Maidstone United to hold minute’s applause in memory of Charlton Athletic fan Norman Barker when they host the Addicks under-21s in Kent Senior Cup quarter-finals

Maidstone are set to pay tribute to a Charlton fan who died after being taken ill at a game when they host the Addicks under-21s in the Kent Senior Cup tonight.

The Stones will hold a minute’s applause in memory of Norman Barker, an iconic supporter, known affectionately as “Headphones Norm”.

Barker, who attended his first Addicks game after moving to the area in 1968 and had travelled home and away for decades, was taken ill in the early stages of Charlton’s Championship game against Portsmouth on Saturday.

The match - subsequently abandoned - was paused in the 12th minute while medics carried out CPR but Barker died in hospital.

Charlton will hold a minute’s applause when they host Middlesbrough at The Valley tonight and Maidstone are following suit against the club’s youngsters as they meet for a place in the Kent Senior Cup semi-finals.

Stones manager George Elokobi could give minutes to the likes of skipper Sam Corne as he makes his way back from an ankle injury.

He may also look to include some of the club’s young players from outside the first-team squad.

“We have to assess it, we have to look at where we are in terms of who we’ve got available,” said Elokobi, who led Maidstone to Kent Senior Cup glory two seasons ago.

“It’s important we make sure we stay consistent because you don’t want to give too many breaks.

“We’ve got our plan going into this first-team period and the players already know that plan but it’s important we look at the ones that need more minutes and the ones that don’t, we have to manage them right.”

Elokobi is looking forward to the tie as Maidstone bid to clinch a place in the last four.

He added: “Fixtures like this, you always want to see what Charlton are going to bring.

“There could be a