Bill Williams says it’s a privilege and an honour to be awarded a testimonial by Maidstone United.

Williams’ 50-year association with the Stones will be marked at the Gallagher Stadium tomorrow night (Friday, 7.30pm).

Old favourites including Alex Flisher, Tom Mills and Stuart Lewis are set to appear as Williams takes to the dugout one last time.

He’ll be assisted by Peter Taylor and they’ll be up against a side managed by Jay Saunders and Steve Watt on what will be a special night for a club great.

“It’s like everything, the day you walk in, you never think I’m going to be here in 50 years’ time, let alone next year, but it’s happened,” said Williams, who first joined the Stones in 1972 as a player from Gillingham.

“It’s been a good association, with a couple of hiccups and bad times, but the majority of it has been wonderful.

“It’s never been a hardship to come into work at Maidstone United, no matter what’s going on.

“I’ve been lucky because there’s very few people in life who say they enjoy going to work every day.

“I was never expecting to have a testimonial, it wasn’t something I’d thought about.

“I was a bit reluctant to accept it at first but Terry (Casey, co-owner) turned round and said, ‘Look, you’ve been involved here for 50 years, maybe 40 years actually working, so why not?’

“It’s a huge privilege, an honour, that the club have bestowed this on me.”

Williams, who turns 80 next month, spent a decade in South Africa and America before returning to manage United in 1982.

He led them to Alliance Premier title glory in 1984 - now the National League - and oversaw promotion to the Football League as general manager in 1989.

He briefly managed the Stones in their final year as a Football League side before going bust in 1992.

After reforming, Williams was a central figure in Oliver Ash and Terry Casey’s takeover and, as chief executive, played a key role in bringing Maidstone back to their own ground in the town after a 24-year absence.

His playing career in the Football League took in the likes of Portsmouth, QPR and Mansfield, but there’s something about Maidstone.

“It’s like when you have a relationship,” said Williams. “There’s a series of things that happen over time and you either fall in love with them or you fall out with them.

“In Maidstone’s case, all the relationships I’ve built up over the years, as a player, taking them to the Football League, going out of business, working behind the scenes to make sure we brought the team back, winning all these leagues, getting relegated, the big FA Cup games against Watford, Sheffield United and Stevenage, all these huge occasions, the club becomes part of you.

“My wife always says I think more of the football club than I do of her! It’s not true but she thinks it is.

“Perhaps there is that element of me that does have too much fondness for the club but football does that.

“I’m still the same, even when I watch our under-8s play, I want to see every team that’s got the amber black on winning.

“It was a wonderful achievement for Hakan (Hayrettin, the manager) and the team to win the National South but straight away you’re thinking how are going to improve, how are we going to get things right next year?

“You’re looking to evolve and get better and I still haven’t lost that deep embedded desire to win football matches and have the best players.”

Preparation for Maidstone’s return to the National League has given Williams plenty to think about.

His remaining ambition is to see the club back in the Football League one day. It won’t be easy but nothing’s impossible.

“I think my burning desire still remains the same, I’ve always wanted Maidstone United to be in the Football League,” said Williams.

“I know it’s becoming more and more difficult, for all clubs at our level, because of the huge financial demands of it all.

“I’d like to see us find a way to hold our own at this level for a couple of seasons and then get ourselves in the Football League because I do believe this part of Kent could support a league club.

"Maidstone, I think, has got the potential of a 4-6,000 crowd.

“Whether or not I’ll still be involved, whether Mother Nature will allow that to happen or one day whip my feet from under me, I don’t know. Only time will tell.”

Entry to Williams’ testimonial is £15 adults and £10 juniors. Gates open at 6pm and there will be a parade of ex-managers and players at half-time.