Ebbsfleet United goalkeeper Brandon Hall challenging Preston Edwards for No.1 jersey at Stonebridge Road
Published: 08:00, 07 August 2014
The goalkeeping gloves are up for grabs at Ebbsfleet United this season.
For the last four seasons, Preston Edwards has been the undisputed No.1 at Stonebridge Road – but now he has real competition.
Brandon Hall, who joined the Fleet last summer, was given his chance to impress Steve Brown during pre-season and now the Fleet manager has a tough call to make ahead of the Vanarama Conference South opener against Concord Rangers on Tuesday.
He said: "I’ve got two good keepers. Last season’s gone. Preston was No.1 last season but when I signed them both again, I did explain to them that it’s fair game.
"The shirt’s up for grabs and there’s no reason why, if Brandon’s on fire, he shouldn’t start. But the obstacle in the way is Preston. It’s tat-for-tat, it’s a dilemma for me and a decision that’s going to have to be made leading up to the first league game."
Hall was ever-present as Ebbsfleet won the Kent Senior Cup last season, having accepted he would be second-choice behind Edwards in other competitions.
He said: "I came here knowing that Preston would be No.1 but I recognised where the club’s going. It’s a good club, the friendliest I’ve been at and the most enjoyable.
"With the new training ground coming along and things like that, it’s as close as you can get to professional football.
"I knew my chances were limited last season but there was no reason for Preston to come out. I did as well as I could in the cup and we won that.
"I continued to train hard and it’s nice to see it finally paying off."
Read the full interview in the Gravesend Messenger.
More by this author
Steve Tervet