After 10 weeks or so of inactivity on the pitch, Garry Hill’s new-look squad set the wheels in motion on a new season with the first of six friendlies.
Training-ground hosts K Sports are first up on their own turf, with their SCEFL Premier Division side up against a Fleet team that will feature a mixture of trialists, new signings and old faces.
The Paperboys, managed by Kris Browning, finished 12th in the SCEFL Premier Division last season, their first at that level having been promoted in 2017/18.
MATCH INFO
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MATCH INFO
Car parking: Yes
Admission: £5 / £1
Surface: Grass
Garry Hill goes into his first ever pre-season friendly with Ebbsfleet having worked tirelessly to bring in new faces over the past two months.
Some targets have fallen by the wayside as expected but with a contracted squad now in double figures, he is confident the remaining parts of the jigsaw will take shape as July unfolds.
Ten players, of course, doesn’t quite cut it for the friendly against K Sports and the Fleet boss has a few more unknowns likely to be involved.
“We’ve got four of five players to have a look at, Academy boys involved tomorrow as well,” he said. “We’ll take a view after tomorrow for the Dartford game as to what the team will look like Tuesday. I don’t worry about it, I’m not one of these managers who has to sign 15 or 18 players because I’m away on holiday. I’ve forfeited my own family holiday this year to be patient, try and get it right for the football club. But I’m quite relaxed about it, I know we’re working hard behind the scenes and we have another whole month to go. We’ve been in a situation that has been difficult, there’s no secret about that, but we are getting there and we will get there.
“This week it’s been about the players getting back, in good shape, and putting them through their paces and this weekend’s game is another part of that.”
