On Saturday afternoon at Tamworth, I witnessed a performance of total commitment by players, management and supporters towards the joint aim of retaining Ebbsfleet United's position in the Blue Square Premier League. Despite the tremendous effort, the 4-3 away victory proved not to be enough on the day as other results saw The Fleet finish the season in the relegation zone. If you have to go down, do it with pride - nobody can be in any doubt that we did. 
There may be a chance of reprieve later in the summer, as other teams have ground and other problems that may be insurmountable. On the other hand thanks to Gravesham Borough Council, have security over our stadium.
I've experienced relegation with a team before, but I think this is the first time its happened on the last day of the season. To say it is horrible is obvious, but I think its far worse when you see and hear how it has affected friends. People will say its only a game, but when you have invested hours over a season travelling the country, as many of these people have, then its much much harder to take.
Society & Club
I have been accused on the MyFC forum as being a so called "Club" man rather than a Society man. I am trying to focus more of my time on the Society in itself, but so much Board business is still about the Club.
I feel that these perceived differences between Club and Society are much stronger in the forum world than in the real world, including on the terraces, Facebook and Twitter. That's often just the way forums are, of course, but to make any distinction between the two when dealing with MyFootballClub
and Ebbsfleet United is daft in my view. You are either full on for
both, or off for both.
I will never apologise for working as hard for the Club's best interests as I do for the Society's: they are joint and equal. Besides, people don't accuse me of being a Club man when I post articles for members from the Club Chairman at midnight.
Adopt A Player
I never want us to be in the position we were at Tamworth on Saturday again, and to this end a group of members and fans are working together to fund a team for next season with Adopt A Player. We have history of this: back in summer 2008, members raised £20k to buy Michael Gash, last year we ran the Friends of the Fleet scheme.
This time it's a bit different as people are trying to cover wages on a monthly basis for specific players that we want to keep on and building a more direct bond between player and sponsors than has traditionally been the case. In many ways it's a logical extension of the MyFC crowdfunding model, and I think will capture the imagination of MyFC members and Fleet fans, possibly even people that are new to our community.
I have made a small payment towards it, but wished I could do much more. Time will tell if enough people will go that extra step, but I believe it will work as we have some superb members / owners / fans. What's in a name? End of the day we are all Fleet.
Season review
We have had a hard old season this year, I think we all knew it would be. Not much fun early on, but its been a real rollercoaster of emotions ending with great pride at Tamworth. A couple of goals here and there, or if Chester were still about and it could have been very different.
Whatever league we play in next year it will be another massive challenge for all, but a potentially rewarding one for us all. I still believe the model of fans owning, financing and supporting a club can work, even though it has many challenges and frustrations trying to make it work.
There can be many dark times, but you have to believe that the good times can come again if we come together and work hard. We have had the joy of Wembley, the despair of Tamworth - what next on this journey? I hope you want to be part of it.
Keith
Photos thanks to Tony T via Fleet News
