Former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was in the crowd to see his old player George Elokobi lead Maidstone to an FA Cup upset.

Elokobi invited McCarthy to the Gallagher Stadium for the Stones’ third-round tie against Stevenage - and his mentor was only too pleased to accept.

The pair embraced on the pitch before the game, which United won 1-0 to seal a place in round four for the first time.

McCarthy took Elokobi from Colchester to Wolves, winning promotion to the Premier League together in 2009, and they have remained firm friends over the years.

“It was a special moment to have Mick here and I’m sure he’s delighted,” said Stones boss Elokobi.

“He said before the game, ‘I’m honoured to be here to support you, go out there and whatever happens, let your team enjoy the occasion’, and I said, ‘They will gaffer’.

“I’m sure he’s the proudest manager out there to have one of his own players doing what they’re doing now at the start of their managerial career.

“He’s always been there behind the scenes in terms of his support.

“If I need anything in my journey, I’ll speak to him openly and we discuss it and find solutions. He’s a great mentor to have.

“I told him I wanted him here and he said, ‘Yes I’ll be there’, so that’s the sort of relationship we’ve had over the years from working together but also keeping in touch.

“Throughout my footballing career, even after he left Wolves and I left Wolves, we’ve kept in touch and it’s important we keep building that relationship.

“He gave me my chance in the top flight and I’ll forever be indebted to him and I owe all the respect to him.

“He’s the same. He respects what I did for him as a player and he keeps reminding me.

“He keeps saying to me, ‘You never let me down and you didn’t allow anyone to disrespect my environment, just by the way you did things’.

“I’m forever grateful for what he did for me as a player.”