Ebbsfleet United can confirm that defender Lawrie Wilson will depart Stonebridge Road on the conclusion of his playing contract.

The 32-year-old, whose contract with the Fleet is up at the end of June, leaves having completed two and a half seasons in the red shirt.

Wilson joined the club after leaving Port Vale in January 2018, making his debut in the 2-1 victory at Maidstone United – a club whom he later joined on a brief loan deal. He was part of the side that made the National League play-offs that season, appearing in both the eliminator victory over Aldershot Town and the extra-time semi-final defeat at Tranmere Rovers.

He is the club’s current longest-serving player and, together with the recently retired Jack King, boasted the highest total number of appearances in last season’s squad – playing 78 games in all in his Fleet career.

Having made his name at Stevenage, who he helped to an FA Trophy victory at Fleet’s expense in the semi-final back in 2009, Wilson earned two promotions with Boro, going on to feature in the Championship with Charlton Athletic and Rotherham United before earning a runners-up spot in League One with Bolton Wanderers.

The club would like to thank Lawrie for all his great efforts on and off the pitch during his time at the Kuflink Stadium where he was appointed club captain last season and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.

Commenting on his departure, Wilson told the EUFC website, “Like at any club you have the moments that stick out and that second half of the season after I signed was definitely one of the highlights, getting to the play-off semis. The odds were against us and the Aldershot eliminator game obviously sticks out from my two and a half years at the Fleet. To follow that up in 2018/19 when we nearly did it again and finished just shy of the play-offs was another really great effort. 

“This past season we obviously struggled but we worked hard to find a turning point, we earned it and I think in all likelihood we would have stayed up given 46 games to achieve it. So I’d just like to thank all the Fleet fans who got behind the boys since my time at the club. But that’s football, we all move on.

“I’m not hanging up the boots just yet and will probably be playing more part-time to pursue outside interests and other future career aspects so I certainly hope to see everyone again if football takes me back to the Fleet.”