has played 29,669 games, winning 237 league titles and 1,488 individual awards in the process.

Neighbouring Norway has some football fans with a soft sport for Kent football as well, with a small Facebook group being made up to follow the progress of Isthmian League Premier Division’s Folkestone Invicta.

The page, which has 62 members, has regular posts from Trond Trevland, who wrote “yet another victory” after the team’s 2-0 win against Enfield this month.

Fellow supporter Andre Hønsvall added: “Going forward now.”