Join Bartholomew Hall as we look ahead to Maidstone United's 5th Round FA Cup fixture against Coventry City. Plus: meet the Gymnastics club championing neurodiverse youngsters across Kent.
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00:00 Hello and welcome along to Invicta Sport, the only show on your TV dedicated to wrapping
00:22 up all of Kent's sporting action.
00:24 I'm Bartholomew Hall and here's what to expect on this Friday 23rd February.
00:30 Stone Cold, a confident Maidstone United heads into training before another historic FA Cup
00:36 tie.
00:37 Jumping forward we visit the Tenteden Trampolining Club, championing children from all backgrounds
00:43 and...
00:45 Action replay, time to take a look back at the pictures and videos of Kent's own athletic
00:49 champions.
00:50 But first, Kent Cricket Club are at an advanced stage to make another overseas signing, according
00:56 to their chief executive.
00:58 With Australian fast bowler Wes Agar set to make a Canterbury comeback for the 24th season,
01:04 Simon Story also praised head coach Matt Walker and the rest of his coaching staff.
01:09 Kent's season sets off with their county championship meeting with Somerset at Canterbury from 5th
01:14 April.
01:15 Story gave the update this week on the work that's being done at the club over the winter
01:19 break, including reflecting about new backroom staff, coaches and captaincy changes, and
01:24 why Kent's first team won't be playing in Tunbridge Wells this summer.
01:27 You can read that full interview at Kent Online.
01:30 Gillingham head coach Stephen Clements feels his side have made big strides since his side
01:36 last took on Wrexham.
01:37 Clements took charge of his first league game for the Gilles at Wrexham's Racecourse ground
01:42 in November, where the Midway side were beaten 2-0, conceding with just 50 seconds played.
01:49 Speaking ahead of the meeting between the two sides at Priestfield tomorrow, Clements
01:53 said he was looking forward to taking on Wrexham, but saw on the day when they met in November
01:58 that they had a lot of quality and a lot of squad depth.
02:01 Now he says Gillingham are a better side.
02:03 This comes after confirmation this week that loan striker Jorge Otardo will return to his
02:08 parent club Watford after scans revealed he will need surgery following cartilage damage.
02:13 Here's the Gilles boss speaking this week.
02:16 It's a shame for everybody because he did give us something different.
02:19 He had that pace, he had that work rate, he had that bit of skill to go past somebody.
02:24 And he was feeling really, really confident because of how everyone had been to him around
02:29 the club and how the fans had taken to him.
02:31 So he was in a really good place and yeah, he'll be a big miss, but it's not to be and
02:36 we have to move forward about him.
02:38 With that in mind, let's take a look at the rest of the fixtures happening this weekend.
02:43 As you've been hearing, Gillingham will be welcoming Wrexham to Priestfield this weekend.
02:46 The Welsh side coming off the back of a three game unbeaten streak.
02:50 The last time these two sides fought one another, of course, Wrexham coming away with the points.
02:57 In the National League, Dorking Wanderers going up against Ebbs Fleet United.
03:01 The fleet looking to bounce back after a loss against Woking last time out.
03:06 National League South now, where Chippenham Town, who are looking for a victory against
03:09 Dover, who are turning themselves, looking to turn things around after a string of losses
03:14 in their last three games.
03:15 Not a good positive season for them.
03:17 Dartford take on Taunton Town.
03:19 Tunbridge Angels welcome Slough.
03:21 And in the Ismian League, we have Chatham Town with Billa Ricci.
03:25 The Essex side looking for a win after battling it out last time with Chatham.
03:29 And of course, Maidstone United heading to Coventry City in that historic FA Cup fifth
03:36 round tie.
03:38 Sticking with Maidstone now, just a few more days to go before under 5,000 Maidstone fans
03:43 will be making their trip up to Coventry City.
03:46 And Georgie Lacobie has preached this week a message of belief as his side take on that
03:51 mammoth challenge.
03:52 Their fifth round tie against Championship side Coventry City follows that historic win
03:57 over Ipswich Town last month.
03:58 I went down to the Gallagher Stadium this week to find out more.
04:03 Eyes on the prize.
04:05 Maidstone boss Georgie Lacobie is still in his first full season at Maidstone United
04:10 and keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite all the hype.
04:14 We deserve to be in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
04:17 How we've gone about it as a group, as a community.
04:21 I know everyone is saying luck.
04:23 Yes, luck does play a part.
04:25 But also is that togetherness and that belief that we've instilled in this environment.
04:31 And hopefully we're going to go on Monday against a good side in Coventry.
04:34 And we're going to try and compete and showcase ourselves as a community, not just as a team.
