Former Maidstone United favourite Alex flisher speaks about his upcoming testimonial at the Gallagher Stadium

Alex Flisher has got the band back together as he prepares for his Maidstone United testimonial.

A collection of big favourites from the Jay Saunders era have signed up to support Flisher on his big day at the Gallagher Stadium on Friday, May 12 (gates open 5.30pm, kick-off 7pm).

The former winger, who made 275 appearances for his hometown club, was offered a testimonial after a knee injury forced him into retirement, aged just 30.

Flisher, whose five-year-old son Louis plays at the club these days, will be pulling on his boots again for what’s set to be a memorable day.

Saunders and his former No.2 and captain Steve Watt will manage the sides and they have the likes of Lee Worgan, Jamie Coyle, Joe Healy, Stuart Lewis, Jack Paxman, Frannie Collin and Ade Olorunda to pick from.

Flisher spent almost a decade with the Stones, helping the club to three promotions in four seasons and a mid-table National League finish before joining Margate in 2017. He’s looking forward to coming back.

“It was about a week or two after my retirement, the club said how do you fancy a testimonial?” he said.

“You can’t say no to that. I jumped at the chance and since then I’ve been trying to organise everything that goes with it.

“It’s not been a problem getting players together. Tom Mills is away and Shane Huke and Adam Birchall are injured but, other than that, everyone’s said yes, so it’s worked out nicely.

“I can still play in this game. What I couldn’t do any more was the playing Saturday-Tuesday and training Thursday, which is why I had to retire.

“The physical impact of that would have ruined my knee with the amount of cartilage I’ve got left.

“It was a decision that was taken out of my hands, so the bug to get back isn’t like it is when