Ebbsfleet’s newest signing Mark Gower has revealed how the North London derby brought him to north Kent.

Gower, who started his career at Tottenham, was in the same academy team as future Spurs skipper Ledley King.

The group, which also included former Dartford defender Mark Arber, was reunited last month for a game against their Arsenal counterparts – with Ebbsfleet boss Jamie Day lining up for the Gunners.

Gower said: "It started off as a friendly but Tottenham versus Arsenal never ends as a friendly.

"They were 7-6 down with a couple of minutes to go and it was meant to be nine-a-side but I think they ended up with about 11 on the pitch trying to get the equaliser – which they did.

"Jamie was under the impression that I still looked quite sharp, so we had a little chat. He said the boys had got a few injuries and that he was trying to build something good here.

"He said I would come in as a bit of cover, a bit of experience, to help the boys try to get promoted, so it was a good opportunity for me."

Gower climbed from the Conference back to the Premier League during his professional career, playing for Barnet, Southend and Swansea before moving to Charlton Athletic.

He said: "I felt, mentally, I was ready to retire, but you’re never really prepared for it. There’s that sense of no direction and trying to find something to fill your days is difficult. It’s weird.

"Quite a few people said to me ‘you’re a long time retired’ and ‘you’ve still got something to offer’ and I’m starting to come back to that way now. Having that little break out of the game has made me see that I do miss it.

"I didn’t have to take Jamie up on the opportunity he gave me but I felt like I wanted to. I’m quite excited by it and it seems like a good bunch of lads. They’ve welcomed me in and they’ve got a good squad here, so hopefully I can help get them promoted to the Conference."

Less than three years ago, Gower was playing at Old Trafford – so how does he find the motivation to play against Hemel Hempstead and Concord Rangers in English football’s sixth tier?

"I started off at Spurs and my aim was always to play in the Premier League," he said. "Although I made a couple of appearances for Spurs, I never got that chance to play in the Premier League.

"My ambition and my drive was to get back there, so going through all the leagues, going back up and eventually getting there, I felt a sense of achievement by doing that.

"Maybe the hunger went a little bit after I’d achieved that because I’d been fighting my whole career to do that. Once I’d done it, it was like ‘OK, what now?’

"I think this time out of the game has given me a chance to miss it again. I think that’s where my motivation lies now. I’ve had a bit of time out of the game and I’ve got the chance to come back in.

"It came out of left-field. I went to the Spurs game not expecting anything like this to happen and it has, so I’m prepared to grab the opportunity with both hands.

"Hopefully I can help the boys get promoted."

Read the full Mark Gower interview in the Gravesend Messenger.