Welcome & Introduction

Join us in celebrating The Rise of Maidstone United!

Maidstone United Football Club, Kent History and Library Centre, and MidKent College have joined forces to tell the story of Maidstone’s football team and to spread the word about the enjoyment you can get from books and reading. With the help of a grant from Arts Council England and support from arts organisation FrancisKnight, we are commissioning a limited edition book and an exhibition that capture the history of the football club in words and photographs. We want to share the excitement of the club’s story with the whole community and help record this historic episode for posterity.

Take a look at our programme of fantastic football-inspired events and activities for all the family at the state of the art Kent History and Library Centre and the stunning new Gallagher Stadium, home of Maidstone United Football Club. We’ve already welcomed author Helena Pielichaty and poet-performer Paul Cookson as well as Peter Taylor, one of Maidstone United’s old boys. There’s more to come. Theatre company Accidental Collective will be making a new performance with and for Maidstone United Football Club and its fans. Plus we have drop in sessions to chat and share your memories of Maidstone United through the years.

Get involved and help make this a celebration to remember.

We look forward to seeing you!

KCC Libraries, Registration and Archives www.kent.gov.uk/riseofmaidstoneunited

Photographs by Maria Coombes

A Maidstone United History GroupWhether or not its historic archives are discovered, Maidstone United’sarchive could, like the club itself, begin again. The present story can bearchived, using modern techniques like oral history. Anyone interested inmaking history? Mark Bateson, Community History Officer, is happy tosupport a Maidstone United archives or history group.

Contact Mark Bateson on 01622 696415 or email Mark.Bateson@kent.gov.uk

Archives and Artefacts Exhibition8th November-6th December, usual opening hoursFree, Kent History and Library Centre We will be mounting a special display of archives and artefacts relatingto local football. The exhibition will consist of material held at theKent History and Library Centre, with some special items borrowed from theNational Football Museum in Manchester, and a selection of items thatappear as a result of our appeal for information about Maidstone United.

Football ChatThursday 18th September 10.30am-12.00pm, Saturday 29th November 10am-2pmFree drop-in activity, Kent History and Library CentreJoin us for coffee and a chat about your memories of Maidstone United through the years.

Football Programmes Saturday 18th October 10am-2pmFree-drop-in activity, Kent History and Library Centre Have you ever wondered whether your treasured football programmes are being stored and preserved correctly? Come and talk to the conservation team, who will explain how best to look after them.

Maidstone United ArchivesAs far as we know the present club possesses no historic archives. The Kent History and Library Centre are keen to track down and digitise relevant programmes, photographs and any other memorabilia that might exist in the community and make this material available in the Archive Centre. Contact Debbie Saunders 01622 694458

Reminiscence & Memories Reminiscence & Memories

Meet the CaptainAutumn Half TermLook out for an opportunity to come and meet Steve Watt, captain of Maidstone United, at the Kent History and Library Centre. Bring the family to find out what it is like to be a professional footballer.

They Think It’s All Over….Final Performance Saturday 18th OctoberAccidental Collective, a theatre company based in Kent, are making a new performance with and for Maidstone United Football Club and its fans. Final performance will be at the Gallagher Stadium. To get involved go to: http://www.accidentalcollective.co.uk/projects/theythinkitsallover/

One Read - A Medal for LeroySaturday 27th SeptemberFree event, Gallagher StadiumTake part in a mass read of A Medal for Leroy by Michael Morpurgo. An unusual and wonderful tale for children inspired by the true story of Lieutenant Walter Tull, Tottenham Hotspur footballer and first black officer in the British army. Pick up a copy at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium. Suitable for age 9+

The Big Draw with Illustrator Mark BarnesSaturday 4th October 10.00am-12.30pm and 2.00-4.30pm Tickets £2.50 per person, per session, Suitable for 12-16 year oldsMark Barnes is an illustrator, graphic designer and writer. Join Mark for a comic workshop where participants can draw simple comic strips, designing characters and settings with prepared scripts as inspiration.

