WEMBLEY WINNERS: Whitstable praise for King Akinde - EXCLUSIVE

THE CHAIRMAN of Ryman League Division One South club Whitstable Town toasted the success of teenage Ebbsfleet United striker John Akinde, writes Stephen McCartney.

Akinde, 18, a Gravesend boy, impressed during the Fleet’s 1-0 win over Torquay United in front of 40,186 fans at Wembley Stadium as the Fleet won the FA Carlsberg Trophy on Saturday.

The friendly giant, worked tirelessly throughout on the hallowed turf, but he made his mark on the stroke of half-time.

In front of the Sky Sports camera, Akinde, who spent two loan spells at The Belmont to gain experience of men’s football, having graduated through the Fleet’s PASE scheme, along side Wembley wonders Luke Moore and George Purcell.

And KING AKINDE mugged the ball off Chris Todd down the left-hand side, cut into the penalty area and rolled the ball across the six-yard line for Chris McPhee to slid in and poke the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with his right boot to spark wild scenes amongst the 25,000 Fleet fans.

Whitstable Town chairman Mr Tony Rouse, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  tonight, was full of praise for KING AKINDE and the rest of the Fleet HEROES.

“John spent two loan spells at our club over the last couple of seasons and will always be fondly remembered by supporters and players alike for the time he spent with us,” he recalled.

“Liam Daish (Fleet boss) was gracious enough to acknowledge how well Marc Seager, our manager, and his staff and the players at Whitstable had helped in the progress of John’s football career.”

Mr Rouse added that he was delighted for the likes of Brian Kilcullen (interim chairman); Roly Edwards (secretary) and all the volunteers at Stonebridge Road for the club’s - and Kent’s - finest moment.

“On behalf of all involved with Whitstable Town, may I extend our warmest congratulations to all at the Fleet,” said Mr Rouse.

“What a great day for their club and all the people who have worked behind the scenes with little or no recognition over many, many years.

“This is just as much their achievement for them as it is for Liam Daish, his staff and players.

“You should be extremely proud as the first Kent club to lift the FA Trophy.

“On behalf of all involved with Whitstable Town Football Club and our supporters our very special congratulations to you all.”

Despite collecting the official man-of-the-match award, McPhee insisted the teenager should have bagged the award instead.

“Massive credit goes to him,” said Fleet’s goalscoring hero. “He’s chased a lot cause, his out muscled one of their players and he’s stuck it on a plate for me and I can’t miss.

“I fully appreciate what he’s done for the team. He’s work rate was magnificent and for me I felt he was man-of-the-match today.

“He was such an important part of our game today. He held the ball, he won headers, he was strong and he never gave up and he obviously created the goal out of nothing for me.”

Visit club websites:

www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk

www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk