Maidstone new boy Joe Anderson learned the ropes from former England manager Roy Hodgson.

Anderson, who is Tom Mills’ replacement at left-back, was a youngster at Fulham under Hodgson, himself an ex-Stones player.

The veteran boss gave him his debut in a League Cup tie at Manchester City and named him on the bench during Fulham’s remarkable run to the 2010 Europa League final.

Anderson was sold to Lincoln but loved his time under Hodgson, who won league titles in Sweden and led Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup in a managerial career that also took in Inter Milan and Liverpool.

Anderson, 27, said: “Roy, where he’d worked all over Europe, had picked up bits from every country but particularly from Italy because every day was shape-based drills, so the players knew exactly what they were doing.

“From Monday to Friday we’d be doing the same practice over and over again.

“He was big on repetition and it meant come Saturday there could be no excuses. That side was the best Fulham have ever done.

“I liked the way Roy worked. When you’re a young lad who’s been given a chance, you take everything in.

“He liked to include the youngsters and the boys bought into what he was doing.

“If he’d said ‘we’re doing this’ I’d have thought it was the best decision in the world.”

Maidstone, conscious that Mills may not be able to go full-time, invited Anderson along to training at the end of last season.

He’d left National League rivals Bromley after four years, with Stones boss Jay Saunders keen to get him involved.

He was in the crowd when United beat Boreham Wood to clinch safety and again for the goalless draw against National League champions Lincoln.

He has big shoes to fill, with Mills on his way after seven years, but wants to show fans what he can do.

He said: “I was hoping I’d get something because it’s unheard of to be training with someone before the season has finished, so Jay must have had me in mind.

“I saw the club tweeted when Millsy left that it was seven years and 300-odd games.

“I don’t think it’ll be easy taking his place but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“I like to join in and be more of an attacking full-back than defensive.

“I like to run the wingers back, which makes my day easier defensively.

“I love to get on the ball and get crosses in and have shots.

“With the way the game’s changed, with all the different formations and three in the middle, the width’s got to come from somewhere.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years, full-back is probably the position that’s changed the most.”

Anderson qualified as a black-cab driver after leaving professional football and will fit his work around United’s morning training sessions.

He said: “I had offers to stay up north in League 2 after Lincoln were relegated but I wasn’t enjoying living away, so I decided to come back, do my knowledge to become a black-cab driver and play non-league football near where I live. It’s worked out perfectly.

“When you get nearer 30 you need to think about life after football and fortunately I’ve got a head start.”