Maidstone owner takes swipe at BBC and ITV as huge FA Cup giant-killing snubbed for TV coverage – and names dream tie

11 months ago 73

MAIDSTONE’S co-owner took a swipe at the BBC and ITV for snubbing their FA Cup giant-killing.

And then he revealed who he wants to face next.

George Elokobi and Sam Corne helped fire Maidstone into the FA Cup fourth round[/caption]

There were wonderful celebrations with Stones fans after the full-time whistle[/caption]

The National League South side were the lowest-ranked side in the third round of the famous competition.

But TV bosses opted against selecting their clash against League One Stevenage to be broadcast live.

That is despite showing eight of the 32 matches over the weekend – six on TV and a further two on BBC iPlayer and Red Button – with Wigan the only team not in the top two divisions to feature as they host Manchester United on Monday.

As well as fans around the country being able to watch those matches live, the 12 teams picked also received £85,000 on top of their FA Cup prize money.

However, sixth-tier Maidstone were inexplicably overlooked.

And it proved to be a blunder by the BBC and ITV as George Elokobi’s side produced a shock result at the Gallagher Stadium – with just three main cameras around the 792-seater ground.

Sam Corne converted a penalty just before half-time – and that proved to be the only goal of the game.

There was a jubilant pitch invasion when Maidstone secured the victory.

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But the Stones’ co-owner Oliver Ash hit out at the broadcasters for overlooking the story of the weekend, which was the opening tie on Match of the Day.

He told the Express: “Most people are amazed the cameras are not here.

“I get that more people support Everton and Crystal Palace so the TV companies think they will get more viewers than Maidstone.

“But it is a shame because the competition is all about games like ours – the lowest-ranked club in the competition against a side that could well be in the Championship next year.

“It would have been wonderful TV. It is all about the magic of the FA Cup – it is so wonderful for the spirit of the club, the community and the town.

“Definitely this is the biggest result in the club’s history. We are not going to win it, but more and more the FA Cup is something magic for clubs like ours.

“It may have lost its magic for the top clubs but it has gained its magic for us.”

Maidstone’s social media team echoed their chief’s views with a brilliant tweet.

They reshared the FA Cup’s tweet announcing the TV picks and replied: “Aged well,” with a sarcastic thumbs-up emoji.

The Stones will be one of the standout numbers when the fourth-round draw takes place and will surely be on TV when that fixture takes place on the last weekend of January.

And Ash knows exactly who he wants to face next.

He added: “I want a home tie.

“Having seen what it means to people to come and watch a big game here, it would be magic – even compared to a trip to one of the big clubs.

“So let’s get Manchester City down to the Gallagher!”