Kent sports review of 2024: Roy of the Rovers stuff for Maidstone United in the FA Cup, Moses Itauma proves a knockout, Nathan Hales hits the bullseye at the Olympics and former owner Paul Scally is voted off the Gillingham board

It’s been 12 months of Olympic-sized achievements in more ways than one. Maidstone United made FA Cup history, Moses Itauma claimed his first professional boxing title, Jake Hill finally took the British Touring Car Championship crown and Georgia-Mae Fenton bagged a maiden individual European gymnastics medal.

Off the pitch an era ended at Priestfield, we said farewells to a cricket legend and a speedway great and lauded our Olympians and Paralympians in Paris. Read all about that, and so much more, in our look back at another sporting year to savour.

January

No one gave National League South Maidstone United a chance when they drew Premier League-bound Ipswich Town away in the FA Cup fourth round - but the Stones had other ideas and produced one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.

The Stones goal led a charmed life as the Tractor Boys did everything but score before Lamar Reynolds’ stunning opener on the cusp of half-time. Liam Sole released Reynolds in the Ipswich half and he continued his run before dinking the ball over Christian Walton with a strike good enough to grace the final in front of a crowd of almost 28,000.

Jeremy Sarmiento levelled early in the second half but Sam Corne, the hero of Maidstone’s third-round victory over Stevenage, scored the winner in front of millions of TV viewers and gave Stones a place in cup folklore alongside fellow giantkillers Hereford, Wimbledon, Sutton United and Wigan.

“This was a historic occasion for Maidstone United, for our group of players, our supporters, but more so for our community,” said Stones boss George Elokobi. “Someone had to win today and the gods were with us.

“After the first 25 minutes we had to earn our luck and it’s important our