Josh Hare can see Maidstone challenging his old club Gillingham in the Football League again one day.

Defender Hare grew up at Gills but he’s a Stones man now, joining his hometown team from Eastbourne.

The clubs spent three years together in the old Division 4 from 1989 to 1992 but Gills have been Kent’s only league club ever since.

Hare, 22, said: “There’s definitely potential for Maidstone to catch up with Gills.

“There’s no difference in the professionalism and that sort of thing.

“They could be in the same position as Gills.

“I’ve never seen Maidstone play Gillingham in a pre-season friendly and I guess that’s because of the rivalry between the clubs, so it must still be there.

“It’s probably there more for Maidstone fans than Gills because they’re trying to get to that sort of level.”

A serious knee injury, sustained in a pre-season friendly against Tonbridge, sidelined Hare for a year and ended his time at Gillingham.

But he had a good campaign at Eastbourne in National South, chalking up 50 appearances, to earn a move to Maidstone.

He said: “It’s the perfect move for me, exactly what I wanted in playing another level up and in front of over 3,000 fans, which was a massive factor.

“Whatever tests you and challenges you is what you’re looking for.

“I’m a Maidstone boy, I live in the town centre and it’s a five-minute drive to the ground, which is different from Eastbourne, and the training is very good.

“It was nice for me to get games last season and that was important after the injuries.

“Luckily, where I’m concerned, as much as there is the psychological side of coming back from injury it wasn’t hard in the sense that I had any fear.

“A lot of people do have fear going into tackles but I did my knee with no one around me, so I didn’t have those thoughts. It feels as good as new now.”

Hare can play centre-half or in midfield but he’s primarily a right-back and intends to push Seth Twumasi for the shirt.

Twumasi was excellent for United last season but Hare wants to give manager Jay Saunders a decision to make.

Hare said: “I’ve heard Seth had a really good end to the season.

“It’s good competition and that’s what Jay wanted.

“I think it’ll be close but it’s down to Jay what he thinks and it’s up to me and Seth to show who should play.”