Maidstone will give National League champions Lincoln a guard of honour at the Gallagher tonight.

The Imps are in town three days after clinching the title and a return to the Football League.

There’ll be a party atmosphere with United fans still buzzing after clinching safety a week ago and 600 away supporters set to make the journey south.

Stones manager Jay Saunders has known Lincoln boss Danny Cowley for years and couldn’t be happier for him.

He’s hoping a big crowd will welcome the champions and give United the support they deserve as they look to go 10th in the table.

Saunders said: “Danny’s someone I’ve got a lot of time for. I speak to him regularly and I’m looking forward to seeing him.

“They’ve had a hell of a season, an unbelievable season with the cup run and everything. It’s been one of those perfect seasons.

“Hopefully we can get a good crowd. I’m not saying we’ll get capacity 4,000 but I hope we can get over the 3,000 mark because, one, I think it would be nice for them as champions but, two, I think it would be nice for our boys.

“The run we’ve been on, for a part-time team to go one defeat in 13/14 games it would be really good if we could get a good crowd down there.

“Those Tuesday night games at the Gallagher are always good atmospheres and if we win it we can go 10th, which would be an unbelievable achievement.”

Lincoln have won 30 of their 44 league games and also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in Cowley’s first season in charge.

Saunders said: “I think he’s gone in there and worked very hard. They’re a big club.

“I think Danny will say they were a bit of a sleeping giant, I don’t think he probably realised how big a club they were. He’s gone in there and done what he does.

“He works very hard at it. I think probably the fact they were a full-time club, and then getting a part-time manager, I think he’s gone in there and really appreciated what he’s got to work with and that always helps.

“People can say they weren’t the best team in the league or whatever but they are the best team in the league. Over 40-odd games they’re top of that table."