Saunders heads back to school

Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders is taking up a coaching role with the Ryman Premier club's academy to help develop their stars of the future.

The 34-year-old, pictured, who guided the Stones to promotion from Ryman South last season, will coach and train students at their academy and work with the two Football Conference Youth Alliance squads at the Gallagher Stadium.

An experienced midfielder, Saunders began his playing career at Gillingham before moving to Gravesend & Northfleet for the first of two spells at Stonebridge Road. In three periods at Margate’s Hartsdown Park he made almost 300 appearances.

Saunders, whose third place title-chasers host leaders AFC Hornchurch on Saturday, said: "I am delighted to be joining the academy and look forward to working with Jack Parkinson, Jim Bodle and Tom Parkinson. I spent a fortnight with the academy this summer and it was a great opportunity to look at the lads and see who’s ready to make the step up to the first team."

The Stones manager added: "It’s a great environment for the young lads and myself to work in and I cannot wait to get started."

Club co-owner Terry Casey said: "This shows the genuine pathway between the academy and the first team. In Jay, we have got someone who will maintain the high levels of discipline and achievement we already enjoy."

* Maidstone United Football Academy is open to students in school Years 12 and 13. The two-year course, which is provided in association with Mid Kent College, is ideal for anyone looking to com-bine study and playing football full-time.

The Stones currently offer a Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Sport and a range of vocational qualifications including Football Association coaching badges at Levels 1 and 2, first aid and refereeing awards.

Image courtesy of www.kentnews.co.uk