Maidstone United sign centre-forward Stan Leech on loan from fellow National League South club Dagenham & Redbridge

Maidstone United have signed striker Stan Leech on loan from National League South rivals Dagenham.

Leech, 23, arrives on a three-month deal and could make his debut in the Stones’ FA Cup second qualifying round tie at Cray Wanderers this afternoon.

“He’s an excellent signing for us,” said Stones manager Craig Fagan, of a player who’s made five appearances for Dagenham in the opening weeks of the season.

“He’s something different. He’s a good, physical presence and he can score goals.

“I just think we needed something different in our attacking players or attacking threat.

“We’ve been happy with what we’ve had but at times, when we’ve had to change things because of injuries, we’ve maybe looked a little bit light up there.

“I was very impressed with the way he’s trained and all it does is up the levels for everybody else, knowing that their place is not secured.

“We want that as a squad. You want people fighting for their places and I’ve always said to all the players the team is picked on training and the way people perform.”

Leech played for Saffron Walden, Coggeshall, Cambridge City and Newmarket, where he scored 21 goals in the first half of last season, before joining Dagenham in December 2025.