They think it’s all over… Project Diary

Here are the some diary entries, charting our first visits to the Gallagher Stadium.

23/08/14

Dear Maidstone United fans,
Well, we had a little break and haven’t been to a few matches – which is a shame, because Stones seem to have been on a bit of a winning streak! And today was no different, 1-0 against Bury. Today we were making badges with a load of you – adults and children. It was really fun and we met loads of you who we haven’t met before. We loved seeing which players you wanted on your badges and talking to you about what the club means to you. We also got recognised! That’s right, people are starting to know our ugly mugs (partly because we had a page in the programme this time!). It feels really nice, like a little window into what it’s like to be a real part of the MUFC community…
All the best,
Daisy and Pablo
…………………..

9/08/14

Dear Maidstone United fans,
What a game! Congratulations! It’s fantastic to see you start the season with such energy and confidence. We couldn’t make the game this time, but we looked at the  Match Report on the club’s website (and we think we understood it!). We think we got a picture of how the game went, although what we are most struck with is how poetic football comments can be! It must have felt amazing to be there, and we are looking forward to hearing all about it next time we see you (19th August). Best of luck with the away fixtures! Go Stones!
All the best,
Daisy and Pablo
…………………..

8/08/14

Dear Maidstone United fans,
On our way to Maidstone today on the train, we came across a lovely article in the Metro by Colin Murray. It was titled “THERE’S NO BIG DEBATE – IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU”. Isn’t that a great title? There are a few bits  from the article that we wanted to share with you here: “The biggest fixture in club football is debated ad nauseam (…) The truth is, whatever match your team is playing next.” “The heart of English football beats again this weekend, and a whole Metro newspaper is not enough to sum up every hope, dream and fear.” “Each fixture tells a story for fans.” “The biggest fixture in football? Yours. This weekend. Godspeed and good luck.” The article really seemed to capture the passion we witnessed at our first MUFC game.
For us, today was all about planning: we had a great chat with Ian at the Gallagher stadium and sorted which home fixtures we’ll be coming to, we met up for lunch with Louise and Laura (aka FrancisKnight, the fab production company who are managing the whole ‘The Rise of MUFC’ project), and we went to the Kent Library and History Centre  to meet Mark, the archivist there. Mark showed us around the back of house and the archive store rooms – and to find out about the Maidstone United archive. They have a lovely collection of ephemera (old programmes, newspaper clippings, etc) relating to the club, as well as some really old team photographs (if we rememer correctly, the oldest is from the 1870s!). We are really hoping to be able to bring some copies of these exciting documents along to the games, and chat with you about the past – but especially the future.
Talking of the future, we are really sorry that we won’t be at the game tomorrow. We have a good feeling about it! Enjoy the first game of the season and go get them, Stones!
All the best,
Daisy and Pablo
…………………..

2/08/14 – Meet & Greet & Greet (Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone)

Dear Maidstone United fans,
It was lovely meeting you during the game against Tunbridge Wells (congratulations on the win)! It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining, with only the slightest moment of grey clouds and light drizzle passing quickly.
We set up camp in the shiny airstream caravan (Kent Baton) to meet you all as your poured into the Gallagher Stadium. We are new to football and new to MUFC, and weren’t quite sure what to expect…
The first people we spoke to were a family with three generations of MUFC fans. They chatted to us, and then the granddad reached inside a plastic bag and offered us a peach. A beautiful, round, enormous peach. So our day began with a small act of kindness and generosity from a stranger – and continued in that vein.
Just over 1,000 people attended the game and we must have talked to hundreds of them. Friendly faces, curious to know who we were and what we were doing – what They think it’s all over… is all about. You were all so generous – happy to explain football intricacies, happy to share your stories about the club, happy to try to articulate what it means to be one of you – a MUFC fan.
As football novices, and Maidstone newbies, we were a little nervous. Would a match be intimidating? Would people talk to us? We had nothing to worry about. The atmosphere was fun and open, like a fête or a festival.
We met ‘The Shake’ – who proudly showed us his MUFC tattoos.
We met fans who had followed the club for over 5 decades.
We met old-school supporters, people who rejoined the fan base after the Gallagher Stadium was built, and we met brand new fans for whom this was their first ever match.
We met proud Mums with sons in the league team.
We met a man who was first taken to an MUFC match when he was 16.
We met people who remember the London Road days.
We met lots of young people who play for the club’s many teams.
We met people who had been dragged along by their mates.
We met John (in his cowboy hat).
We met Scottish Tom (who welcomes everyone at the gate).
We even met a steward (who is secretly a Gillingham fan, but loves MUFC nonetheless).
So, we just wanted to say thank you to all of you, especially those who took the time to complete the sentences I am a Maidstone United fan because… and The best thing of being a Maidstone United fan is… (you can see their contributions in the gallery below). We had a great first MUFC match!
We can’t wait to get to work with you all making They think it’s all over…
All the best,
Daisy and Pablo