Danny Kedwell’s four-and-a-half-year stay at the Fleet has come to an end after the striker announced his departure on Instagram on Friday evening.
The former Fleet skipper, who hit 65 goals in his time at Stonebridge Road (making him the 12th highest goalscorer of all-time at the club), said: “It’s time to say goodbye to Ebbsfleet United… getting into three play-offs, and getting promoted in one as captain of the club which I’ll never forget. I would like to thank my ex-teammates, they have all been a credit to work with day in, day out. I made some great friends and I wish them all the best for the future and I’d like to thank all the fans for your great support, you’ve been brilliant.”
Kedwell totalled 206 appearances for the Fleet (184 starts) after making his debut against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy in January 2015. Signed from Gillingham, by Jamie Day, he notched his first goal in his second game, a penalty at Sutton United, and scored his last ever one in the 3-3 draw at Havant & Waterlooville in April.
Kedwell bounced back from the disappointment of the play-off final of 2016 to captain the side to victory the following season, despite breaking his arm in the run-in, though arguably his finest season came in the National League play-off campaign of 2017/18.
Written off by many at the age of 34, the former AFC Wimbledon front man defied the critics to hit a Fleet-career-best 20 goals that season, including an unforgettable hat-trick at Gateshead that all but sealed the club’s play-off spot. He continued to shrug off his age with another 13 league goals in what proved to be his final season in a Fleet shirt.
Fleet fans will surely remember Kedwell’s 100% efforts and non-stop workrate as much as his goals and the sheer commitment of a player who said at the beginning of last season that he’d happily play until he was 40 – and with tales of glued achilles and pinned bones to play through the pain down the years, no-one would argue against that.
Despite not returning to the club after turning down the reduced contract offer this summer, Kedwell won’t be a total stranger to Fleet fans this coming season, however, as he continues his role as academy manager.
Wherever he ends up in the next stage of a fine playing career, the club and supporters wish Danny all the very best and with the warmest thanks and fondest memories for all his many achievements in a red shirt.
The greatest Fleet goalscorer of the 21st century won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
