A brief punctuation in the slew of away games this month, Fleet return to home soil for the visit of Hampton & Richmond Borough, seeking to at least cement if not extend the top spot in the Vanarama National League South.
There’s no let up in intensity this month with Fleet embarking on their fourth of seven matches in February, hot on the heels of a double-visit to the West Country last Saturday and Tuesday. That yielded four points, although the frustration of the stalemate at Chippenham (pictured above) will be fresh in Fleet minds as they plot for more points against this weekend’s visitors.
Billy Clifford, Omari Sterling-James and Haydn Hollis were among those players who didn’t feature then who could be in line for a recall depending how much freshening up of his squad Dennis Kutrieb requires, the Fleet facing a quick turnaround in games with another visit this coming Tuesday to St Albans.
But first up and most immediately it’s Hampton under new boss Mel Gwinnett who arrived from Barnet last month, where he had been coaching alongside manager Dean Brennan. The new man has yet to preside over a victory for the Beavers, who are experiencing an 11-match winless streak. That lack of form has seen the Beavers plummet to a place just above the relegation zone, but they are only there on goal difference and have played two games more than the sides below them.
Their last win came at Chelmsford City in November, but before that they’d lost four straight games, two of them by 6-0 and 3-0, so it’s been something of a torrid campaign so far. One of those four games included the 2-1 defeat to the Fleet at The Beveree, though Hampton took the lead in that one and gave a good account of themselves.
Seven of the players who featured against the Fleet that night have since departed the club – goalkeeper Joe Walsh plus Liam Vincent, Tommy Block, Stefan Ilic, Temi Babalola, Marcus Sablier and Ben Shroll – while another, Tommy Davis, is suspended for this Saturday’s game.
That player turnover can’t have helped Hampton’s situation but Gwinnett has seen some shoots of recovery with performances in recent weeks and will surely be targeting three impending home games from next week as the start of a recovery. But, like Chippenham, he will consider anything gained from their Fleet visit a bonus and a platform for the battles to come.
With Alan Julian, Dean Inman, Ruaridh Donaldson, Jake Gray and Dan Wishart all fit Hampton have a solid core of experience down the spine of their side, while there are two new loanee faces in defence – Luke Jenkins (AFC Wimbledon) and Jaden Crowhurst (Southend United). Up front, Tommy Wood has scored here previously for Tonbridge Angels and also found the back of Mark Cousins’ net earlier this season while Daniel Rowe has already lined up against the Fleet this season, for Hanwell Town in the FA Cup. And Gwinnett hasn’t ruled out further additions to his squad to add to his depleted numbers.
The Fleet have won six of the last eight meetings with the Beavers but most have been close affairs. And you have to go back 23 years to find the last time a Hampton side won at Stonebridge Road (this when they were known as plain old Hampton FC).
MATCHDAY SMALL PRINT ——–>
ONLINE SALES
Our online ticketing sales platform at fleetlive.club has tickets available until 12.00pm on matchday. We would, however, strongly advise pre-purchase for both your and our convenience in gaining admission to the ground.
On-the-day ticket sales are available from the windows by main reception, accepting card and cash payments. Turnstiles open at 1pm but they will only accept online tickets (printed out or on your device) and tickets bought at the windows on matchday.
This game is not segregated.
MAIN STAND BAR
All supporters are welcome in our Main Stand and Social Club bars. To access the Main Stand bar, enter through the turnstiles and walk the length of the gangway in the Main Stand to the door at the Swanscombe (uncovered) End. There is signage pointing you in the direction. Dennis Kutrieb does a pre-match teamsheet run-through. Post-match music entertainment is free after the final whistle.
CATERING OUTLETS
Check out our food stalls (to the left of the main turnstiles entrance, there is our Würtsel Haus German sausage experience and straight ahead as you enter the ground is the Manhattan Grill for all your burger, hot dog and more needs!). Pop-up bars are also situated near to the turnstiles and by ‘Geeks Corner’ between the Plough End and old stand. We have a popup to be found in the marquee between the main turnstiles entrance and the Main Stand.
CAR PARKING
Car-parking as per usual on matchdays is available at Ebbsfleet International Car Park C for £3. Please have the correct change if possible to aid our parking staff and again, we would recommend an early arrival. Please note that the areas near to Northfleet Station, namely Railway Street and Hamerton Road, are resident/permit-only parking and non-valid vehicles will be ticketed. The area on Thamesway before the roundabout as you approach the Kuflink Stadium is a designated clearway – though that is not particularly apparent as you approach – so you are advised not to park here because of the risk of being ticketed.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMMES
If you wish to purchase your programme in advance for collection from our club shop before you enter the ground, you can do so either via our online shop or when booking your matchday tickets online.
Programmes are also on sale at the ground from the club shop, the popup bar as you enter the turnstiles, the Main Stand tea kiosk or in the Social Club behind the Plough End, costing £3. Advance-order programmes will be available to pick up from the club shop before the game and before you enter the turnstiles.
