Maidstone upgrades pitch using FA Cup prize money

The Kent club plays home games on an artificial surface at The Gallagher Stadium

Maidstone United is getting a new 3G pitch funded by the proceeds of the club's heroic FA Cup run.

The Stones made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup for which they received £700,000, some of which will be used to re-lay the pitch.

The process is due to take three to five weeks, depending on the weather, and will cost the Kent club £250,000.

John Harvey, stadium manager at Maidstone United, said: “The new pitch means we can continue staging matches when others may be called off due to bad weather.”

Maidstone reached the fifth round of the FA Cup after beating Ipswich Town in Round 4

It is the third artificial pitch that will be used at the Gallagher Stadium since it opened in 2012.

Using an artificial pitch allows the club to train on it and rent it out during the week, making extra revenue.

John Harvey is the stadium manager at Maidstone United

Operations director Bob Gouldson said the FA Cup money has helped secure the future of the club.

He told BBC Radio Kent: “People concentrate on the pitch, and obviously you know that that’s a large percent of the money.

"But if you look around the ground you know we’re looking at several smaller infrastructure upgrades.

“The money has also provided upgrades for the food hut, and a new toilet block for the town end, as well as the TV gantry.”

The National League South side lost in a promotion play-off semi-final to Worthing.