It’s hard to keep the smile off Jerome Binnom-Williams’ face right now.

The popular Maidstone left-back has got his career back on track with a season to remember at the Gallagher.

Loved by team-mates and fans alike, the big man was named supporters’ player-of-the-month for March this week.

It confirmed the affection in which he’s held on the terraces, while boss Hakan Hayrettin describes him as “the loveliest bloke in the world”.

“It feels good to get the award,” said Binnom-Williams, 27.

“All the boys have done really well but I’m happy and grateful the fans have voted for me.

“I’m enjoying my football and playing with a smile on my face.

“I’ve come a long way this season, I’ve had a few ups and downs in football but I’ve really enjoyed it here.

“The boys welcomed me from day one, we’re all brothers, we all speak outside football, we’re so close, and the fans have been brilliant. I love them.

“I haven’t felt like this for a long while in my career.”

Binnom-Williams played in the Football League for clubs including Southend, Peterborough and Chesterfield.

He arrived at the Gallagher from Barnet late in pre-season and was on a month-by-month agreement before eventually signing until the end of the season. It was a situation that brought out the best in him.

“When I came in I wasn’t fully fit and it was a case of getting my fitness and getting into the team,” said Binnom-Williams, who opened the scoring in Saturday's 2-1 win at Chippenham.

“We went month-by-month and then in January the gaffer said we might as well extend to the end of the season, which I was more than happy to do.

“Before that, it made me work even harder to make sure I could stay and keep doing well.

“We had a little bad spell earlier in the season, I was in and out and got injured, and it was a case of making sure that when I got in or when I was training, that I showed the gaffer he could trust me when I was called upon.

“I’ve had a good run of games and I’m really happy.

“I didn’t have the best season last year, and I wanted to make sure this year I got myself really fit and could come in and do well.”

Maidstone are in pole position to win National League South as they head to Dartford on Easter Monday.

They could even afford to draw and stay top but Binnom-Williams said: “We won’t be thinking like that, we want as many points on the board as we can, and we’d love to take three at Dartford.

“We can’t say we’re going to win, because Dartford are a really good team and we’ve got to respect them, but they’ve also got to respect us.

“The boys are full of confidence, we work hard for each other and you can see it in every game.

“It’s crazy how football is. We had a seven-game unbeaten run at the start and then we went through that rough patch, and now look at us - top of the table with five games left.

“Who would have thought that when we were in that rot spot?”