The Pitching In Isthmian Football League

Maidstone to stage League Cup final

4 Mar 2013 By Peter Butcher

THE league has maintained its progressive tradition by announcing that the Isthmian League Cup final between Concord Rangers and Dulwich Hamlet will be played at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium, which boasts an artificial pitch, on Tuesday April 9.

Since its foundation in 1905 the league has often been at the forefront of change in the game, perhaps most notably in 1973 when it was the first to award three points for a win and the first to decide league positions on goal difference rather than goal average.

Now it becomes the first major competition in the country to stage its showpiece cup final on an 3G surface. The pitch at Maidstone’s new Gallagher Stadium has been widely praised and the crowds have flooded in to watch Ryman South matches played there.

Maidstone’s average league gate is 1,663, with a high of 2,291 for the New Year’s Day derby with Sittingbourne.

Where next?

Long trip brings no reward IT was a thankless 330-mile Monday night round trip for Hastings, who went down 1-0 in their Ryman Premier fixture at Lowestoft.

McMahon makes it a double THE Macron awards for February have been announced, and Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon has been named Macron Manager of the Month for the second month running.