14 days and three games into the new season and Maidstone United sit tenth in the table and are on the road for the second consecutive weekend as they face Dorking Wanderers. Preview by Jack Foulger.
Since forming as an amateur side back in 1999, the rise and success of the Wanderers has captured the interests of fans all throughout non-league and indeed the wider footballing world. Initially intended as a way for a group of mates to simply play football together, the Surrey side eventually ended up taking part on a steep upward trajectory that nobody could’ve imagined prior to formation. By 2022, 12 promotions in 23 years had seen Dorking finally reach the summit of the non-league pyramid, with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Ebbsfleet United in the National League South Promotion Final ensuring that they would play Step 1 football for the first time in their history.
Despite initially surviving in their inaugural National League campaign following a 16th place finish, the Wanderers’ stay in the division was unfortunately cut short as they slipped back into South after a difficult 2023/24 campaign that saw them relegated in 23rd place, 8 points adrift of safety. Since then, Dorking have once again been a mainstay towards the top end of the National League South, qualifying for the play-offs in back-to-back seasons. Despite falling short both times following defeats to Boreham Wood and Torquay United, Marc White and co will be looking to go one better this time around as they hope to get lucky third time around and avenge their sole relegation from two years ago.
Archives of pain. Maidstone’s 3-1 defeat at Dorking last year. Picture by Steve Terrell
THE GAFFER: As co-founder, owner and manager of the club, Marc White has undeniably been the mastermind behind the Wanderers’ meteoric rise and success over the past two and a half decades. The 52 year-old businessman enters his 28th season at the helm having already managed over 1000 games for the club. Beyond his efforts on the pitch, White has also built a reputation for his strong charisma and attitude within his job with his often straight-talking
and unfiltered language in post-match interviews and wider media duties leading to him being frequently seen as one of football’s most honest and brutal managers.
THE SQUAD: With a squad of 28 listed players consisting of varying levels of experience and prior success, Dorking arguably boast one of the best depths of any team in this season’s South division. Notable additions since the end of last season include forward duo Josh Barrett and Dawid Rogalski, joining from Aldershot Town and Walton & Hersham respectively. The former of the pair arrives at Meadowbank having scored 28 goals in two seasons with the Shots, including a goal in their 3-0 FA Trophy Final victory over Spennymoor Town at Wembley Stadium in 2025. Meanwhile, the latter joined the Wanderers just last week, having played an instrumental role in Walton’s recent success at Step 3, netting for the Swans a total of 60 times in all competitions since signing from Marlow in 2024.
Elsewhere in the Wanderers camp also stands long term personnel including Dan Gallagher, James McShane, Jimmy Muitt and Alfie Rutherford who all provide valuable experience and help maintain Dorking’s successful DNA built in recent years with a combined 30 years of service to the club including over 900 appearances between them.
FORM: Points and results-wise, Dorking have had an almost identical start to the season compared to the Stones, with a win, draw and loss leaving them sat 11th and only 1 place behind Craig Fagan’s side. Notable games in their opening 3 included a 1-0 opening day defeat to Lee Allinson’s new-look Dagenham & Redbridge, where the Wanderers came away empty-handed despite having a man advantage for over 35 minutes.
Fortunately for them now however, momentum will be in full swing following an emphatic 3-0 victory on the South Coast over AFC Totton as goals from Harry Forster, George Nikaj and recent signing Dawid Rogalski ensured Dorking were able to claim their first 3 points of the campaign as they lock eyes with the Maidstone once again this weekend.
Saidou Khan scoring against Dorking in the FA Trophy in the lockdown season, 2020-21 – the only time Maidstone have beaten Dorking. Picture by Steve Terrell.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Since first meeting back in 2019, Dorking Wanderers and Maidstone United have produced a series of blockbuster matches over the course of the last seven seasons, with the Surrey outfit coming out on top 5 times in 10 matches compared to just one victory for the Stones (2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Trophy back in early 2021).
The most recent meeting between the two sides took place back in February this year, where an early opener from forward Jason Prior was cancelled out by a spirited second half performance by Maidstone that was rewarded with an equaliser from Muhammadu Faal.
This result ended up breaking the Wanderers’ six-game winning streak whilst also setting up the Stones for a positive run themselves that saw them win 10 of their last 13 games before the end of the season.
Mo Faal scoring the equaliser in last season’s 1-1 draw. Picture by Helen Cooper.
THE STADIUM: Sat in the heart of Dorking town centre, Marc White’s side play their home games at the 4250-capacity Meadowbank Stadium, where they have formally resided since 2018. Also doubling up as a headquarters for the Surrey FA, the ground features a relatively cosy and compact setup compared to other grounds in the NLS with there being room for three covered terraces around the home areas of the ground (of which two are fully seated). Situated within the away section is a mixture of covered and open-air terracing, including a section of the relatively new 1200-capacity standing area at the western end of the pitch (opened in 2023). For both sets of fans also includes a mixed fan zone tucked away by the visiting turnstiles, with numerous food & drink provisions alongside access to music and live sport in the two hours leading up to kick-off.
