Matt Godden says he couldn't turn down the chance to play in the Football League when Stevenage came calling.

The striker, who scored 30 goals for Fleet last season, had been scouted for months before a deal was done this week to take him to Hertfordshire.

Godden was hugely popular at Stonebridge Road but knew the time was right to move on.

He said: "I went on holiday last week to Kefalonia with my family. I wanted to chill out but I couldn’t really.

"It was a big week for me. I sat down with my girlfriend and my family and had a good think about things.

"As much as I’d love to have stayed at Ebbsfleet, the opportunity for Football League football again was too hard for me to turn down.

"There was a bit of interest from January onwards. I had a good run up to January, went quiet for six weeks or so and then picked up again.

"There was interest, bits and bobs but having spoken to a few clubs, it was the way Darren Sarll at Stevenage came across. We get on really well and after a few meetings and a look around the training ground, which is a Championship-quality training ground, there was only one place I was going to go to try to progress.

"I met Stevenage a week after the season finished and we hit it off. I couldn’t turn down that opportunity of proving myself at the Football League level, like I know I can."

Godden's last act for Ebbsfleet was scoring a penalty in their shoot-out defeat to Maidstone at the end of the National League South play-off final last month.

He netted 26 league goals but that wasn't enough to propel Fleet to the title. Sutton overtook Daryl McMahon's side to claim automatic promotion and Stones will join them in the National League next season.

Godden said: "It was harsh but it’s always going to be harsh. It’s hard enough going out in the play-offs as it is but to lose on penalties is always a bigger blow.

"After the game I had it in my mind that I had to watch Maidstone pick up the trophy.

"It’s in my nature and I missed out on that feeling. I want that feeling so I wanted to see every single one of their emotions when they were going through, picking up that trophy.

"I want that so I thought I’d stay out there, as much as it was painful, to watch them and want that feeling and drive me on more to get that feeling."

The 24-year-old leaves Fleet fans with some great memories.

Godden: "The final was a disappointment but a great game to play in.

"I scored one of my best goals against Bromley away and luckily enough it was caught on camera.

"The hat-tricks this year, topped with the Hayes & Yeading game, with the four goals and then to end the season on a high with a hat-trick against Eastbourne, there were quite a few positives for myself personally this year on the pitch.

"But I’m over the moon with this move."

Read more from Matt Godden in the Gravesend Messenger on Thursday.