04:41 Maidstone United's historic win over Championship side Ipswich was an amalgamation of what had
04:46 already been a fantastic run in the FA Cup this season.
04:50 Now set to face another Championship side in the final 16, it's understandable why a
04:55 sense of belief just might be hanging in the air.
04:59 It's just something different than what this club is used to.
05:02 So long may it continue.
05:05 Hope we do get through or get a win or even a replay.
05:09 We just want it to continue as long as possible because it's putting Maidstone on the map.
05:16 Just a few training sessions left now before the big day.
05:19 It's not lost on these men just how incredible their achievement is.
05:23 I saw the picture the other day with all the teams remaining and to think we're actually
05:27 competing to get into the quarterfinals.
05:29 Who would have thought that National League South team competing for their FA Cup quarterfinals.
05:35 Incredible.
05:36 You've got to believe a little bit from what we've done but it's going to be a very tough
05:42 ask but you have to believe, have to believe, have to.
05:45 I'm enjoying every moment of it.
05:52 It's a memory that I'll probably never forget in my lifetime.
05:55 So I've just got to enjoy every single moment of it.
05:58 We haven't had easy teams.
06:00 They haven't made it easy for us with the games that we've had.
06:04 We've had them at home which obviously at home were pretty decent.
06:08 We've had EFL teams that are all flying in their league at the time.
06:13 So it's been difficult but luckily we've got the job done and we've got this far so we
06:18 see what we can do to keep it going.
06:20 Standing here with this iconic piece of silverware, Maidstone's dream is tangible.
06:26 On Monday they take on yet another giant in the form of Coventry City and all that's left
06:31 to do is write another chapter in this remarkable story.
06:34 Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Maidstone.
06:38 And earlier today I was joined by the Stones Aged podcast Steve Hemsley to talk about what
06:43 this means to him as a fan for Maidstone for decades.
06:46 Very very excited.
06:47 I mean having gone through all the emotions of the Ipswich game which I thought totally
06:52 drained me and probably most other Maidstone fans, getting prepared to do it again.
06:56 I mean who knows what's going to happen.
06:57 It's going to be a bit of a weird feeling on a Monday night but yeah the excitement
07:01 is incredible.
07:02 You can feel it around the town or everywhere.
07:05 Absolutely it feels like things have just stepped up that little bit more.
07:09 I was there down at the club yesterday and they had the FA Cup there.
07:12 They had all the national press coming down for a second time as you say after that Ipswich
07:16 game.
07:17 As a fan how does it feel especially over the kind of story of this club over the past
07:22 few decades to have this much attention on your club?
07:25 Yeah it's incredible really because I mean the club has as everyone knows it's had its
07:30 ups and downs and I remember when Maidstone were reformed, were playing in the Kent, all
07:36 around Kent, the County League, the Kent League and even people in Maidstone didn't know the
07:39 club existed because there wasn't a stadium in the town.
07:43 So to go from that in front of 200 people playing at places like Sittingbourne and Ashford
07:48 to be global and getting people tweeting from around the world including celebrities about
07:52 the club and getting the players featured in podcasts and TV channels around the world
07:57 from their own countries etc. is quite incredible and it will be very interesting after the
08:02 Cup run to see what that means, what difference it makes.
08:05 I know the club is looking for some investment so you never know this sort of global coverage
08:09 could see the club get that sort of investment that takes it to the next level.
08:14 Absolutely and training is also continuing for the club this weekend, what was originally
08:19 supposed to be a weekend for their regular league fixtures.
08:22 We saw them out earlier this week, quite a sad defeat actually to Averley but this season
08:28 as a whole has been quite positive for them within the league, they're still in those
08:32 promotion chasing places right now.
08:34 So it's been quite a positive season overall for them.
08:38 Yeah I think for most supporters the fact last season was so bad for the club getting
08:42 relegated finishing bottom, no one I think in the hardcore fan base is in a hurry to
08:49 go back to the National League unless we change the way things work and we've got the finances
08:54 to do it.
08:55 I think for most Maidstone fans it's been a good season, an amazing Cup run, if we can
08:59 be in the playoffs at the end of April, play the playoffs, maybe win it, even if we don't
09:03 it's been an amazing season.
09:05 The club's made a lot of money so whatever happens next season's looking pretty bright
09:10 but I don't think many people expect us to win the league this year but to be near the
09:13 top and have a Cup run, it's a brilliant season.
09:17 Has there been a standout moment for you this season, I mean apart from Ipswich of course?
