Ebbsfleet United F.C.

Ebbsfleet United

Full name	Ebbsfleet United Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Fleet
Founded	1946 (1946) (as Gravesend & Northfleet)
Ground	Stonebridge Road, Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Gravesend
Ground Capacity	5,011 (500 seated)
Owner	KEH Sports Ltd
Chairman	Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi
Manager	Daryl McMahon
League	Conference South
2014–15	Conference South, 8th
Home colours Away colours

Ebbsfleet United Football Club is an English association football club based in Northfleet, Kent. The club participates in the Conference South, the sixth tier of English football. The team plays their home matches at Stonebridge Road.

Prior to May 2007 the club was called Gravesend & Northfleet.^[1] Between 2008 and 2013, the club was owned by the web-based venture MyFootballClub, whose members voted on player transfers, budgets and ticket prices among other things instead of those decisions being made exclusively by the club's management and staff as at most other clubs.^[2]

History

Gravesend & Northfleet F.C. was formed in 1946, following the Second World War, after a merger between Gravesend United (originally formed in 1893) and Northfleet United (originally formed in 1890) with the new club retaining the red & white home colours (and the Stonebridge Road stadium) of Northfleet United.^[3] From 1969 and 1971, Roy Hodgson, who later became manager of the national teams of Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Finland and England, was a player at the club, making 59 appearances.^[4] In 1979, the team was one of the founder members of the Alliance Premier League,^[5] but were relegated back into the Southern League Premier Division three seasons later.^[6]

For the 1997–98 season, Gravesend & Northfleet left the Southern League and joined the Isthmian League. They played in the Premier Division of the league until the 2001–02 season, when they finished as champions and earned promotion back into the Football Conference, where they remained until being relegated to the Conference South at the end of the 2009–10 season.

MyFootballClub takeover

On 13 November 2007, it was announced that the website MyFootballClub had entered a deal in principle to take over the club.^[7] Approximately 27,000 MyFootballClub members each paid £35 to provide an approximate £700,000 takeover fund and all owned an equal share in the club but made no profit nor received a dividend. Members had a vote on transfers as well as player selection and all major decisions. Because of the nature of MyFootballClub, it was announced that manager Liam Daish would become instead the first team Head Coach. His backroom staff would remain at the club.^[7]

Between 16 and 23 January 2008, MyFootballClub members were given the choice to vote on whether to proceed with the takeover and whether to allow Liam Daish to continue with his plans for the January transfer window. Both resulted in overwhelming "Yes" votes: 95.89% voted to proceed with the takeover while 95.86% voted to allow Daish to continue his transfer plans. The deal was ratified at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club's board on 19 February.

On 10 May 2008, Ebbsfleet United won the FA Trophy, defeating Torquay United 1–0 in the final on the club's first trip to Wembley, becoming the first Kentish team to win this trophy.^[8] Ebbsfleet United went on to win the Kent Senior Cup in the same season, with a 4–0 victory over Cray Wanderers on 26 July 2008.

After one year of ownership a majority of MyFC members failed to renew, with membership numbers dropping from a peak of 32,000 at the time of the takeover to just over 9,000 on deadline day 2009. The club had previously stated that 15,000 was the minimum required.^[9] As of September 2010, two and a half years after the takeover, there were around 3,500 members.^[10]

In an October 2010 vote among MyFC members, the earlier decision to allow the team manager autonomy in transfer dealings was rescinded by a majority of 35 on a total vote of 132, meaning that the membership would have 48 hours to endorse a proposed signing or sale before it can be finalised. Both the manager and the club secretary opposed the change.^[11]

On 15 May 2011, Ebbsfleet United won the Conference South play-off final 4–2 against Farnborough and were thus promoted back to the Conference Premier at the first time of asking,^[12]

On 23 December 2011, it was announced that the club needed to raise £50,000 by the end of the 2011/12 season or risk going out of business.^[13]

On 23 April 2013 it was announced that MyFC's members had voted in favour of handing two thirds of MyFC's shares to the Fleet Trust, a supporters' trust for the club, and the final one third to one of the club's major shareholders (believed to be former club chairman Phil Sonsara).^[14]

