Ebbsfleet United

Club History

Who are Ebbsfleet United?

A leopard doesn’t change its spots, however. And a rose by any other name still smells as sweet. As sweet as a post-industrial landscape by the River Thames can smell, anyway. Ebbsfleet United were born Gravesend and Northfleet in 1946; the outcome of a merger between – wait for it – Gravesend United and Northfleet United. How do they think these ones up? From the word ‘go’, the Fleet would be members of the Southern League.

It took just 11 years for Fleet to be crowned kings of the Southern League; scoring 109 times en-route to the 1957-8 title. After that, success dried up. In the same 1962-3 season as their best-ever FA Cup run, reaching a Fourth Round replay with Sunderland, they were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division. They returned in 1971 (for one season) and again in 1975 for slightly longer, however.

In 1979, Fleet were founder members of the Alliance Premier League and held out with the non-league elite for three terms before being relegated back to the Southern League. The 80s and 90s were, quite literally, a definite up-and-down period for the club; swapping the Premier Division for the Southern Division (and vice-versa, obvs.) on four occasions. In 1997, however, it was time for them to join the Isthmian League instead…

How to get to Ebbsfleet United

By Car

By Road

Take the M25 towards the Dartford Crossing. Once you cross to the other side of the Thames and pass through the tolls, leave at the first junction for the A206 (Erith and Swanscombe might just be on those signs).

Continue following the signs along the A206 for the Bluewater shopping complex. Do this until you reach the junction for the A226, which has a McDonalds located to the top left of the roundabout. Take the first exit and head for Northfleet.

After 1.5 miles will be Grove Road. Turn left here and the ground isn’t that much further.

By Rail

By Rail

Station: NORTHFLEET
Services to: LONDON BRIDGE

The station in Northfleet is just 500 yards from the ground, as long as you exit left from the station. Go right and the walk will become longer and longer until you correct yourself.

Parking

Parking

Down the local side streets, there are some limited parking opportunities. Thamesway – the road between the station and the roundabout outside the stadium – is a ‘Clearway’. That means, if you park here, the authorities will clear away your car. Well, maybe not. You’ll get a ticket though.

Ebbsfleet International Station offers matchday parking in Car Park C for £3. The club suggests using this for your peace of mind. But they also suggest having small change with you for payment. It might be hard for the staff to accept a £20 note.