09:23 Well Ipswich is obviously the standout moment, I mean I'm old school, I love the FA Cup,
09:29 every round, for a club like Maidstone just getting to the first round is always a bit
09:32 of a joy and to win that, that was a key moment, then Stevenage was a key moment and then Ipswich
09:37 was a key moment.
09:39 Hopefully Coventry might be the key moment but at the end of the season if you get promoted
09:44 that's the key moment as well but yeah I mean you can't really beat the Ipswich, you can't
09:47 really top that this season.
09:50 No you can't of course, now I want to talk about superstitions because I had a chat yesterday
09:53 with club captain Gavin Hoyt who told me what he does with the rest of the team before every
09:59 game that he never wants to miss, let's hear it from that now.
10:01 Yeah we actually have a few you know, I don't know if you've noticed but Jamie, he's one
10:07 of the staff members, he does a warm up next to us and then I think it was one week he
10:12 wasn't there and I was like Jamie where was you?
10:15 And I think we lost that game so I'm like make sure you warm up next to us and you have
10:19 to be on my left side, also like little things, I always have to be when we're warming up,
10:25 one player behind Fowler, so just little things I try and do to just hit, just little superstitions
10:31 that we have.
10:33 So Steve, do you have any superstitions when you head to games that gives the team that
10:37 extra bit of luck in your mind?
10:40 Well me personally I make sure I don't move positions in a half of a game, in non-league
10:45 football with Maidstone play it's not all seats of stadiums so you're still standing
10:48 up and I make sure I don't move because I've had experiences, we played Blackpool in the
10:53 FA Cup second round a few years ago and we were winning 1-0 at their ground and me and
10:58 another friend, we decided to change seats and I didn't realise apparently that's a really
11:03 bad thing to do, so going from 1-0 up we moved seats only a few yards to get a better view
11:09 and we let in three goals in five minutes, so since that day I have decided especially
11:14 if we're winning, do not move because you know the gods are with you at that time, so
11:19 obviously on Monday we've got set seats that won't happen but yeah as far as superstitions
11:23 go, staying put is probably a good one for me.
11:26 Now of course I was going to say completely sold out this weekend, no chance of moving
11:31 in that away and I'll be there as well so I'll be sticking in my seat too to give Maidstone
11:36 that extra bit of luck.
11:37 Steve thank you very much for joining us today.
11:41 As I said there I will be going to the game on Monday documenting my journey as well to
11:45 share it with you right here on Invicta Sport.
11:48 Now time for a break, coming up we'll be hearing from a champagning club that's been championing
11:52 the positive impact they've made on the thousands that have gone through their ranks.
11:56 See you in a minute, bye bye.
11:57 Thanks for joining us.
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14:48 [Music]
15:10 Hello and welcome back to Invicta Sport live on KMTV.
15:14 Next tonight on of course the only show to round up all of Kent's sporting action, I've got a text.
15:20 [Music]
15:23 Former Love Island contestant Tyreke Hyde has joined Favisham Town.
15:28 Hyde has coupled up with an ambitious town who are aiming to get their Southern County's East Premier Division promotion back on track.
15:36 The 24 year old midfielder has previously played at Dartford, Welling, Lewis and Dagenham and Redbridge.
15:41 He spent his time in the Love Island Villa last year on season 10 where he met his current girlfriend Ella Thomas.
15:47 Tommy Warolo's fourth place Lily White's go again this Saturday against Sutton Athletic where the new signing will be available.
15:53 Well very best of luck to him and don't forget you can keep up to date with all the latest football news by reading Kent Online.
16:00 But did you also know you can have your weekly digest of non-league news from around the county sent directly to your email inbox.
16:07 Just search Kent Online email alerts and sign up on the website for all the latest written transfer news, match reports and interviews.
16:13 There's also the option to sign up for all the latest Gilles news too. Just do that search Kent Online email alerts and sign up on the website.
16:21 Next up let's take a look down memory lane for many of us. A sport that quite a few of us will have played in the garden but few continued it on competitively.
16:30 Trampolining is loved by thousands and one club in Kent which hosts sessions across the county is championing their community.
16:37 Many of the children who compete with them are neurodiverse.
16:41 Our reporter Jack Darkin went to Tenterden to uncover how Dharma Gym for All has had a positive impact on its participants.
16:48 It's a sport we all loved as a child. It's trampolining.
16:52 Nothing compares to reaching the dizzying heights or showing off your tricks and skills in front of your friends.
16:58 From pike jumps to full twists to back flips and to corkscrews, trampolining is a great form of exercise for many young people.
17:07 We're here at Dharma Gym in Tenterden to watch a trampolining event for children and adults of all ages and abilities.
