Ebbsfleet United’s off-the-field activities have been recognised by their fellow Blue Square Bet Premier clubs.

The club's new chairman Jessica McQueen collected the Respect Award on behalf of the club during the league’s annual meeting at Celtic Manor, Newport.

She said: "It is recognition for everyone who works in whatever capacity for the club, be it full-time, playing staff, stewarding, serving pints or burgers, selling programmes, working on maintenance, or matchday hospitality.

"The award is presented to club for the way the whole club conducts itself, not just on match days. From the time home or away fans come through the turnstiles, and buy a pint or a burger, they are welcomed and treated with respect.

"We look after the officials when they arrive at the club and they are invited into the boardroom for a cup of tea and somewhere they can sit down and talk prior to the match.

"We have made a concerted effort to look after visiting directors as we understand how busy home matches are, so we felt to give them time to sit down, enjoy a hot meal and relax was very important."

Another area highlighted when the award was presented was the way Fleet dealt with two break-ins at the club last season.

"We just got on with it and everyone did their utmost to get the club up and running" said Mrs McQueen.

She added: "The way we deal with people at Conference HQ and staff and other clubs, when we are dealing with transfers, loan signings or simply to offer help or advice was also recognised."