Chair
I have followed The Fleet since my first visit in 1966. Following my retirement, I was able to attend games regularly and was recruited to The Fleet Supporters’ Trust Board by the late Chris Pilkington. I became Chairman in 2016 – a role I still fulfil.
My sporting interests included playing football and cricket for Kent Police and refereeing in local and Kent League football.
Vice Chair
I have been a Fleet supporter since 1968 and have been a member of the Fleet Trust since the inaugural meeting which set up the Trust. I was elected to the Trust Board at that meeting and have served on it ever since. I am responsible for fundraising in the past, this has included raffles and boot fairs, and currently, produce and sell the Golden Goals tickets on match days.
Society Secretary
I grew up in a Fleet supporting family in Swanscombe and began attending matches with my grandfather, Bill Sage, in the early 1960s. The first Fleet player that I can definitely recall is Tony Newcombe. I am a retired Chartered Legal Executive. I have been the Society Secretary of the Fleet Supporters’ Trust since late 2006. My role has been mainly to handle the legal aspects of the Trust and I currently have dealings with the Financial Conduct Authority and Gravesham Borough Council, the latter being in relation to obtaining and renewing the licence to operate the 50/50 draw. I also take the minutes of our Board meetings and the AGM and answer questions about the Society’s rules. I also provide back-up on match days, when needed, to sell Golden Goal and 50/50 tickets. Fleet Trivia Fact: I was in the same class at school as former Fleet player Pip Jeffrey and also the
nephew of Northfleet United, Spurs and England legend Ted Ditchburn.
Treasurer
Having lived in the area most of my life, I have followed Ebbsfleet for many years, my first visit to Stonebridge Road was back in the ’70s watching friends play for the club. Following my retirement after 40 years with HSBC, I have had more time to become involved with the club and join the Fleet Board at the AGM last year and I have recently taken over the role of Treasurer.
Walking Football Rep.
I became a Board Member of the Fleet Supporters’ Trust in 2017. I retired from British Gas Global and became interested in Ebbsfleet United when they won promotion to the Vanarama League, having got fed up with never being able to obtain Premiership tickets, so decided to support this local side and never looked back. I have been instrumental in establishing the Ebbsfleet United Walking Football Team in association with the club and members of the Fleet Supporters’ Trust.
Having only ever worked at The Bank of England and The Financial Conduct Authority, I decided to take early retirement in August 2021. My intention was never to become a couch potato and as such I have been volunteering at The Cyclopark and EUFC since October 2021: I also have a zero-hour contract at Shorne Wood Country Park. I am married to Karen (Hammers!!) and have two footy loving daughters (one Hammer and one Black Cat, the latter taking after my passion for Sunderland). I cycle to keep fit, love walking my Springer Olly and have two fantastic grandchildren. I have been supporting Fleet for about 10 years and was invited to join the Trust Board at the 2021 AGM.
I have been a Fleet Season Ticket Holder since the 80’s and a regular at both Home and Away games for years. I cover the 50/50 Ticket selling when required and do the Bus Stops, drivers’ collections and help with the Fish and Chips orders on the longer away trips. Away from The Fleet I am a Kent Cricket Member and spend as much of the summer as I can watching Kent.
I work for North Kent College in an Apprenticeship support role dealing with funding and mountains of paperwork and have been there for 20 years.
Supporters’ Rep. & Membership Secretary
I became a member of the supporters’ trust in July 2018 and joined the board in November 2018. I work full time as an Office Manager for an IT Security Company. Since joining the board, I have helped out with a variety of things from selling 50/50, away travel and organising the End of Season Bash. I have now taken on the role of Supporters Representative.
I was born in the family home in Boucher Drive close to Northfleet fire and ambulance station. My first Fleet game was a midweek game attending with mates from Northfleet School for Boys. I probably watched no more than three or four games a season for thirty years. I started watching Charlton Athletic as a 13 year old then West Ham United where I was a home and away supporter. I was privileged to swap stories with Cliff Robinson on our coach journeys. I played Saturday football for Bowater Scott’s the Rose (Perry Street) and then the Earl Grey. My working life was 45 years in mostly office environments. So being outside doing volunteer work here at Stonebridge Road has been a positive. I have been a Fleet season ticket holder since 2015. Progressing onto the away games mostly with the Fleet Supporters Trust coaches. Whilst most people get their information via website Facebook and twitter, I felt that the club does not promote itself enough, so I help out delivering monthly fixture posters to pubs supermarkets cafes and hair stylists around Northfleet and Gravesend. This includes the Ebbsfleet Women’s fixtures. I would welcome help with this.
Webmaster
I have been a fleet supporter since as early as I could walk, started coming to home games from the age of six and have been steadily taking on more volunteering roles in the years since. Most people will recognise me by my consistent appearances beside my nan selling the golden goals on matchdays and I count the fleet as my second family. I joined the trust board prior to covid and since the passing of my grandad have taken on printing the golden goal tickets, I have now taken on the role of Webmaster.
I was born and raised in Gravesend. I attended Northfleet School for Boys where I played football for the school team and actually took part in a local cup final which was played at
Stonebridge Road. After leaving school I played weekends for Britannia Refined Metals and
Fleetway Printers. All my working life was spent in Northfleet where I also lived.
I have been a supporter of Gravesend and Northfleet/Ebbsfleet since the 70s. I was at the
trophy final at Wembley in 2008 and attended memorable cup games against Aston Villa, Notts County and Sunderland, as well as travelling to Barrow and Gateshead when we were in the National League.
As a local lad with family members close by it is not surprising that I had cousins and uncles who
played and managed The Fleet.
Although we now live in Maidstone, Chris and I are season ticket holders, attending as many
away games as we can and I volunteer at home games and for the work parties in the close
season.
THE FLEET SUPPORTERS' TRUST 