Manchester United star defender Chris Smalling was never guaranteed a place at non-league Maidstone United.

Smalling signed for Fulham from Maidstone before moving onto United last year.

"It took a lot of persuading for the first-team management to take more of a look at him," admitted Darren Lovell, Maidstone's secretary, in the Sunday Express. "They wanted old players with experience and they didn't fancy him against the old-time, gnarled centre-forwards."

Peter Nott, then in charge of the reserve team and now Whitstable manager, was Smalling's greatest advocate. But he faced a battle to persuade Maidstone boss Alan Walker.

"The Ryman League is a very, very physical league and Chris was always six foot-plus but very, very wiry and had no real muscle on him," Nott said. "And as a centre-half you are up against some big burly players, there were some concerns if he could handle it physically."