Maidstone United joined the Football League in 1989 after a run of successful seasons at Conference level (and some close election contests with Pools). Unfortunately, the club's short stay in the League was a time of constant battle against financial difficulties. Those difficulties eventually proved too steep a hurdle and the club was forced to resign from the Football League in August 1992 and go into liquidation. A new club, Maidstone Invicta, was formed soon afterwards and the name of the new club was reverted to Maidstone United in 1997.