Sean Shields was left to ponder what might have been after signing his new contract at Ebbsfleet.

The winger played a big part in Fleet’s promotion last season, starting 25 league games and scoring six goals.

But it could all have been very different had Shields’ proposed move to Margate been completed in January 2016.

Shields impressed on loan and an 18-month deal was agreed for his permanent transfer to Hartsdown Park.

But Gate shortened the contract to six months at the last minute and the deal was off – to Shields’ great long-term benefit.

Money problems plagued the Blues, players left and the team were relegated to the Ryman League last season.

Ebbsfleet and Shields, meanwhile, are now preparing to mix it with non-league’s big boys in the National League.

The 25-year-old said: "There have been ups and downs for me at the club like when I did my ankle ligaments at the start of the season before last.

"There was a time when it looked like I was going to Margate after my loan. It shows that things change so quickly in football and everything happens for a reason.

"For me to now have a promotion with Ebbsfleet and going into the league above, I just think it was a massive blessing in disguise that move didn’t end up going through because there’s nowhere else I’d rather play my football right now.

"If you look at where Margate have gone now and where Ebbsfleet are, it’s chalk and cheese.

"It’s scary (how close the transfer was). At the time, whether it was because of my injury or not, I just couldn’t break back into the team.

"I was going there (Margate) for regular football and at the time it seemed great because their budget was good, they had some good players and the club were winning constant games.

"But now they’re in the Ryman Premier and we’re in the National League so from my point of view, it looks like a good thing that move didn’t work out."

Shields loves to get the ball down and take defenders on, so might the style of play
at a higher level suit his game better?

"I’d like to think so," he said. "Even though I feel I had a good season last year, there are difficulties with some pitches away.

"The way some teams set up is not always conducive to playing nice football and that’s how I like to play.

"You’d like to think there will be a bit more football played in the National League, playing in nicer stadiums against bigger clubs.

"No disrespect to the clubs we played against last season, because it’s a hard league to get out of but I’d like to think it will suit my game more.

"I believe I can play in the Football League so playing in the National Premier is something I’m looking forward to."