Ebbsfleet United snap up Shane Huke

Tuesday 11th June 2013

EBBSFLEET UNITED have added a four defender to their squad by signing Shane Huke from Dover Athletic.

The Conference South club appointed former Dover Athletic assistant manager Steve Brown, who has been busy bringing together a new squad in recent weeks.

Huke, 27, who has Football League experience with Peterborough United and Dagenham & Redbridge – and also played for Rushden & Diamonds and most recently Dover Athletic.

Having spent part of his formative years in Australia, where he began his career with Rochedale Rovers, Huke returned to England in 2003 to play for Peterborough.

While getting League games under his belt, he also featured on loan for Kings Lynn, Bedford Town, Heybridge Swifts and Cambridge City before John Still recruited him for Dagenham’s first assault on League Two in 2007.

Returning to Australia in January 2009 to join A-League side Central Coast Mariners, Huke played in the Asian Champions League but came back to the UK a year later to sign for Rushden & Diamonds.

In May 2011, he joined Dover Athletic for a two-year stay at Crabble.

Something of a utility player, Huke played in midfield for the early part of his career but has been deployed in a right-back role for the past few seasons.

Huke told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: “The main reason I was attracted to Ebbsfleet was Steve Brown who I worked under at Dover. As soon as he gave me the call I was interested in what he had to offer – he was a great footballer in his time and has a great understanding of the game and actually wants to play football, not long-ball, which is a big draw for me.”

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