17:13 The club runs multiple sessions a week at Larkfields, Maidstones and Tenterden's leisure centres.
17:19 I spoke with head coach Tamsin Reid about the different types of sessions she runs.
17:24 Well they start off in recreational and they can do that for an hour a week and they can build that up to three, however many hours they want to.
17:30 They can stay in recreational if they wish. They can stay there and have fun, get fit, meet new people and be confident.
17:35 Dharma Gym has also supported young athletes such as Charlie Clapson and Cameron Reid.
17:41 The trampolining event that Tamsin runs helps to support adults and children who are neurodivergent.
17:47 I see their differences if you like as unfair advantages that they can use in ways that other people would never even realise.
17:56 So as far as we're concerned, the fact that they're neurodiverse makes them amazing.
18:01 I want people that come here to be proud of themselves, be confident in themselves, know how amazing they are, whatever their background, age, ability.
18:09 It's irrelevant that they are part of the team here.
18:12 The club has received lots of high praise from the parents of the participants.
18:16 It's changed my child since he's been here. He's been with them for a year.
18:20 When he came he was very shy, very reserved. He's started to believe in himself and he's been amazing actually.
18:25 All the coaches are amazing. They just wish these children had not known a group like it, so family friendly as well.
18:31 It's been really good for my child. It's given her a lot of confidence and she enjoys it. She looks forward to it.
18:36 So why wouldn't any child want to do that sort of stuff?
18:39 And most importantly, it's loved by all the children.
18:43 Well I like learning new skills and doing competitions.
18:49 Amazing.
18:51 I like gymnastics really well.
18:54 And the Wii World Game.
18:57 My first competition in the 11-12 and I'm on first.
19:02 The bouncing. Going high, joy, vitality, yeah.
19:07 I think trying new skills and everyone else here, we're all a really close club. We're sort of like a family.
19:14 And I always look forward to coming and seeing the people I train with.
19:17 From recreational jumping to competitions, Dharma Gym for All inspires many adults and children every week to become more confident in themselves.
19:25 Jack Darkin for KMTV.
19:28 And joining me now is Tamzin from Dharma Gym for All. Thank you very much for joining me.
19:33 And welcome onto the show. And you actually took the night out from being at training today.
19:37 You told me earlier that the children there had convinced you to come down.
19:40 So thank you very much for joining us.
19:43 Tell me a bit more about how Dharma came to be. You've been with them since the start.
19:47 We created Dharma. There wasn't a club before.
19:52 And my two children wanted to jump and we created it for them.
19:57 Because one of mine, well all of us are dyslexic and my son's ADHD quite severely as well.
20:02 So we created a club where we fit together.
20:06 And that kind of runs through the whole mission of the club, doesn't it?
20:11 Because we're seeing there, everybody who comes along, they all love it for their own reason.
20:15 But they're all united by that same love for trampolining.
20:19 Yeah, they all seem to love the trampolining. And we've started the gymnastics as well now.
20:22 But they all keep coming week in, week out. They are all friends.
20:26 They're such a mixture of people you wouldn't expect to be friends.
20:29 But as Pippa said, we're like a little family.
20:32 And of course hearing from some of the parents as well who have had their youngsters come down.
20:36 Because it's not just children of course. I'm sure we'll talk about that.
20:39 But what have parents been telling you about the impact it's had on their children?
20:43 Quite a few of them have come from different clubs or different places or different backgrounds.
20:47 And they've never felt that they fit in before.
20:50 And it's so lovely to see children that have kind of stand on the side and keep themselves to themselves.
20:55 Because they don't fit. Suddenly fit. Know they fit.
20:58 And see them just grow and thrive. It's just amazing to watch.
21:02 So as their parents, I hope they can see that and enjoy that as much as we do within the club and all the coaches.
21:08 No, of course. And just seeing the smiles on their faces. It's heartwarming, isn't it?
21:13 So talk to me. Jack mentioned in the piece there, Charlie and Cameron who came through the club.
21:18 And they've gone on to such greats. Tell me about their stories.
21:21 Well, Cameron was one of the founding members. He's got severe ADHD. He's dyslexic.
21:26 Didn't really fit in anywhere. Didn't really fit in at school.
21:29 We found that when he trampolined, he just had a buzz about him in a way that I've never seen before.
21:35 And actually, he just thrived and he got stronger and stronger and stronger.
21:40 Every event we put him in, he learned lessons and mucked up along the way.
21:45 But the stronger he got, the more he used to win. And the others are like, oh, Cameron's in our group.
21:50 Which is kind of nice for us, but not so nice for them.
21:53 And he learned to be so positive through the sport.