Talks, Workshops & Exhibition

Tom PalmerWednesday 3rd DecemberTom Palmer, children’s author of books about football, will be offering a fun workshop ‘including a penalty shoot out’ to local schools at the Kent History and Library Centre.

The Rise of Maidstone United ExhibitionExhibition 8th November-6th DecemberFree, Kent History and Library Centre, during usual opening hoursTo celebrate the Rise of Maidstone United a limited edition book and exhibition by writer Steve Tasane and photographer Malcolm Glover will be shown at the Kent History and Library Centre.

Malcolm Glover is a documentary photographer who has been commissioned to capture the various aspects of Maidstone United from the fans and players to the support staff and the managers. He has exhibited at locations such as the National Portrait Gallery, Corner House, Photofusion, the Towner Gallery and the Independent Photographers Gallery.

Steve Tasane is an experienced writer, with a current three-book deal writing young adult fiction for Walker Books. “My main interest is in producing work that is accessible to people, and brings a non-traditional readership to fiction. Football has its own unique language, and every fan is a natural born storyteller.”

Talks, Workshops & Exhibition

They Think It’s All Over Saturdays 23rd, 30th August, Tuesday 9th, Saturday 27th September & Sunday 5th October.Free activity sessions with Accidental CollectiveGallagher Stadium

Football ChatThursday 18th September: 10.30am-12.00pm Free, drop-in activityKent History and Library Centre

One Read - A Medal for LeroySaturday 27th SeptemberFree, Gallagher Stadium

The Big Draw with Illustrator Mark BarnesSaturday 4th October 10.00am-12.30pm and 2.00-4.30pm Tickets £2.50 per person per sessionKent History and Library Centre

Football ProgrammesSaturday 18th October 10am-2pmFree, drop-in activity Kent History and Library Centre

Meet The CaptainAutumn Half TermFree, Kent History and Library Centre

Football ChatSaturday 29th November 10am-2pmFree drop-in activity, Kent History and Library Centre

Diary / Events Listings

Archives and Artefacts ExhibitionSaturday 8th November-Saturday 6th DecemberFreeKent History and Library CentreOpen during usual opening hours

The Rise of Maidstone United ExhibitionExhibition; Saturday 8th November-Saturday 6th DecemberFree, Kent History and Library Centre Open during usual opening hours

Unless otherwise stated all tickets can be booked and paid for by:

Calling in by person to The Kent History and Library CentrePhoning: 0300 041 3131Or emailing: historyandlibrarycentre@kent.gov.uk

Venues

Kent History and Library CentreJames Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQContact number: 0300 041 3131Opening hoursMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.00am – 6.00pmThursday 9.00am – 8.00pmSaturday 9.00am – 5.00pmSunday closed

Maistone United Football ClubThe Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQContact number: 01622 753817Opening hours vary. See www.maidstoneunited.co.uk

Diary / Events Listings

Thank you to.....Arts CouncilArts Council England is working with libraries to help create places that are at the heart of local communities, helping to inspire and empower people to lead active lives enriched by culture.

Maidstone UnitedThe Ryman Premier Division club are the tenth best-supported in non-league football. The club returned to Kent’s county town in 2012 after a lengthy absence and won promotion via the Ryman Division One South play-offs at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Kent History and Library Centre, Kent County Council Libraries, Registration and ArchivesOpened in Maidstone in 2012 bringing together library and archive services to encourage people to: read and improve their literacy; access information and become more digitally skilled; and use the archive collections to develop a sense of place and take pride in their communities.

FrancisKnightA Maidstone-based company who have more than 25 years’ experience as independent curators and project managers. Offering support for the creation, development and production of artist-led projects in the public realm.

MidKent CollegeMidKent College Aspire (MKC Aspire) is an owned subsidiary of MidKent College. FrancisKnight have been working with MidKent College Aspire to introduce an artist to the campus to work with media students. Documentary photographer Ed Thompson worked with first and second year students, introducing them to photography and providing some hands on experience.