By JACK FOULGER

Little more than 72 hours after Saturday’s draw at Torquay United and Maidstone United are set to return to the county town for arguably their biggest test of the season yet. Paying a visit to ME14 on Tuesday are local rivals Ebbsfleet United in a Kent derby that will see whoever wins top the National League South.

HISTORY

Although the club’s roots can officially be traced back to the 1890s, Gravesend & Northfleet were first officially founded in 1946 following a merger of Gravesend United and Northfleet United. For almost the entire remainder of the 20th century, the Reds remained in and around the Southern League, with a brief spell on the national stage seeing them compete in the Alliance Premier League (now National League) as a founder member between 1979 and 1982.

This period also saw the Fleet enjoy various FA Cup runs, reaching the fourth round proper in the 1962/63 campaign before eventually bowing out to Sunderland after a replay. A run to Round Three in 1995/96 also saw them travel to Premier League outfit Aston Villa before subsequently losing 3-0 to Brian Little’s side.

Moving into the 2000s, the club continued to evolve both on and off the field, achieving promotion back to the Conference in 2002 before changing their name to Ebbsfleet United in 2007 to coincide with the nearby Ebbsfleet International railway station, which opened in the same year. However, potentially the most significant success of the decade would come one year later in 2008 as the Reds’ debut appearance at Wembley Stadium saw them win the FA Trophy following a 1-0 victory over Torquay United in front of over 40,000 spectators.

Moving forward, the Fleet embarked on a period of inconsistency, averaging a relegation or promotion almost every two years between 2010 and 2025, having switched divisions seven times in that period. Key moments in that era also included Step 2 play-off final defeats to Dover Athletic and Maidstone as well as a controversial relegation that saw the Reds demoted from the National League by just 0.002 points on a points-per-game basis during the pandemic. (Ed’s note: this was portrayed as controversial, but it’s still a bigger margin than goal difference).

Last season saw Ebbsfleet begin their latest spell in the NL South with a ninth-place finish, having spent the vast majority of the campaign in the running for the play-offs before eventually missing out on the final day. However, ongoing financial issues had looked to put the club at risk both on and off the field going into this season, with the National League imposing what turned out to be a six-point suspended points deduction and temporary player registration ban. This also prevented the Fleet from playing their first six league matches before there was sufficient evidence that they could fulfil the relevant financial obligations.

THE SQUAD

Despite a disappointing end to 2025/26 and uncertainty surrounding the start of this season, Tuesday’s opponents maintain a healthy squad size of 23 players, of which 14 remain from last campaign.

One player most Stones fans will be looking out for is former right-back Charlie Seaman, who is currently amidst his second season with Ebbsfleet after making the move from ME14 in summer 2025. The former Doncaster Rovers man played an instrumental role in George Elokobi’s side that reached the NL South Promotion Final in the 2024/25 campaign, making 41 league appearances whilst playing a key role in a team that equalled the record for the most NLS clean sheets in a season.

In the middle of the park, central midfielder Ben Chapman currently stands as the Fleet’s longest-serving player, having joined from Dulwich Hamlet back in July 2020. During his time at Stonebridge Road, the former England C international has featured over 200 times for the Reds, playing a major role in the side that won the NL South with 103 points back in the 2022/23 campaign, whilst also experiencing the lows of relegation just two seasons later. As of now, he currently finds himself as his team’s joint top-scorer in 2026/27 with five goals, tied with new signing Daniel Ogunleye.

THE GAFFER

At 36 years and 11 months old, Fleet gaffer Josh Wright currently stands as the second-youngest manager in the NL South, having been born 348 days after new Walton & Hersham boss Rúben Gaspar.

Three months after a brief spell as interim manager, Wright formally took the reins at Stonebridge Road in December 2024, following the departure of former manager Harry Watling with the club sat bottom of the National League. Despite being unable to save the Fleet from relegation, he remained at DA11 the following season as the Reds narrowly missed out on a play-off place with 77 points from 46 matches.

Prior to management, Wright enjoyed an illustrious 18-year-long playing career that saw him make over 500 appearances across the football pyramid with notable spells at Gillingham, Scunthorpe United and Millwall. His two stints in Medway saw him part of the Gills’ 2008/09 promotion-winning side from League Two, whilst also winning their Player of the Season award in the 2016/17 campaign.

FORM

Despite starting the season six matches behind schedule following their temporary suspension from the National League, Ebbsfleet currently stand at 11 games played. This has seen them claim seven wins and four draws without a single defeat, making them just one of two unbeaten sides in the division alongside Essex outfit Chelmsford City.

In recent weeks, Josh Wright’s side have also run rampant on numerous occasions, having scored 17 goals in their last four matches to put the Fleet down as joint-top of the NL South top goalscorer charts. Most recently, they hosted Ryan Peters’ Maidenhead United side, where a convincing performance from the Reds saw them ease past the Magpies last Saturday following a hat-trick from midfielder Ben Chapman.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since the promotion to the NL South in 2015, the Stones have met the Fleet on 15 competitive occasions, winning seven, drawing three and losing five times in a fixture that has undeniably produced numerous memorable days for both sides.

Arguably by far the most significant of these for Maidstone was 2016’s NLS Promotion Final win at Stonebridge Road, as Jay Saunders’ side twice came from behind to force the tie to penalties courtesy of goals from Bobby-Joe Taylor and Dumebi Dumaka. Stones ‘keeper Lee Worgan subsequently went on to steal the show by saving two spot-kicks, making the decisive stop from striker Danny Kedwell that saw Maidstone promoted to the fifth tier for the first time since reforming.

Most recently, the two sides entertained each other at ME14 back in January, as successful efforts from Jephte Tanga and Deon Moore as well as an own goal from Josh Passley saw the Stones run out 3-0 winners.

THE STADIUM

Despite ongoing ambitions to build a new stadium, Stonebridge Road remains as Ebbsfleet’s home venue having first opened back in 1905 when it housed the original Northfleet United. Currently known as the Morrows Stadium for sponsorship reasons, the North Kent site holds an official capacity of 4,769 including 2,179 seats across the ground.

The most significant development to the stadium in recent years saw the construction of a new £5 million main stand spanning the western length of the pitch. First opened in 2016, features of note include a modern hospitality lounge as well as the club’s current boardroom and changing room facilities.