TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

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MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Maidstone United vs Torquay United

Competition: National League South

Venue: The Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone

Date: Saturday 16th August 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Torquay 2

Draws 3

Maidstone 13

MAIDSTONE FACT FILE

Year founded: 1992 (reformed as Maidstone Invicta)
Nickname: The Stones
Last season’s league finish: 7th in the National League South
Notable Honours:
National League South:
Winners: 2021-22
Isthmian League:
Winners 2014-15

MANAGER – GEORGE ELOKOBI

Cameroon-born George Elokobi initially took charge of Maidstone on a caretaker basis following the dismissal of Hakan Hayrettin, before he was handed the reins on a permanent basis. As a player, Elokobi was given his big break in the professional game by Colchester United in 2004, after he was spotted playing for Dulwich Hamlet.

He made his professional debut whilst on loan at Chester City in 2005 and on returning to Colchester Elokobi helped the U’s to win promotion to the Championship under Phil Parkinson in the 2005-06 season. His displays for Colchester earned him a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2008 and he won two promotions: one from the Championship in 2008-09 and the second from League One in 2013-14. During his time at Molineux, he was loaned out to Nottingham Forest and Bristol City. Elokobi was released by Wolves at the end of the 2013-14 campaign and joined Oldham Athletic.

A second spell at Colchester United followed when he re-joined the U’s in 2015, and he later returned to the non-league game with spells in the National League with Leyton Orient and Aldershot Town. He later joined the Stones in 2019 and helped them to win the National League South title in his final season as a player in the 2021-22 campaign. In addition to this, Elokobi scored in the final game of his career, which saw Maidstone defeat Hampton and Richmond Borough 2-1, to give him the distinction of having scored in every division from the Premier League right down to National League South.

In the 2023-24 season, Elokobi guided the Stones to the fifth round of the FA Cup, memorably defeating Championship side Ipswich Town in the fourth round. Elokobi has also steered Maidstone to the National League South Play-offs twice in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns.

PLAYER PROFILE – SAM CORNE

Sam’s senior career started with Welling United in 2013 and after four seasons at Park View Road, he signed for Braintree Town and worked under former Stones boss Hakan Hayrettin.

During his time at Welling he got an England C call-up and attracted interest from league clubs. Prior to signing at the Gallagher, he played for Greenwich Borough and Ashford United – scoring 21 goals in 40 games for the Nuts & Bolts – while focusing on his football coaching qualifications.

He made his Maidstone United debut on the opening day of the 2019-20 season and has clocked up more than 100 appearances since. He was a key figure in the club’s 2021-22 championship-winning season, as well as last season’s FA Cup run with goals against Barrow, Stevenage and Ipswich Town.

PLAYER STATS – Position: Midfielder, DOB: 07/11/96, Height: 1.78m, Previous Club: Ashford

NLS Stats 25/26: Appearances: 1, Goals 0, Assists 0, Yellow/Red Cards 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Maidstone: None

LAST MEETING

Saturday 1st February 2025 – Maidstone United 1 Torquay United 0

There was disappointment for United at the Gallagher Stadium, as a late goal sealed all three points for Maidstone. In the end it was Charlie Seaman that came up with the deciding moment of the match, with his 76th minute goal proving to be the winner in a tight contest.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-2-3-1): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Monashe Sundire, Matt Worthington; Jordan Young, Louis Dennis, Dylan Morgan; Cody Cooke

Maidstone United (4-3-3): Nathan Harness; David Sesay, George Fowler, Lexus Beeden, Leo Hamblin; T J Bramble, Sam Corne, John Gilbert; Dajon Golding, Jesse Nwabueze, Deon Moore

COYY – STEVE

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