Maidstone United have thanked Fulham after the Premier League club made a donation to the non-league side after Chris Smalling made his debut for the first team at the end of last season.

Maidstone chairman Paul Bowden-Brown thanked Fulham and confirmed that they were under no obligation to make a donation.

I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Fulham Football Club. This has been a wonderful gesture as they were not obliged to pass on any money for Chris. We are immensely proud of Chris has and continues to achieve. We will follow his career with interest and wish him every success for this season and beyond.

Smalling followed up his debut against Everton at the end of the last season with a first cap for the England Under-21s in their 0-0 draw in Holland last Tuesday.