MAIDSTONE United FC are to enjoy their greatest level of national publicity since leaving the Football League in 1992. The bosses of BBC's Football Focus programme have selected Stones’ FA Cup match at Ramsgate to launch this season’s Road To Cardiff.

The kick-off time for the extra preliminary round game at Rams’ Southwood ground on August 24 has been brought forward from 3pm to 12.30pm to accommodate the BBC which will carry interviews with club players and officials and record highlights for the following week’s show.

Club chairman Paul Bowden-Brown says national television coverage will provide a massive boost to the reformed club which won the double last season in their first year as a Kent League club.

He added: “The fact the FA and the BBC feel our involvement in the FA Cup is such a worthwhile story shows how more and more people are being involved in the rebirth of Maidstone United.

"The bandwagon is well and truly rolling now and this type of news is great for our supporters, especially those who have stayed with the club since 1992."