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Ben Greenhalgh recalls Maidstone United's FA Cup glory after leaving for Concord Rangers

Ben Greenhalgh has joined Maidstone for a third time. Picture: Martin Apps
Ben Greenhalgh has joined Maidstone for a third time. Picture: Martin Apps

Ben Greenhalgh leaves Maidstone with some of his best memories in football.

Greenhalgh, 23, signed for Concord Rangers on Monday night, having been given permission to talk to other clubs.

Only last month he agreed terms to stay at the Gallagher Stadium but with Stones going on to sign Mitchell Pinnock, Bobby-Joe Taylor and Joe Healy, Greenhalgh was allowed to leave.

The winger joined Inter Milan after winning Sky TV show Football's Next Star and played in the Scottish Premier League with Inverness.

But he'll never forget winning the Ryman League Premier Division and reaching the FA Cup second round with Stones.

Indeed, it was substitute Greenhalgh's cross that set up Frannie Collin's late winner in the first-round replay against League 2 Stevenage.

Greenhalgh said: "That's got to be one of my best moments in football.

"It was my first season playing in the FA Cup and to be the one who came on and made the difference is something I'll do well to beat.

"We were the underdogs but we managed to stay in the game and then as soon as Frannie scored, we knew that was it."

Greenhalgh helped Concord win promotion to Conference South via the Ryman League Premier Division play-offs two years ago.

And the Essex club were his first choice once Stones boss Jay Saunders said he could leave.

Greenhalgh said: "Jay signed a few wingers, not to push me out, but I felt I maybe needed a change and to go somewhere else where I'd have a key role.

"Once Maidstone put it out that I could talk to other clubs there was quite a lot of interest in Conference South and the Ryman Premier but the only club I ever focused on was Concord.

"I knew the lads there and I thought it was the best place for me to go."

Greenhalgh made 46 appearances for Stones last season, scoring nine goals.

Read more from Ben Greenhalgh in Friday's Kent Messenger

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