The club’s first ground was owned by Dr Moncton, close to the centre of the town and he allowed them to play there for many years.  The club prospered and from 1886 onwards played against clubs including Middlesex Wanderers, Harlequins, Richmond, Eton House, London Scottish and Old Merchant Taylors.

Another surge forward was the decision of Old Maidstonians, the former pupils of Maidstone Grammar School, to join Maidstone.  Over the next 100 years there were many ups and downs, and a number of ground changes until the club finally moved to The Mote, as tenants of the trustees of Mote CC in the early 1950’s.

By the 1970’s and 80’s Maidstone had risen to become one of the leading clubs in Kent and, though they had little success in the County Cup in earlier years, the club was in the final for successive years from 1974-1980, winning twice and again in 1987.

In the 1970’s, Maidstone reached the finals of the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham three times in four years and in 1980 were the only junior club to be invited to play in the London Senior Clubs Rugby Festival at Twickenham. Alongside Scottish Club Heriot’s FP, Lansdowne from Ireland and French Champions Bagneres, the club reached the semi-finals where we lost 6-0 to London Scottish.

At the formation of the leagues in 1987, Maidstone were unanimously voted by the seven counties of the London Divison to go straight into National League Three, along with the Metropolitan Police.

After six seasons in the national leagues until 1993, the club suffered four relegations in four seasons until we arrived in London 3 South East in 1996.  At this point the committee took the decision to appoint a Director of Rugby and with his experience and an improved management and coaching structure, the slump was stopped.  Promotion was achieved within three seasons and in 2000, the final of the Kent Cup was lost in the dying moments to National League side Westcombe Park.

By quirk of geographical placing, we were relegated from London 2 from third from bottom position in 2003, but after two seasons we were promoted back up to London 2 as unbeaten champions in 2005.

Having consolidated our league position last season, the club is looking to reinforce our position as one of the leading clubs in the county under the new captaincy of Martin Arnold, and with a thriving Junior section and the exciting prospect of a new clubhouse development at The Mote in the near future, the future looks bright for Maidstone FC.