Maidstone United’s new signing narrowly missed out on promotion last season but has high hopes of making a success of it next time around.

Ben Brookes, 23, joined the Stones this week after spending the last season and a half with Chelmsford City.

City finished second in National League South last season, losing out to Braintree Town in the play-offs.

The Stones finished just a point behind Chelmsford last season and Brookes remembers the games against his new club well.

“It was very hard to play against (Maidstone) last season, a very tough team,” he recalled, in conversation with Stones TV.

“We did really well (last season) and got to the semi-finals. I was delighted with my performances but we couldn’t get over the edge. Maybe here at Maidstone I will be able to do it this year.

“(Now I am here) I am very excited. It’s a great stadium and the fans are very good - when I played here last season they were something else!

“I want to try and win this league next season, whether we do it in the play-offs or not, I want to be up there, that’s my goal, my hunger is winning, game in, game out.”

Brookes played as a junior for his boyhood team West Ham and can play anywhere down the left, in defence or midfield, and has an attack-minded mentality.

He played 50 games last season. His previous clubs include Tower Hamlets, Hashtag United, Great Wakering Rovers and Basildon United.