Ebbsfleet United Matchday Programme by ForestGreenRovers

Jed 10 Minutes with Ward

Putting on the England shirt, zoning out with a bit of PlayStation and buddying up with his fellow goalkeepers, get to know the man in the middle of our goal, Jed Ward ahead of our clash with Ebbsfleet United.

Best moment in football?

“I would probably say representing my country in the summer for England U20s. That was a great experience, playing out in Croatia, putting on the England, that was pretty unbelievable.”

Best player you’ve played with?

“I’ve played with some good ones. Elliot Anderson when he came on loan from Newcastle to Bristol Rovers he tore it up to be fair and Adam Wharton as well, played with him at England.”

Ground you’ve played at with the best atmosphere?

“That’s a tough one. Obviously I’ve played at Bristol Rovers home ground and when that

gets rocking it’s good and Wigan away, last game of the season, that was rocking as well.”

Hobbies outside of football?

“Not a lot really. Golf, walks and a bit of PlayStation as well.”

One thing you couldn’t live without?

“Well probably have to be my goalkeeper gloves.”

What job would you have if you weren’t a footballer?

“I’d like to think I’d still be involved in football whether that be coaching, the money side or working in an agency.”

Best friends at FGR?

“Tom Knowles, Adam May - my roomy - and obviously, the goalkeeper union Pags (Fiachra Pagel) and Jamie (Searle).”

What song makes your matchday playlist?

“Gunna by Met Gala.”

Footballing hero?

“Steven Gerrard.”

Opposition The

Steve Cotterill’s Forest Green Rovers welcome Ebbsfleet United to The New Lawn for the first time since 2012 for our National League clash and our fourth successive home match.

The last meeting at The New Lawn ended in a 4-1 victory for Rovers with all our goals coming in the first half through Yan Klukowski, Ben Wright, Matty Taylor and Eddie Oshodi to come from behind.

The two sides most recently met in a FA Trophy Second Round tie in 2015 in which the Fleet were 1-0 winners before going onto make the Fourth Round that year losing out to North Ferriby United.

This fixture boasts one of the most even records as Rovers have met the Fleet on 15 occasions winning five, drawing five and losing five.

After narrowly surviving relegation last season, the Fleet would’ve been hoping for a better start to the campaign but currently find themselves stuck to the foot of the table.

The Fleets poor start to the campaign saw the sacking of Danny Searle at the start of September before being replace with the youngest manager in the league, Harry Watling.

Since taking the helm the 34-year-old has mustered just a single win which came on his maiden Fleet fixture with a 1-0 home victory over Hartlepool United.

Scoring goals and conceding goals seem to be an issue at the Fleet with Watling’s side finding the net just 11 times in the league with their top scorer, striker Dominic Poleon, on four in the league so far.

The 31-year-old signed for the Fleet in February 2021 after spending six months without a club following his release from Newport County and has since notched up 80 goals for the Northfleet based side.

Another player Rovers fans may want to look out for is 25-year-old midfielder, Ben Chapman who is currently in his fifth season with Fleet, edging close to 150 appearances.

Established

Ebbsfleet United Football Club was born as Gravesend & Northfleet, a merger of two existing neighbouring clubs – Gravesend United and Northfleet United.

Crest

A circle split in two colours depicts the current home and away club colours. The red half represents the home colours - an image of a ship marking the famous Northfleet dockyards. The yellow half of the circle represents the away colours - the image of a football marking the sport played by the club.

Stadium

Stonebridge Road opened its doors for the first time on 2nd September 1905 for a game between Northfleet United and East Ham Athletic, a friendly fixture which for the record Fleet won 1-0 – a player by the name of ‘Chapman’ had the honour of scoring the ground’s first-ever goal.

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