Paul McCarthy memorial match: Ebbsfleet United face Tottenham Hotspur to raise funds for McCarthy family

EBBSFLEET UNITED take on what is likely to be the bulk of Tottenham Hotspur’s under 23 squad tomorrow in a pre-season friendly being billed as the Paul McCarthy memorial match.

In memory of the club’s FA Trophy winning skipper and assistant manager, who died in February, aged just 45, Fleet fans are being urged to turn up to support the McCarthy family.

The club is donating all proceeds from the match to the family to use as they see fit.

Ebbsfleet United vice-chairman Peter Varney told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk: “I watched the team a few times at that time and Paul was an inspirational captain.  I went to the Trophy Final, he was such a key player for the club and our thought around this fixture was that we wanted to do something, that if there were any issues for the family at all, whatever way we could help, that’s why we’ve said all of the proceeds from this game will go to the family.”

Manager Daryl McMahon, meanwhile, is looking forward to the test his players will face at Stonebridge Road tomorrow (15:00).

“You will be watching without a doubt some future Premier League players,” McMahon told www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

“I know the under 23 manager Wayne Burnett well from my time with him at Dagenham.

“His assistant, Justin Cochrane, is one of my best friends and one of the best young coaches around and these Spurs players will be of a very high standard.  Some of them have already cut their teeth at League One and Championship level and it will be a very good test for our players.”

Visit Ebbsfleet United’s website: www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk