MAIDSTONE United’s Simon Austin has been nominated for The FA’s prestigious FA Cup Player of the Round award after his 2nd qualifying round heroics at the weekend.

Austin’s two second half goals, including a dramatic 89th minute winner, enabled Stones to come from behind to clinch a 2-1 home win over Redbridge, a team three leagues above them.

Austin was nominated for the FA Cup Player of the Round award by Ricky George, football columnist on the Daily Telegraph, one of five football experts on The FA’s Player of the Round panel.

Now Maidstone United fans are being urged to voice their support for Austin by voting in an on-line poll at www.TheFA.com

Fans have just seven days to register their support as votes must be cast by 9am on Monday, October 11.

Austin is one of five players short-listed for The FA Cup Player of the Round award, run in partnership with UMBRO. The others are AFC Wimbledon’s Rob Ursell, Stalybridge Celtic’s Paul Sykes, Lincoln United’s Gary Bull and AFC Newbury’s Lee Chudy.

If he secures the most votes, as well as being crowned ‘Player of the Round’, he will win £1,000 worth of UMBRO football kit and equipment for a local school, club or organisation of his choice. He will also receive an engraved silver salver.

Austin would only be the second player to join The Team of The FA Cup, guaranteeing VIP attendance at The FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday May 21, 2005 and the chance-of-a-lifetime introduction to the crowd, pitch-side at half time.

The other player already guaranteed a place in this season’s Team of The FA Cup is Bishop’s Cleeve FC’s Kevin Slack who scored all five in a 5 - 3 First Qualifying Round win over Highworth Town.

The Team of The FA Cup will comprise Player of the Round winners from the First Qualifying round to the semi final. Last year’s team included five non-league players as well as Premiership stars Jose Antonio Reyes, Freddie Ljungberg and Bruno Cheyrou.

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA’s Director of Football Development, said: “The FA Cup always produces heroic performances that live long in the memory of fans. Simon’s performance at the weekend may not generate the same column inches as a semi-final winning goal, but his outstanding contribution to the competition is something that The FA is delighted to recognise.

“Simon thoroughly deserves to be in the running for The FA Player of the Round award. Now Maidstone United fans have an opportunity to show their support, to try and help Simon win £1,000 worth of UMBRO kit to boost grass roots football in the local community as well as book his place at The FA Cup Final in eight months time.”