Kuwaiti ownership

KEH Sports Ltd, a group of Kuwaiti investors advised by a former chief executive of Charlton Athletic, agreed in May 2013 to take over the club, settling its debts (some at 10% of their value), promising investment in the squad and in a training facility.^[15] Liam Daish subsequently departed as manager and the new ownership appointed Dover Athletic coach and former Charlton Athletic defender Steve Brown as the new manager. Despite a very slow start to the campaign, results eventually began to pick up and a club record was broken just before Christmas as Brown's team achieved nine wins in succession. A 2–0 win over Sutton United broke the long-standing record which subsequently put them amongst the title contenders but poor runs of form were to follow. Ebbsfleet eventually reached the playoffs, helped by goalkeeper Preston Edwards keeping eleven clean sheets at Stonebridge Road over the course of the season, but lost in the final to fellow Kent club Dover Athletic.^[16]

Colours

Ebbsfleet's traditional home colours are red shirt with white detailing, white shorts and red socks. Away colours have varied, with blue and white stripes favoured in the late eighties before colour combinations such as white/black and yellow/navy or black were used. MyFC members chose white with red detailing as the away colour in 2008-09, but a clash with the home colours of Woking and other clubs was not spotted until after the kit had been supplied, so a third shirt with green body and white sleeves was used with the white shorts and socks. For the 2010–11 season, members made the unusual choice of purple for the away kit.

Seasons

Season[17]	∆	League	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD	Pos	P/R	FA Cup	FA Trophy	Kent Senior Cup	Notes
1946–47	5	South	32	17	4	11	82	58	38	24	6/17		1R			First season after GUFC and NUFC merged
1947–48	5	South	34	11	6	17	52	81	28	−29	13/18		2Q		RU
1948–49	5	South	42	20	9	13	60	46	49	14	7/22		3Q		Winner
1949–50	5	South	46	16	9	21	88	81	41	7	15/24		1R
1950–51	5	South	44	12	14	18	65	83	38	−18	18/23		1Q
1951–52	5	South	42	12	7	23	68	88	31	−20	21/22		1Q
1952–53	5	South	42	19	7	16	83	76	45	7	9/22		4Q		Winner
1953–54	5	South	42	16	8	18	76	77	40	−1	15/22		Pre
1954–55	5	South	42	9	9	24	62	98	27	−36	22/22		1Q
1955–56	5	South	42	17	8	17	79	75	42	4	12/22		1Q
1956–57	5	South	42	21	11	10	74	58	53	16	5/22		2Q
1957–58	5	South	42	27	5	10	109	71	59	38	1/22		4Q			Southern League champions
1958–59	5	South-SE	32	21	2	9	79	54	44	25	2/17		4Q
1959–60	5	South-P	42	14	8	20	71	87	36	−16	17/22		4Q
1960–61	5	South-P	42	15	7	20	75	101	37	−26	18/22		1Q
1961–62	5	South-P	42	17	4	21	59	92	38	−33	14/22		1Q
1962–63	5	South-P	40	10	3	27	62	91	23	−29	20/21	R	4R			Best FA Cup run
1963–64	6	South-1	42	7	9	26	43	96	23	−53	20/22		2R
1964–65	6	South-1	42	9	7	26	57	101	25	−44	21/22		1R
1965–66	6	South-1	46	16	9	21	84	86	41	−2	17/24		1R
1966–67	6	South-1	46	11	9	26	63	106	31	−43	21/24		4Q
1967–68	6	South-1	42	6	7	29	28	112	19	−84	22/22		1Q
1968–69	6	South-1	42	8	9	25	51	79	25	−28	21/22		1Q
1969–70	6	South-1	42	13	11	18	62	71	37	−9	16/22		1Q	2R
1970–71	6	South-1	38	19	10	9	74	42	48	32	3/20	P	2Q	3Q
1971–72	5	South-P	42	5	6	31	30	110	16	−80	22/22	R	1Q	3Q
1972–73	6	South-1S	42	22	7	13	81	55	51	26	6/22		1Q	1R
1973–74	6	South-1S	38	13	13	12	58	52	39	6	10/20		2Q	3Q
1974–75	6	South-1S	38	24	12	2	70	30	60	40	1/20	P	1Q	3Q		Southern League First Division South Champions
1975–76	5	South-P	42	16	18	8	49	47	50	2	6/22		1Q	3Q
1976–77	5	South-P	42	13	13	16	38	43	39	−5	11/22		1Q	1Q	RU
1977–78	5	South-P	42	19	11	12	57	42	49	15	5/22		2Q	2R
1978–79	5	South-P	42	15	12	15	56	55	42	1	12/22		1R	3Q
1979–80	5	APL	38	17	10	11	49	44	44	5	5/20		1R	2Q		Alliance Premier League founder club. Highest ranked position in English league system (97th)
1980–81	5	APL	38	13	8	17	48	55	34	−7	15/20		1R	1R	Winner
1981–82	5	APL	42	10	10	22	51	69	40	−18	20/22	R	4Q	3Q
1982–83	6	South-P	38	14	12	12	49	50	54	−1	10/20		4Q	3Q
1983–84	6	South-P	38	18	9	11	50	38	63	12	4/20		3Q	2Q
1984–85	6	South-P	38	12	12	14	46	46	48	0	13/20		2Q	3Q
1985–86	6	South-P	38	9	9	20	29	55	36	−26	20/20	R	3Q	1Q
1986–87	7	South-S	38	18	7	13	67	46	61	21	6/20		1Q	1Q		Lowest ranked position in English league system (142nd)
1987–88	7	South-S	40	20	12	8	60	32	72	28	4/21		3Q	2Q
1988–89	7	South-S	42	27	6	9	70	40	87	30	2/22	P	1Q	3R
1989–90	6	South-P	42	18	12	12	44	50	66	−6	7/22		3Q	1R
1990–91	6	South-P	42	9	7	26	46	91	34	−45	21/22		1Q	1R	RU
1991–92	6	South-P	42	8	9	25	39	87	33	−48	22/22	R	4Q	3Q
1992–93	7	South-S	42	25	4	13	99	63	79	36	4/22		1Q	2Q
1993–94	7	South-S	42	27	11	4	87	24	92	63	1/22	P	1R	2Q		Southern League Southern Division champions.
1994–95	6	South-P	42	13	13	16	38	55	52	−17	14/22		3Q	2Q
1995–96	6	South-P	42	15	10	17	60	62	55	−2	11/22		3R	2Q
1996–97	6	South-P	42	16	7	19	63	73	55	−10	14/22		1Q	1Q
1997–98	6	Isth-P	42	15	8	19	65	67	53	−2	13/22		1Q	2Q		Switched to Isthmian League
1998–99	6	Isth-P	42	18	6	18	54	53	60	1	10/22		3Q	2R
1999-00	6	Isth-P	42	15	10	17	66	67	55	−1	11/22		2Q	3R	Winner
2000–01	6	Isth-P	42	22	5	15	63	46	71	17	6/22		1R	1R	Winner
2001–02	6	Isth-P	42	31	6	5	90	33	99	57	1/22	P	1R	5R	Winner	Isthmian League Premier Division champions
2002–03	5	Conf	42	12	12	18	62	73	48	−11	17/22		4Q	3R
2003–04	5	Conf	42	14	15	13	69	66	57	3	11/22		2R	3R
2004–05	5	Conf-Nat	42	13	11	18	58	64	50	−6	14/22		4Q	QF
2005–06	5	Conf-Nat	42	13	10	19	45	57	49	−12	16/22		4Q	2R	RU
2006–07	5	Conf-Nat	46	21	11	14	63	56	74	7	7/24		4Q	QF
2007–08	5	Conf-Nat	46	19	12	15	65	61	69	4	11/24		4Q	Champion	Winner	Renamed as Ebbsfleet United
2008–09	5	Conf-Nat	46	16	10	20	52	60	58	−8	14/24		1R	SF		MyFootballClub takeover
2009–10	5	Conf-Nat	44	12	8	24	50	82	44	−32	22/23	R	4Q	1R
2010–11	6	Conf-Sth	42	22	12	8	75	51	78	24	3/22	P	1R	2R
2011–12	5	Conf-Nat	46	14	12	20	69	84	54	−15	14/24		4Q	3R
2012–13	5	Conf-Nat	46	8	15	23	55	89	39	−34	23/24	R	1R	1R
2013–14	6	Conf-Sth	42	21	11	10	67	40	74	27	4/22		4Q	3R	Winner

