Maidstone United FA Cup star Sam Corne on his future, where his career began and the club’s extraordinary run to the last 16

Sam Corne has made more headlines than most during Maidstone’s FA Cup run - but it would take something special to get him away from the club.

Corne’s star continues to rise after his goalscoring exploits in the previous three rounds, with the equaliser against Barrow followed by winners to see off Stevenage and Ipswich.

If Maidstone are the story of this season’s FA Cup, Corne has played one hell of a leading role.

For all the attention on their talisman midfielder, it’s by no means inevitable that Corne will be lured away after five years with the Stones.

There’s bound to be interest - deservedly so - but the 27-year-old is happy where he is.

“I’ve loved every moment of it here,” said Corne, who balances his Maidstone commitments with youth coaching at Welling.

“This place is held highly with me so it’s got to be something big for me to move elsewhere.

“I’m at that age now where I’m very settled.

“I have a secure job and I’ve been here five years.

“In terms of the support, the fans, the people that work here, I love it.

“Don’t get me wrong, I always have ambitions to play higher but it's got to be the right thing for me.

“When I was a kid I always wanted to play in the league, just to push myself and see where it can take me.

“But financially it always comes into question.

“A big portion of my money is my coaching so if I were to move around the country and was having to rent or stuff, it’s a lot of money that goes on certain things.

“When you’re settled at home, and you’re not far away from where you play, like I am here, it fits hand in hand.”

Corne played with schoolmates before success in the Kent Youth League with Bridon Ropes.

He had academy experience at Fulham and Millwall, but was never the biggest, and it was