Herne Bay will face their toughest pre-season challenge so far on Saturday afternoon when they face up against National League South title challengers Ebbsfleet United.

Following their 3-2 loss to Ramsgate at the weekend, the Bay headed to Chipstead on Tuesday evening, with their Isthmian League Premier Division opener against Potters Bar Town fast approaching.

However, despite some promising signs at The NRT Stadium, the Bay were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline; our third pre-season defeat in a row.

Ben Smith’s side had chances to take the lead early in the game, with both Kieron Campbell and Frankie Morgan firing just off target.

The hosts edged ahead midway through the first half when their number nine fired into the top corner from close range.

Opportunities to level the score came and went, with Zak Ansah firing wide from inside the Chipstead box before Rodney Adamon-Eruotor and Marcel Barrington were out of sync when on the attack midway through the second.

But despite applying plenty of pressure, a breakthrough wasn’t found as the Bay were handed their third pre-season defeat.

The Opposition

Our hosts on Saturday were formed back in 1946 under the name ‘Gravesend & Northfleet’ after a merger between Gravesend United (originally formed in 1893) and Northfleet United (originally formed in 1890).

In 1979, they were one of the founder members of the Alliance Premier League, but were relegated back into the Southern League Premier Division three seasons later.

For the 97–98 season, our hosts left the Southern League and joined the Isthmian League. They played in the Premier Division of the league until the 2001–02 season, when they finished as champions and earned promotion back into the Football Conference.

In November 2007, it was announced that the website MyFootballClub had entered a deal to take over the club. Approximately 27,000 members each paid £35 to provide an approximate £700,000 takeover fund and all owned an equal share in the club but made no profit nor received a dividend.

It was during this time that Saturday’s hosts enjoyed success, winning the FA Trophy in 2008 (first Kentish side to do so) and the Kent Senior Cup the same year.

However, since the, they found themselves floating between the National League and National League South, unable to settle at a particular level for an extended period of time.

KEH Sports Ltd, a group of Kuwaiti investors advised by a former chief executive of Charlton Athletic, agreed in May 2013 to take over the club, settling its debts (some at 10% of their value).

Several years after the takeover, in 2020 to be specific, Ebbsfleet United were controversially relegated from the National League by 0.002 points after the league was determined on a points per game basis, despite being out of the relegation zone and in the top 3 form sides of the league when the competition ended.

Last season, Ebbsfleet came within a whisker of returning to the top flight of non-league football, qualifying for the play-offs after a regular season record of 24 wins, four draws, and 12 losses, scoring 78 goals and conceding 53.

However, having seen off Chippenham Town 1-0 in the semi-final, they came unstuck against eventual play-off champions Dorking Wanderers, losing 3-2 in extra time after leading 2-1 with 92 minutes on the clock.

Opposition Manager

Ebbsfleet United are managed by Dennis Kutrieb, who took charge of the club in June 2020. As a player, Kutrieb operated in an attacking role for clubs including Tennis Borussia Berlin (TeBe), BFC Dynamo, Rot Weiß Oberhausen and Ludwigsfelder FC.

He moved into coaching, first finding success with VSG Altglienicke, who he took from the Berlin League to the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nordost. His next move was back to TeBe, who he led to the Berlin Cup Final and second position in the league in 2018/19.

In 2019/20, he topped the tough fifth-tier NOFV-Oberliga Nord with TeBe, a third promotion in a short period for the manager. Kutrieb’s side scored 61 goals and conceded just 17 times before shutdown occurred and leading German football publication ‘Kicker’ anointed him with the title of ‘Erfolgstrainer’, a rare honour saved for the brightest up-and-coming managers across all divisions.

That alerted the Fleet to his talents and Kutrieb accepted a move to England, taking charge of his first season in the abandoned campaign of 2020/21. Noted for playing fast-flowing and attacking football, Kutrieb has implemented his favoured style on the Fleet since taking over.

Key Players

Dominic Poleon (Forward) – Dominic Poleon is the main goal getter for Ebbsfleet United, scoring 17 goals last season in a campaign which saw the club come oh so close to promotion. A top quality forward, who is equally as good on either wing, Dominic is a former Leeds United academy graduate who has gone on to feature for eight different clubs on his way to signing with Ebbsfleet.

He has more than 200 matches in the EFL under his belt and with that kind of experience, the Fleet are sure to be firing at the right end of the league table. No wonder the bookies have them down as title favourites. Poleon will no doubt be a key figure in their plans on the pitch.

Mark Cousins (Goalkeeper) – A new addition to this Ebbsfleet team, Cousins was a part of the Bromley squad which won last season’s FA Trophy, beating Wrexham 1-0 in the final. An experienced shot-stopper with over 300 professional appearances under his belt, Mark is expected to provide stiff competition for that number one jersey.

Luke O’Neill (Defender) – Another new face for Saturday’s hosts, who signed on the dotted line after his release by League Two side Stevenage. A vastly experienced defender who at only 30 years of age, the former Leicester City academy player has suited up for 13 different clubs across the football league.

If there was an area for Ebbsfleet to improve upon this season, it will be in defence after conceding 53 goals the previous campaign. The signing of O’Neill, who can feature anywhere across the back line, certainly goes some way to addressing that issue.

Ticket News

Adults - £10.00
Concessions (60+ & students) - £5.00
Juniors (12-16) - £2.00
Under 12’s - £1.00

Tickets can be bought either on the gate or online here
https://fleetlive.club/product/eufc-v-hernebay/