FA Cup: Maidstone United fans snap up tickets ahead of historic match

Fans queued with chairs anticipating a long wait for tickets

Maidstone United have sold out their allocation of tickets for their upcoming FA Cup fifth round match.

The Stones will be backed by 4,800 fans at The CBS Arena on 26 February.

Fans queued from the early hours to purchase tickets, which went on general sale at 09:30 GMT on Friday, after the priority purchase window for season ticket holders ended.

Maidstone fan Olly Curtis said: "I'm so proud for the players and it puts the town on the map."

The final tickets were sold just before 13:30.

Mr Curtis was near the front of the queue, having arrived at The Gallagher Stadium at 06:45.

He told BBC Radio Kent: "I've followed this club for many years and if you told me where we are now, I would have laughed at you.

"I've been to Coventry once before, with my friend who is a Stoke fan and we won 4-0 so I'm hoping for the same outcome."

Olly Curtis said he was "so proud" of the team

Jonathan Shands was in the queue before Mr Curtis, arriving at The Gallagher for 05:30.

He said: "I was at Ipswich, so there was no way I was missing it. Hopefully we win on the day but I want it to be a good game."

Some fans bought chairs to sit on in the queue, with it stretching back more than a quarter of a mile.

Andy, Chris and Stewart were planning their day out for the game, consisting of "having a few beers"

Andy, Chris and Stewart joined the back of the queue at 08:00 and purchased them two hours later.

With tickets now secured, they have begun planning their day out.

"I think we'll get the train up and get up there early, have a few beers.

"Hopefully we'll make it home after."

Maidstone beat Ipswich Town 2-1 in the previous round.

The match will kick off at 19.45 GMT on 26 February, with live match commentary available on BBC Radio Kent.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].