New signing Jordan Parkes wants Ebbsfleet to embrace their tag as National League South big boys and blow the division away next season.

Parkes knows exactly how much opposition sides will want to take the Fleet’s scalp – because he played against them twice last season for Hemel Hempstead.

The midfielder scored 30 goals during Hemel’s debut campaign at Step 2, including a brilliant free-kick which earned the Tudors a 2-2 draw at Stonebridge Road in February.

He said: "We saw them as one of the biggest clubs in the league and that was a little bit to Ebbsfleet’s detriment because everyone upped their game against them.

"In the two games we played against them, we really got up for it and it’s a proper ground at their place.

"It’s something we’ve got to enjoy. The fact that everyone will up their game against us should make us push on.

"The season they had was disappointing because they should have been in the top-five at least, so this season there will be some fire in the belly to go and smash this league.

"We need to go out there and make sure we blow sides away because we are Ebbsfleet and we’re one of the best teams in the league."

Read the full interview in the Gravesend Messenger.