After three and a half years at Ebbsfleet United, Danny Kedwell has left the club for pastures new. On Monday Havant and Waterlooville announced they are signing the 35 year old and the striker has chosen to extend his playing career over starting full time coaching.
“I’ve been offered a few things” said Kedwell. “I could have gone down that route with assistant managing but I wasn’t ready yet. I’ve got a few years left in me.
Despite his move to the Hampshire club, Kedwell is remaining at Ebbsfleet as a youth coach – something which was vital to his short term future: “That was the main talk we had. I brought on a lot of kids since I’ve been doing it and I don’t think it’s fair on the ones I’ve brought over. We’re up to 200 now.
“I’ve been part of the youth academy for two years now so I think me losing that and not being a part of it would have affected the boys I’ve brought over so that was the main thing” he added.
The former Gillingham striker signed for the Fleet in 2015 after four years at Priestfield and has become an icon at the club, scoring 65 goals and building a plethora of fantastic memories.
“The promotion and being captain of the club [were highlights]” he said. Getting to the semi final was another one where, when we got to 2-1 at Tranmere away, I thought we were going to get promoted again.
“Two years of winning and being captain, getting promoted and the season after was fantastic.”
However, losing that captaincy role had a major impact on the experienced striker. “I must say I was very disappointed to lose the captaincy after getting promoted. I can’t knock Dave [Winfield], he was a fantastic captain for players on the pitch and off the pitch.”
“It was a bit of a thing for me. I didn’t understand why. I had a bit of a hard time with it but I just got on with it, I’m old enough and I can take it like a man and I wouldn’t let it affect my football” he added.
And now Ebbsfleet’s top scorer in the 21st century is looking to the future: “It was tough to leave the club because we have had a good three and a half, four years there. Hopefully I can do as well as I did there at Havant.”
He is also taking on the captaincy role at the club, something which was announced minutes after he was unveiled as a player.
“It wasn’t even something I was thinking of” he said, speaking about taking the armband at his new club. “It wouldn’t have affected me. It wasn’t even something I was thinking of. I just wanted to make the most of the next two years.”
The attacker, who has also spent time at AFC Wimbledon, Grays Athletic and Maidstone United, struggled towards the end of last season but is treating this as a fresh start. “I let myself go, I gained weight and didn’t keep fit. Through the summer I’ve been out running every day and I’ve really enjoyed it. Since Christmas I haven’t had that mentally.”
“I’ve lost nearly two stone so I’m raring to go!”