Co-owner Oliver Ash dreads the thought of crowd trouble if Maidstone face old rivals Gillingham.

They will meet in the Kent Senior Cup quarter-finals at the Gallagher on October 31 should Gills win a second-round tie against Phoenix on Tuesday.

It would be the first competitive meeting since March 1992 - a 1-1 draw at Watling Sreet in United’s final season in the Football League.

Because of that, there’s bound to be big interest - even if both clubs field weakened sides.

Mr Ash, in his programme notes for Tuesday night’s game against Bromley, spoke of his excitement at the prospect of Maidstone playing Gills for the first time in 25 years.

But he added: “So why then do I feel dread?

“Well it is just possible that a few of our older supporters still harbour some sort of deep-rooted dislike of Gillingham and all who sail in it and will be over-excited by the prospect of us spoiling their evening.

“It is also possible that a few Gillingham supporters will feel the same way about us.

“We all know it only takes one or two twits and a few pints of beer to cause trouble at football.

“As a result we will probably have to police this fixture with far more stewarding and police security than the usual league match.

“Never mind the huge cost of this - the very idea of seeing a big police presence at the Gallagher Stadium fills me with horror as it goes against everything we believe in, namely running a family club for everybody to enjoy their first team matches in security, safety and comfort.

“This fixture could be a big test of where we are as a club.

“Can we enjoy it with all the excitement and the usual banter but without any 80s-style aggro?

“I will be hugely proud of the club if we can and I would rather lose the match without playing it if we can’t.”