Maidstone United hero Sam Corne plots the next FA Cup shock after turning the corner
SAM CORNE was a victim of the Maidstone boo-boys when he first joined the club… but his brother predicted he would become their hero.
The 27-year-old midfielder joined a team that had just been relegated and had a disgruntled fan base.
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And Corne admits it came as a relief when matches were played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
But this season, along with his Maidstone teammates, he has written and highlighted his name in the history books for their incredible FA Cup heroics.
Corne scored the winner at Ipswich, adding to the goals he scored against Stevenage and Barrow in the previous rounds, making the Stones only the second club from the bottom fifth tier to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Blyth Spartans are the only other side to famously achieve this feat in 1978.
And Corne told SunSport: “When I first came here things were negative. The club had dropped out of the National League, there were a few management changes and the place was hostile.
“I was still a young player and the fans were not interested in me.
“There were negative reactions because of our poor results. After the defeat they expected immediate success in the lower division, but we did not get that immediately.
“Most of the negativity took place on social media and on the fan forum. So when I went out on race day I always tried not only to get a good result but also to win over a group of fans.
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“I was loved at my previous club Welling, no matter how I played, because they held me in high regard. That wasn’t the case here at Maidstone at first.
“But my older brother James told me, ‘Don’t worry, you will be loved in the end. It’s only a matter of time.'”
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And how he turned that around – especially with his stunning performance in the FA Cup.
Being a player the fans didn’t like, many of them wouldn’t mind having a STATUE of him now scoring the winning goal on Portman Road, built in the city centre.
He said: “Playing games during the pandemic has helped me because there were no supporters in the ground.
“Maidstone is a huge club at this level and averages over 2,000 players. Looking back, I didn’t have the experience of playing in front of a large fan base at the time.
“So I was able to find my feet a bit during that period without fans and by the time football returned to normal, I was no longer under pressure.”
Corne is a diamond in the rough from non-league.
Despite being a midfielder, the Stones forward is always good value for a goal when he appears in and around the penalty area.
And his brilliant result against the Tractor Boys was as clinical as anything you’ll see in the Premier League.
It’s a surprise that League One or Two clubs haven’t snapped him up yet, but perhaps one of them will this summer.
Corne, who grew up idolizing Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, came through Fulham’s youth academy at the same time as Patrick Roberts and Cauley Woodrow.
But the West Londoners never offered him a scholarship.
So since then he has done the hard work in non-league with Greenwich Borough, Ashford Town, Welling United, Braintree and now Maidstone.
And he combines playing with coaching children at Welling and his cup performances have proven inspiring to the youngsters.
He said: “I coach boys and girls and do the under 13s, 15s and the school kids. All the kids were so excited to see us on TV.
“The parents come up to me and say, ‘Oh, they love you’ – so it was worth it. It’s good to know that Maidstone United is inspiring children.”
Corne’s goal at Portman Road will live on forever in football folklore.
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And he described the jubilant moment the ball hit the back of the net and the scenes that followed: “There was a lot of surprise, a lot of shock and the 4,500 Maidstone fans just went crazy.
“Even now just talking about it gives me chills. It was a wonderful feeling and I have already watched the goal a few times!
“After the match the music was blaring and the scenes were like nothing I had ever experienced before.
“In the changing room I had myself a bath – because we don’t have one on our premises – and I just lay there chilling and taking it all in.
“The Ipswich players were classy and then wished us well.
“What we did that day gives you a bit of motivation.
“It’s something you dream about coming true and it reminds you why you still play the game.”
And while Corne gets a lot of credit for his goals, he is quick to point out that this was only achievable thanks to the incredible shifts made by the entire team.
Moreover, he was wise to follow his brother’s advice and remain confident in those difficult early days at Maidstone.
He said: “James has been my worst critic but also my biggest fan over the years. Without him, my family and teammates, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”