With the 2021/22 season now concluded we have an opportune time to look back and review the season and also provide supporters an update on various matters around the club.

The result last Saturday in the promotion final was obviously very disappointing for everyone involved in the club and it has taken quite a few days to pick ourselves up – as we know has been the case for every supporter. The incredible backing we have enjoyed throughout the season was evident again in large numbers and the messages and support received since the result have been truly appreciated and have encouraged and buoyed all players and staff.

Of course we congratulate Dorking Wanderers on their promotion in what was a day of tension and excitement. Our staff and players, along with our supporters, put their best foot forward and sadly it seemed the football gods were not in our favour on the day.

Ultimately we thank Dennis Kutrieb, Chris Franks and the playing group for an excellent campaign in their first full season at the club. We know the work has already started to learn, improve and raise our standards even higher for next season in order to achieve what we have all aspired to deliver for you all since arriving at the club: on-field success, growth and progress.

Our strategy and commitment to supporters has been to provide stability, year-on-year improvement and net gains. We avoid shortcuts and short-term decisions and the club has benefitted greatly from the total commitment and work ethic of Dennis, Chris and the team. To dedicate themselves to the club so wholeheartedly and passionately having made personal sacrifices to join Ebbsfleet United has been an example and standard the club works to daily and which we believe reflects the expectations of every supporter who makes similar sacrifices and displays such wholehearted passion and commitment every season.

Behind the playing squad and management team there has been a committed and loyal team of staff who have contributed every week to ensure the best possible standards and performance can be delivered – and the club is extremely grateful for their efforts over the course of the season.

Our home matchdays this season have seen various changes and improvements having heard the views and concerns of supporters over recent years. The climate around the events industry that require high numbers of casual staff has been very demanding and we are no different in terms of having difficulties in identifying and recruiting matchday staff. Having said that, we have been fortunate to put together a matchday staff team who have done so well under difficult circumstances and are always learning and improving.

There has unfortunately been an increase in anti-social behaviour around the entire football industry this season which thankfully and proudly, is not a regular or general trend for us and our regular support. There have, however, been isolated incidents of smoke bombs and flares activated at home matches and a very disappointing and poorly timed occasion away at the promotion final.

These have led to our own loyal supporters needing medical treatment. Warnings and polite attempts to discourage these criminal acts have been given. However, the concern for us as a club is that in the wider climate of these anti-social and dangerous behaviours becoming more common, there may well be a requirement for stricter search policies for all patrons arriving at our matches, larger security and police presence, all-seated stipulation on tickets in the Plough End, or online-only ticket sales with traceable tickets to allocated seats.

Already, the focus of the Plough End smoke bomb during the semi-final has led to regulatory body scrutiny on that stand requiring significant and costly works to be done to try to mitigate this kind of behaviour. All-seating in the area is something that may be required of us by the authorities and enforced if smoke bombs and flares become an issue in future again.

Nobody wants those greater regulatory controls to be imposed on our supporters and your regular football experience. However, the safety of our entire Fleet family is the number-one priority. We fully appreciate that a very small minority – often individuals – are the ones letting off these items, and perhaps they are not regular Fleet fans at all. To avoid mandated restrictions and impositions on the entire supporter base, we all need to be vigilant and keep an eye out for anyone behaving poorly and over-stepping the line or using smoke bombs or flares of any kind. Please do report immediately any issues going forward so appropriate action can be taken.

With the invaluable support of the Fleet Trust and new commercial partners Jed and Jamie at F&F Construction Services, we have been able to rectify and improve the main Plough End entrance and surfacing, replace and repair the scoreboard and storm damage, fully re-fit a new PA system, and of course enjoy the incredible volunteer support from Trust members who do an extraordinary amount of work week to week to keep the club clean, tidy and in good order. Our matchday volunteer squad have made the matchday operations far more efficient and welcoming for supporters and all visitors to the club.

We will be advertising some ‘working bee’ days for the summer months again where we will have lunch together and adhere to the adage of more hands make light work. We would appreciate any time or support you can provide on those dates if you are local and available.

Continued commercial backing from Kuflink has been crucial during recent years as has the wonderful support from Gravesham Borough Council. Both have become genuine partners who take a great interest in the club day-to-day and are always looking for ways to assist wherever they can – true partnerships indeed for which we are genuinely grateful.

