Ebbsfleet United Women take on third-tier Portsmouth Women this Sunday at the Kuflink Stadium in their biggest tie to date on home soil.
After coming from behind to see off fourth-tier Chesham United in the previous round, it’s now another step up with the visit of high-flying Pompey.
There’s more about our Women’s setup and squad here, but in the meantime here’s a few facts about the team to get any newcomers up to speed ahead of Sunday’s 1pm kick-off.
We’d like to remind fans that anybody travelling to the men’s game at Oldham Athletic on Saturday just needs to show their match ticket at the gate on Sunday to qualify for FREE ADMISSION to the Fleet-Portsmouth game.
While you can pay at the gate, supporters may also buy tickets in advance online here costing £6 adults, £4 (concessions and U18s) while U5s are free.
Team photo above.
Back row from left – Millie Waud, Phoebe Murton, Madison Woodgate, Teni Charles, Courtney Roberts, Casey Iron, Lily Hewitt, Amelia Woodgate, Liv Jestin
Middle row: Quinton Naidoo, Tom Stephens, Amy Russ, Hannah Porter, Lydia Wills, Charley Clifford, Erin Merrills, Joe Prosser
Front row: Ellie George, Lisa Fulgence, Maddie Reynolds, Dan Carlton, Ben Franks, Vicky Grieve, Logan O’Shea, Niamh O’Neill, Stef Simmons
01 Courtney Roberts
The goalkeeper landed the manager’s player of the year award in 2022/23 and completed the London Marathon in a memorable season for the Fleet in 2022/23. Courtney is a former shot-stopper for Gillingham and the Kent FA representative side.
02 Casey Iron
Former Billericay Town defender and sports science graduate. Previously with Tottenham Hotspur, she is a right-back who won the National League Division One South East title with Billericay. She signed for the Fleet in autumn 2022.
03 Millie Waud
A PE teacher in Medway, the versatile former Gillingham player signed for the Fleet in July 2022 and usually occupies a defensive berth. She has also represented Kent Ladies and won the Gills’ young player of the year award in 2017/18.
04 Vicky Grieve
A new signing for the Fleet at the start of 2023, Vicky was captain of QPR Women. The Blackpool-born centre-back is composed on the ball and has been playing since the age of eight. She started out at Fleetwood Town, moving to Leicester City aged 11 where she stayed until a move south for work aged 18 that coincided with joining QPR. Since joining the Fleet, she has also played for Kent.
05 Hannah Porter
Experienced Essex Ladies county central defender who has played for Colchester United, C&K Basildon, Harlow Town, Leyton Orient and Billericay Town. She signed for the London Bees in 2021 and moved on to Ebbsfleet at the start of the 2023/24 season.
06 Stef Simmons
Former Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace defender or wide player who moved to the Fleet in October 2022. She has vast experience in the game in the National League with her former clubs.
07 Logan O’Shea
Signed in November 2022 for the Fleet having previously played for Billericay Town where she won the Women’s National League title. She has also represented Charlton Athletic. Logan has contributed goals since her arrival and is now past double figures for the club.
08 Charley Clifford
Working her way back to fitness after suffering a serious injury earlier this season, Charley signed for the Fleet in January from Crystal Palace. She spent a decade with Charlton Athletic before moving to Palace in 2021 where she played in the Barclays Women’s Championship. With Charlton, she became the club’s record appearance holder after playing 272 times.
09 Amelia Woodgate
The Fleet’s young player of the year in 2022/23 aged 16, the prolific Amelia has bagged 40 goals in her time with the Fleet since December 2022. She was previously with Charlton Athletic and Thanet and is definitely one to look out for in the future with a huge amount of goals to her name in junior football.
10 Amy Russ
Supporters player of the year in 2022/23 and Kent representative captain who signed from Gillingham in the summer of 2022. Amy has plenty of experience having joined Gillingham in 2009 and she has also played for Sheerness and Meridian. Having scored almost 30 goals last season, Amy is eyeing yet more in 2023/24.
11 Lydia Wills
A product of Gillingham’s academy who broke into senior women’s football with the club aged 16. The Kent county player later joined Thamesview and then Kent Football United. She moved from Gillingham in the summer of 2022. She is now into double figures for goals at the Fleet.
12 Madison Woodgate
Twin sister of Amelia but unlike her sibling, Madison is more concerned with stopping goals than scoring them (though she has scored plenty in her time as well). The defender is a former Charlton player who has represented Kent and was previously with Thanet’s junior side.
13 Ash Naismith
The second keeper in the Fleet squad, Ash has trialled with Brighton and played for Kent Schools. Ash has turned out on loan for London Seaward this season. Ash signed for the Fleet in the summer of 2022 and is a young player with lots of potential to make the step up to regular senior football.
14 Teni Charles
Talented wide player who signed for the Fleet in February 2023. Teni was previously with QPR, with whom she also played as a junior, and Billericay Town where she won promotion. A Saint Vincent and the Grenadines international, she has previously spent time in the USA and the winger can also play in a more attacking midfield role.
15 Maddie Reynolds
Midfielder who previously played with her teammates Logan O’Shea and Teni Charles at Billericay Town. She was previously with Charlton Athletic. Maddie has overcome an injury-struck first year with the Fleet and has hit the 2023/24 season in good form.
16 Liv Jestin
A former Aylesford and Gillingham wide midfielder and another player who can count Kent Ladies representation on her CV. Signed from Brighouse Town in the summer of 2022 after returning from University.
17 Lily Hewitt
An U16 Kent Cup finalist with Bexley Grammar School, midfielder Lily was previously with Charlton Athletic. The young attacker signed for the Fleet in the summer of 2023 and has since spent time on loan at Sevenoaks Town.
18 Niamh O’Neill
Another former Charlton Athletic youth player, the versatile Kent Schools defender/midfielder has also represented England at youth level. Niamh has spent time on loan at Sevenoaks Town since signing in the summer of 2023.
19 Lisa Fulgence
A very experienced summer signing, the forward has previously played for Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Brighton & Hove Albion, Portsmouth and Enfield Town. Lisa played for the previous incarnation of Ebbsfleet United Ladies more than 10 years ago.
20 Phoebe Murton
Gillingham-born defender or midfielder who signed for the Fleet earlier this season from Hashtag United. She has previous experience with Sittingbourne, Phoenix Sports, London City Lionesses and Crawley Wasps.
21 Ellie George
Young player progressing from the girls’ U16s who reached the Merit Cup Final with the Fleet last season. Ellie has signed on loan at Sevenoaks Town so far this season.
27 Dan Carlton
Club captain and players’ player of the year in 2022/23, fitness instructor Dan pulls strings in midfield where her experience is invaluable. Hailing from Sittingbourne, the skipper has played for Yeovil Town in the Women’s Super League and Brighton & Hove Albion after learning the ropes in the Gillingham and Charlton youth setups. She was one of several players to come across to the Kuflink Stadium when Kent Football United became Ebbsfleet United in 2022.
Ben Franks (Manager)
Ben joined the Fleet in the summer of 2022 as assistant to Sam MacNeill and moved up to take on the manager’s job in the summer of 2023. He had previously spent two seasons at Gillingham Women in The National League.
