Maidstone fans played a big part in Antony Papadopoulos’ return to the Gallagher Stadium.

Papadopoulos rejoined United on loan from Crawley at the end of last week and came on as a half-time substitute in a 1-0 home defeat by Maidenhead on Saturday.

The winger was hugely popular on the terraces during a successful loan spell last season as George Elokobi’s side embarked on a long unbeaten run.

That ended shortly after Papadopoulos was recalled by Crawley, then in League 1, following United’s 3-1 Boxing Day victory at local rivals Tonbridge Angels.

Stones supporters were keen to see him return and finally got their wish.

Everyone likes to be appreciated and Papadopoulos, who was in the crowd for last season’s National League South play-off final at Boreham Wood, had been left in no doubt how fans felt.

“It’s probably one of the biggest reasons I came back, to be honest,” he said.

“I do social media on the side and I had a lot of comments on my Instagram and stuff from the supporters encouraging me to come back.

“So it was one of the reasons, and then when I have support right from the top of the club, all the way down, and from the players as well, it was an easy decision.

“I just want to help as much as possible, push up the table and hopefully repeat what we did last year but go one better and win the league.”

Papadopoulos scored five goals in 20 appearances for Maidstone last season and was a driving force in the team’s surge up the table after a slow start.

He had mixed feelings returning to Crawley at a time when Elokobi’s men looked set for a title challenge.

He was bang in form but the regular football he craved eluded him as Crawley were relegated from League 1.

Chances have proved limited again this season and so the opportunity to go back out on loan made sense.

There was only one place he wanted to be.

“I was speaking to the gaffer and Zach (Foster-Crouch, head of recruitment) over the last few weeks and our vision aligned,” said Papadopoulos.

“I wanted to play football as much football as possible, I know I can excel here, so I’m happy to be back.

“It was enjoyable last time. I know we were in the lower half of the table when I first came but I never gauged that.

“The gaffer was always trying to keep it positive, we had a good group and hopefully we can replicate that.

“It was a weird feeling going back to Crawley when I did.

“Half of me wanted to stay, because we were doing so well, but the other half of me wanted to play League 1.

“Football’s a cruel sport, so I wanted the best chance I could get to play in League 1, I wanted to give it a go.

“You never know if that chance will happen again - hopefully it does in the future - but I wanted to play as high as possible.

“I didn’t play as much as I would have hoped but that’s football.

“I did play towards the end of the year a little bit obviously I haven’t played that much this year.”

Papadopoulos took part in his first training session last Friday and, while the squad is much-changed, it soon felt like he’d never been away.

He said: “Everyone’s welcomed me back.

“It doesn’t feel like too long ago that I was here.

“I know it’s getting on for a year ago but it’s not too different.

“Training’s pretty much the same, it’s intense under the gaffer and Craig (Fagan, assistant manager) and we pretty much play the same way.

“I know what the gaffer wants and I know what I can bring to the team, so apart from the personnel, it’s pretty much the same.

“It was quite familiar coming in on Friday morning.

“I’ve been in this league for the last three or four seasons, so I know a big bunch of the group.

“It’s always nice coming in with familiar faces but the ones I didn’t know, I’d like to get to know a lot more and I’ll do that before our next game.

“Building relationships on the pitch is the most important, on and off the pitch, and hopefully positive results will come. We’re going to be working hard, as you can imagine.”

Maidstone are without a game this weekend following their early exit from the FA Cup.

They’re back in league action at Dagenham next Saturday.