Last season was our first with Virtue Energy Drinks on our front of shirt and we are pleased to welcome them back for the new season. Virtue are a growth company who came on to support us during the low ebb of Covid and have become supporters with a keen interest in the club. We thank them for continuing to support the club for the 2022/23 season.

Our Club Hub is now active at the busy Ebbsfleet International Station and we are experiencing a strong uplift in the number of newer and first-time supporters and season-ticket holders from families in the Castle Hill, Swanscombe and Springhead areas along with wonderful support and season-ticket sales from our longer-term supporter base.

Despite the result on Saturday, we can look back on the last two years and see strong, measured improvement in a number of areas across the club, and ultimately that is our strategy and focus. The pitch was an area of great concern in early 2020, and with the support of our contractors and continued investment in the club from our ownership, Ian Jordan and Jamie Honeyman have provided a sound playing surface without the issues that existed previously.

We recently launched a strong Women’s Football section which will be an exciting addition to the 2022/23 season which will add to the growing number of younger supporters we are enjoying seeing visit the club regularly. Close relationships with junior clubs such as the Swanscombe Tigers and Northfleet Eagles have been a feature of this past season with Dennis Kutrieb attending presentation evenings recently to present the trophies to some of the age groups for their season celebrations.

One area of the club that has seen very encouraging growth has been our conference and events business. Historically this area of the club had been leased out and we brought it all back in-house prior to the covid lockdowns. The staff have done a wonderful job in providing and hosting excellent events with high-quality catering and service. The flexibility the club has in terms of offering meeting space for four people right up to catered events for 200 is now being fully utilised and most weeks we host various businesses, training courses and parties.

Financially the club has suffered with everyone else throughout the covid period, and it has been the continued support from the chairman and ownership that has seen players and staff cared for during covid and the football programme retained in a competitive and ambitious way.

Ultimately the club’s strategy is to reduce year-on-year losses and the reliance on the ownership’s funding, in order to provide long-term financial sustainability and independence. Our next accounts due have been filed this week and will again show a reduction in year-on-year losses despite the period being covid-affected. Turnarounds to sustainability do not happen overnight and take a number of years of discipline and management to bring into line. Few, if any football clubs are fully break-even propositions. However, our aim is to lower the gap (i.e. the losses) year-on-year to ultimately reduce risk and reliance on director-funding to arrive at as close to a self-sustainable position as possible.

Obviously the outbreak of Covid soon after the arrival of CEO Damian Irvine has set back the financial turnaround plans to an extent – however, the further reduction of losses despite this is exactly the trajectory the club is striving for. A large number of legacy debts and financial obligations from 2018/19 have been addressed through plans and managed outcomes and though some still remain, they are planned to be finalised imminently.

Our plans for stadium development and the hotel property behind the Plough End have been re-assessed and reviewed as was outlined in forums and Q&As during the season. It is important that any development or upgrades to the stadium are optimal and part of a viable masterplan that add to the club’s long term sustainability plans so as to safeguard the club’s future and growth for decades to come. Equally as important is that the club adds to and improves Northfleet and the surrounding area for local residents. We are working on some exciting plans which should be ready for June which we will announce.

Our Licensed Academy has had an excellent year under Danny Kedwell, Daniel Gill and Nathan Bullas and work has begun on their excellent facility at the former Bowaters/Fleet Leisure site which will see the first team training alongside the scholars and youth teams. The Academy has enjoyed a successful season on the pitch and many of the players have become regulars at first-team matches, training, and are integrating very well. It has been an exciting growth period for the partnership between the club and Academy which will only strengthen further in coming seasons.

Finally, this week sees the difficult time arrive where we say goodbye to some members of our playing squad and staff. The club retention and release list will be published soon and it is always a sad time. The playing group and staff have worked tremendously hard for the club. We enforce high standards and high expectations of workload as a club and everyone has delivered that as a minimum. We thank those departing for their commitment and effort whilst at Ebbsfleet United and wish them the very best in the future.

To our supporters, we remain available for any questions or needs during the close season as we prepare for a bigger and better 2022/23.

Thank you wholeheartedly for your continued support.