CLUB
Ebbsfleet United
Updated
There but for the grace of the footballing gods go us, right? It’s almost interesting (“Almost”. Ed.) to see what became of sides we used to spar with regularly with during our Conference days. For each Crawley, there is a Kiddy; with each Morecambe, there is an Altrincham. For the few to make it up, an equal and opposite number (if not more) went the other way. And Ebbsfleet United are one of those you can count in with the latter.
Of course, we call them Ebbsfleet. To most of you, they’re Gravesend and Northfleet in old money. The artists formerly known as Gravesend and Northfleet, if you want. Like Purfleet becoming Thurrock, the Kent side are rare enough in changing their name in situ. And what better reason for changing name than for a new railway station; part of a 2007 sponsorship agreement that also saw Eurostar become kit sponsors for three years.
Our record against the Fleet is formidable enough too; winning 15 of our 22 encounters to date. But they have one small bragging right. They were one of the few sides to beat us during our 2009-10 Blue Square Premier title-winning season.
Head-to-Head Story
First Meeting
5–1 26 Oct 1996 · A · FA Cup R4QLatest Meeting
2–0 12 Dec 2009 · H · FA Trophy R1Biggest Win
5–1 26 Oct 1996 · A · FA Cup R4QHeaviest Defeat
0–4 23 Aug 2008 · A · Blue Square PremierPrevious Meetings
Matches before 1980-81 pre-date Stevenage's senior status and are excluded from the head-to-head totals.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec 2009 | FA Trophy R1 | H | 2-0 |
| 1 Dec 2009 | Blue Square Premier | A | 1-2 |
| 18 Aug 2009 | Blue Square Premier | H | 3-0 |
| 11 Apr 2009 | Blue Square Premier | H | 1-0 |
| 21 Mar 2009 | FA Trophy SF | A | 1-0 |
| 14 Mar 2009 | FA Trophy SF | H | 3-2 |
| 2 Dec 2008 | Setanta Shield R4 | A | 0-3 |
| 23 Aug 2008 | Blue Square Premier | A | 0-4 |
| 21 Mar 2008 | Blue Square Premier | H | 3-1 |
| 1 Sep 2007 | Blue Square Premier | A | 1-0 |
| 27 Jan 2007 | Conference National | A | 1-1 |
| 9 Dec 2006 | Conference National | H | 3-0 |
| 25 Mar 2006 | Nationwide Conference | H | 2-0 |
| 29 Oct 2005 | Nationwide Conference | A | 2-0 |
| 16 Apr 2005 | Nationwide Conference | H | 2-0 |
| 25 Jan 2005 | Conference Cup R3 | A | 1-0 |
| 4 Sep 2004 | Nationwide Conference | A | 1-2 |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Nationwide Conference | A | 3-2 |
| 23 Sep 2003 | Nationwide Conference | H | 2-2 |
| 25 Jan 2003 | Nationwide Conference | A | 1-2 |
| 26 Aug 2002 | Nationwide Conference | H | 1-0 |
| 26 Oct 1996 | FA Cup R4Q | A | 5-1 |
Club Details
Address
Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9GNP
Phone
Website
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 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
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
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.