He may be splashing out £5million on a new main stand at Stonebridge Road, but Fleet owner Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi has well and truly caught the football bug.

Dr Al-Humaidi made a surprise appearance to watch the Fleet’s 2-1 extra-time FA Youth Cup win at Lordswood last Thursday night.

It was a visit that highlighted just how much of an interest the Fleet chief is taking in the club’s development – not just bricks and mortar.

Fleet vice-chairman Peter Varney explained: “He phoned me from London and said he needed a dose of football.

“I said that the youth team were away and that he’d never find Lordswood’s ground. But an hour later he was on the train to Chatham and he went to watch the game.

“It was nice that he saw the kids play, we’ve got one or two in there that we’re quite excited about.

“I think they got a shock when they first saw him at the game but it’s good for them, he is very passionate about the club – he has got the bug!”

Read the full story in Thursday's Gravesend Messenger.