Honours

• Southern League
  • Champions: 1957–58
• Southern League South Eastern Section
  • Runners Up: 1958–59
• Southern League Division One South
  • Champions: 1974–75
• Southern League Southern Division
  • Champions: 1993–94
  • Runners Up: 1988–89
• Isthmian League Premier Division
  • Champions: 2001–02
• Conference South
  • Playoff Winners: 2010–11
• Southern League Cup
  • Winners: 1977–78
  • Finalists: 1957–58
• FA Cup
  • Best season: 4th round, 1962–63
• FA Trophy
  • Winners: 2007–08
• Kent Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1948–49, 1952–53, 1980–81, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2007–08, 2013–14
  • Runners-Up: 1947–48, 1976–77, 1990–91, 2005–06
• Kent Floodlight Cup
  • Winners: 1969–70
  • Runners-up: 1972–73

Backroom staff

^[18]

Club officials

Position	Staff
Chairman	Dr Abdulla Al Humaidi
Executive Vice Chairman	Peter Varney
Club Secretary	Peter Danzey
Vice Presidents	Jason Botley Adrian Felstead Roly Edwards Duncan Holt Brian Kilcullen Mick Ward Mark Lindop Charles Webster Graham Hartup David Rutnam Phil Sonsara Alan Roberts Alan Parker Carol Parker Barry Stevens

Coaching and medical staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Daryl McMahon[19]
Assistant Manager	Vacant
Goalkeeping Coach	Ron Hillyard
Academy Coach	Daryl McMahon

Players

As of 28 June 2013.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Preston Edwards GK Jamie Turner DF Anthony Acheampong DF Tom Bonner DF Kenny Clark DF Matt Fish DF Joe Howe DF Kelvin Langmead DF Aiden Palmer DF Dean Pooley MF Matt Johnson

No. Position Player MF Stuart Lewis MF Theo Lewis MF Mark Gower MF Dean Rance MF Sean Shields FW Adam Cunnington FW Matthew Godden FW Casey Johnson FW Danny Kedwell MF Tyrone Marsh FW Charlie Sheringham

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player DF Lloyd Harrington (at Lewes) MF Brendan Kiernan (at Hampton and Richmond Borough)

No. Position Player

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record.

• Tommy Baldwin
• Jimmy Bullard
• Jimmy Logie
• Lionel Smith
• Tim Soutar
• Barry Thornley
• Roy Hodgson
• Harry McDonald

References

External links

• Official website

Football Conference Premier Clubs AFC Telford United Aldershot Town Alfreton Town Altrincham Barnet Braintree Town Bristol Rovers Chester Dartford Dover Athletic Eastleigh FC Halifax Town Forest Green Rovers Gateshead Grimsby Town Kidderminster Harriers Lincoln City Macclesfield Town Nuneaton Town Southport Torquay United Welling United Woking Wrexham Grounds Aggborough Blundell Park Crabble Athletic Ground Cressing Road Deva Stadium Gateshead International Stadium Haig Avenue Kingfield Stadium Liberty Way Memorial Stadium Moss Lane Moss Rose New Bucks Head North Street Park View Road Plainmoor Princes Park Racecourse Ground Recreation Ground Sincil Bank Ten Acres The Hive Stadium The New Lawn The Shay North AFC Fylde Barrow Boston United Brackley Town Bradford Park Avenue Chorley Colwyn Bay Gainsborough Trinity Gloucester City Guiseley Harrogate Town Hednesford Town Hyde Leamington Lowestoft Town North Ferriby United Oxford City Solihull Moors Stalybridge Celtic Stockport County Tamworth Worcester City South Basingstoke Town Bath City Bishop's Stortford Boreham Wood Bromley Chelmsford City Concord Rangers Eastbourne Borough Ebbsfleet United Farnborough Gosport Borough Havant & Waterlooville Hayes & Yeading United Hemel Hempstead Town Maidenhead United Staines Town St Albans City Sutton United Wealdstone Weston-super-Mare Whitehawk Seasons 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 See also: Conference League Cup

Coordinates: 51°26′58″N 0°19′21″E / 51.44943°N 0.322369°E / 51.44943; 0.322369