Stadium Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent. DA11 9GN

Telephone01474 533796

Club Colours Red and White
Nickname The Fleet

Official Club Website www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

Key Personnel

Head Coach at Stonebridge Road is the experienced central defender Liam Daish. Liam began his career as a youth player at Portsmouth in 1984 before joining Cambridge United in 1988. A long time target for Bees manager Barry Fry Liam arrived at Underhill soon afterwards - along with the likes of Gary Bull, Gary Poole and George Reilly on loan. However unlike the aforementioned trio who signed on permanently Daish played only a dozen games for the Bees before returning to Cambridge. Spells at Birmingham City - where Barry got his man, made him captain and promptly won a promotion and a Football League Trophy at Wembley with Liam at the helm -and Coventry City (£1.5 million transfer fee) followed. Daish won 5 full caps for Northern Ireland, before injuries began to plague him. He signed for non-league Havant & Waterlooville in 1999. He jointly managed there with Mick Jenkins before accepting the caretaker manager job at Welling United. He joined Gravesend & Northfleet as Manager in 2005.

Impress the Locals
The club changed its name from Gravesend & Northfleet in May 2007 as the club sponsors Eurostar trains operate through a station named Ebbsfleet International. Since then My Football Club website founded by Football Journalist Will Brooks, recruited thousands of people across the world to purchase an English Football Club allowing paid up members to keep control of the club through a democratic system conducted on the internet. In January 2008 95% of MyFC agreed to purchase 75% of Ebbsfleet United. The rest they say is history. The club won the FA Trophy at Wembley in May 2008 beating Torquay United 1-0.

Directions by RoadOnto the M25 and over the Dartford crossing. Keep to the left-hand lanes on the bridge and exit the main road immediately after the tollbooths i.e. the A206. At the roundabout follow the signs for Gravesend and into Crossways Boulevard still the A206. Follow this road to its end crossing over three roundabouts. At the fourth roundabout turn right heading towards Bluewater. At the next roundabout turn left into London Road - this is now the A226. Quite simply stay on this road until it becomes Galley Hill Road and then Stonebridge Road.Down the steep hill and the ground is at the bottom on the left, you can't miss it. Roadside parking is available all around the ground.

Directions by Train

The nearest station is Northfleet which is only about 5 minutes walk from the ground and is reachable in under an hour from London Bridge station. As you leave the station go (more or less) straight ahead until you reach the main road.Turn left and walk down the hill and the ground is on your right.

Supporters Coaches

Barnet Football Club Supporters Association organised coach travel to pre season friendlies is frankly highly unlikely to be cost effective so for information please check the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk.

Eating and Drinking Locally

There is very little food wise close to the ground but in years gone by the catering in the ground was always of a high standard - I recall one of our little band of brothers in 2004 eating a ¾lb burger which had three burgers in a French bread stick. That doesn't sound too bad.

The Jolly Drayman in closeby Wellington Street (passed the ground and a short walk up the hill) evidently is the pub and hotel that has the best selections of beer in Gravesend and serves lunches too. The Plough pub is very close to the ground and is popular with the locals. It was always heaving full of Bees fans for our past visits.

The Social Club

There is a strict no visiting fans policy when segregation is in force so we should be ok for this one.

Ground Description

Real football ground alert! The main stand is one of the oldest remaining grandstands at any football ground in this country and it is without doubt an exquisite piece of architecture and quite superb. It seats around 500 and away fans were not permitted to transfer into it. I do accept in some people's eyes it is substandard for watching 21st century football but I am old fashioned. If it were a church or a cottage it would be viewed with a lot more respect. In time sadly it will be demolished and ho hum, shut up Reckless. The Northfleet end is covered and has had seats bolted to the terrace risers since our last visit. The Popular side or Stonebridge Road Terrace is partially covered while the open Swanscombe Road Terrace completes the picture.

Admission Prices

Normal admission prices for this season are planned as follows:

Terrace Adults £13, Concessions £7

Seating Adults £15, Concessions £9

Our Last Meeting& Memories

Our last visit to Stonebridge Road was December in our promotion winning season 2004/5. The Bees were simply unstoppable on that day and run out 3-1 winners with goals from Liam Hatch, Dean Sinclair and Nicky Bailey.

Season 2002/3 gave the travelling Barnet fans a laugh with the sight of Roland the Rats' nephew tearing around the terrace and trying to copulate with Janet Matthewson's fur boots! Witnessing Jimmy Greaves score an breathtaking equaliser at Stonebridge Road in a Southern League Premier game, and then sitting on the train home surrounded by a load of Punk Rockers and considering dying my hair amber. Jimmy's best games in a Bees shirt seemed to be reserved for those away from Underhill. It was a real privilege to be one of the loyal Barnet away following at that time who week in and week out saw the jealousy and envy on opposing supporters faces as we chanted the great man's name - marvellous. A nail biting 3-2 APL win also at Stonebridge Road in 1982 is a vivid memory not only for the result but also because Mrs Reckless was smitten by the recently purchased Bees striker Danny Westwood and he scored a beauty!

Celebrity Watch

It is an interesting fact that the 16th century red Indian princess Pocahontas is buried in St George's Church Gravesend and the town holds a monthly guided walk in her name, and that the famous celebrities are spilling out all over the place. Mr Blobby, Joe Pasqualie, Herr Flick, Cheryl Baker, Roger Moore, the list is endless!