21:57 And of course, we can see the two of them on the screen showing clips of them individually there.
22:03 But it's fantastic what they can achieve when they're in the air.
22:07 How do you how do you what is the approach when a parent brings along their youngster to the club who is shy?
22:15 And how do you turn them from someone who is shy in the corner to somebody that's achieving something like that?
22:19 Well, young Charlie came to us in lockdown, actually.
22:23 And he's also ADHD and he struggles with that and where he was.
22:27 And we just spent time literally doing the basics.
22:30 The better the basics become, the more confidence they get, the more confident they get, the more balance they get.
22:35 The higher they jump, then they realise they're actually good at this.
22:39 And then so it kind of grows from there. And then we start adding the skills in slowly.
22:42 What's next then for the club? You said that you've been starting the gymnastics recently.
22:46 How's that been going? Yeah, it's going all right. We're looking to get some funding to get some some more kit.
22:51 We're only kind of new with that that side of it.
22:54 So we get some more kit for that. And long term, we want to get a building, a home where we can be all the time and not be under threat of closing or different people running it or whatever.
23:04 And then we can just help more people help people that perhaps aren't at school now, get them in and let them find what their thing is and just grow so we can have more fun.
23:13 And you do compete as well. You were saying that you had you had one coming up this weekend. Is that right?
23:18 Yeah. It was a hard decision to come today because we've got a regional competition on Sunday.
23:23 But the guys went to me. No, this is for the club. We're fine. You've trained as well and I'm going to bless them.
23:29 And they're back there training hard now, getting ready. What does it involve on Sunday at the regional?
23:35 We travel up to Gillingham to the rebound centre and they have to do their routines in front of the judges one at a time.
23:44 Just go fast. We go out and do what we've trained and have some fun.
23:48 We never look at scores at that point. We never look at chasing medals.
23:51 It's go out with their teammates, do what they're trained, have some fun and maybe get a bonus along the way.
23:56 And it's almost a guarantee, isn't it? They're going to enjoy it if if they're with the club and if they're with you guys.
24:00 Well, thank you very much for joining me today. It's been really, really good to hear from you.
24:07 So I really appreciate it. And hopefully we can follow along with the journey to.
24:11 I would love that. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
24:14 Now, we've reached full time on today's episode, but there is just a few minutes of extra time to take a look at this week's action replay.
24:21 It's, of course, the segment where we take a look at the clips and pictures that you became TV audience have sent in of you taking part in sport.
24:29 So let's see what we've got in this week's action replay.
24:34 First up on action replay, the Dover Road Runners dodged the coyote and stole the show at the annual Dimchurch 10k run.
24:40 The team's own Amy Stimpson won the women's race with a 45 minute and 58 second finishing time.
24:45 The Cambridge Harriers carried Mark Penny to victory in the men's race and the event itself after clocking 39 minutes and two seconds.
24:53 Next up, one of the fastest growing sports in the world serves the ball to Tom Bridges side of the court.
24:58 Paddle tennis or Mexican tennis is a hybrid of squash and tennis and is now so popular that the oldest clubs in the country are having to introduce waiting lists for those looking to play.
25:08 And Whitstable, Chatham and Deal are looking to build new complexes for it.
25:12 Watch as reporter Ben Austin gets to grips with this sport.
25:16 And lastly, Falchion's famous fighter Alex Branson Cole took a one two step forward to glory with a decisive victory against Jordan Latimer in the super middleweight six round contest at the Brentwood Centre.
25:27 The 31 year old roofer said his TV debut made him slightly nervous, but his excitement and experience with his coach pushed him to win all six rounds.
25:36 Branson Cole is now set to take a short break, but remains grateful for the support from the fans.
25:40 Well, that's it for this week's Action Replay. Don't forget, it could be you in next week's edition.
25:45 Just send in your pictures and videos on social media or to sport@kmtv.co.uk.
25:53 Some incredible clips there. Don't forget, if you want to appear in next week's Action Replay, as Daniel said, you absolutely can.
25:59 Just tag us on social media @kmtvkent or send us an email to sport@kmtv.co.uk with your clips or your pictures attached, of course.
26:08 Just tell us what part of Kent you come from and what it is you do and you'll be here right on Invicta Sport next week.
26:17 Well, that really is full time on today's episode of Invicta Sport. If you want more from KMTV, you can watch all of our other special programmes,
26:24 the Kent Politics Show, Made in Kent, Kent on Climate and the Kent Film Club by heading to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
26:32 I'll be back on Monday as we head to Coventry for Maidstone's huge FA Cup tie. For now, goodbye.
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