As a long-time supporter I cannot beleive that I have been voted in as chairman - Jessica McQueen

The Fleet finished in a respectable fourteenth-place on their return to he Blue Square Bet Premier, with 54 points from 46 games, thirteen points clear of the relegation zone.

They will be joined by their traditional rivals Dartford in the division next season, after the Darts sealed promotion via the Blue Square Bet South play-off’s after wins over Basingstoke Town and Welling United.

The Kent pair are joined by Woking (last season’s Blue Square Bet South champions), Braintree Town, Luton Town and Cambridge United as the only Southern based club’s in the division next season.

The appointment sees McQueen assume the role from Phil Sonsara, who remains a director of the Blue Square Bet Premier club.

McQueen was first appointed to the Ebbsfleet United board as a myfootballclub.com representative, having also been a founder member of the Fleet Trust.  She will continue to represent MyFC on the board.  Jessica received overwhelming support from MyFC members, with 93% voting ‘yes’ to her appointment.

Both MyFC and Jessica paid tribute to the outgoing chairman Mr Sonsara for the hard work he has done at the Stonebridge Road club since late 2009.

In a statement, which was published on www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk Keith Handley, MyFootballclub chairman said: “The MyFC Society Board and members look forward to working with Jessica to prepare for the new season. Her commitment to the club is well known and the members of MyFootballclub have given a clear view of their appreciation of the work that she and the team at Stonebridge Road have done in recent months.”

Jessica has been involved with the club since 1974.  She joined the Supporters Association, which later became the Fleet Trust and was the chair of the Fleet Trust for four years.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted that so many of the members have voted in this important election and that they have given me a massive vote of confidence. As a long-time supporter of the club I cannot believe that I have been voted in as chairman.”

“I am deeply honoured and humbled that people have put their trust in me and I cannot emphasise enough how much of a team effort getting through the past few very difficult months has been. I hope that the sharing of information and budget/cash flow that the club has done over the past months has enabled everyone to truly understand how difficult but rewarding running Ebbsfleet United FC can be. ”

“I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication put in by Phil Sonsara. He will be continuing as a club director and will, as his health improves, become more involved once again on a day to day basis.

“There are undoubtedly some tough times ahead, but with team manager Liam Daish signed up for two more years and players also committing their future to the club we can only grow stronger.”
 

Members of MyFootballclub and The Fleet Trust are currently fundraising towards improving the club’s  playing budget for next season at www.fleetsos.co.uk.  

So far £5,179 has been raised.  Manager Daish confirmed recently that the club struggled to pay last season’s playing budget of £5,000 per week.

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk