hollis2

No holding Hollis back in move South

Fleet’s new defender Haydn Hollis is certainly fitting the mould of centre-backs that home supporters instantly warm to if his description of his role is anything to go by. The signing from Chesterfield emphasised leadership, organisation and an absolute desire to win as the key elements he’ll bring to the Kuflink Stadium when season 2022/23 kicks off.

“I’m a leader โ€“ my game is all about leadership and organisation and the manager said that’s exactly what he was looking for in our defence,” Hollis told the club website after signing for the Fleet. “That’s what I’m all about so it’s really good that’s what he wants, that’s what he’s seen in me. He said he’s watched me a few times when playing for Chesterfield and he’s picked me out and said that’s what we need so that is my game. I come with experience from League One and Two and the National League. I come here seeking promotion, I’m a winner and I’m here to win and get promoted, nothing less.

“I’m not going to sell myself to anyone as a ball-playing centre-half, other players do that job. I’m here as a leader and I come with that little bit of know-how to win games and dig in. It’s not going to go for you all the time, you’re going to be losing in games or be under pressure to hold out and I’m there to enable us to stick in games, to draw or win games where you might lose them, or to nick 1-0s because that’s my job to keep it tight in those sort of games.”

Having played most of his career at Notts County, Forest Green and Chesterfield, the move to the Fleet is something new for the 29-year-old, although having scored at the Kuflink Stadium previously, it’s a place that he remembered when the possibility of a move emerged.

“I’ve been really fortunate in my career with Chesterfield being my first club in the National League and before that I spent all my time in the Football League so my only experience of the Fleet was playing against them for Chesterfield,” Hollis recalled. “It was a good stadium I remembered then, a good setup and especially the way the manager and staff are – they’re so focused and desperate to be successful.

“I remember the 3-3 game at home to Ebbsfleet very well, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that on a football pitch before so that was a crazy one and here I am joining them!”

“I don’t know any of the Ebbsfleet boys, I might have played against a few of them but that’s part of the fun. I’m sure they’re a good bunch of lads and I’ll settle in quickly. The boss assured me they’re a great group, it’s something I wanted to do in coming here and they’ve said how they wanted to go one better and win the league.”

And Hollis has played at a higher level long enough to know he’s not coming to the Kuflink Stadium for anything less than a tough challenge in the South division.

“It’s a level below but I’m not naive or stupid,” he said. “I’ve seen it done at this level and when people come down from the leagues above they think it’s going to be easy because they’ve been higher. That’s so far from the truth… this is going to be tough โ€“ I’ve found the lower down you go, often the harder it is. The easiest level I’ve played at is League One in fact so I’m under no illusion it’s going to be tough but it’s a challenge I like, one I’m looking forward to.”

Hollis was invited back to Chesterfield this pre-season having recovered from an injury but the move to Ebbsfleet was “the one” that piqued his interest he said.

“I had a tough season โ€“ I’ve never been injured in my whole career so it’s one of those that if you do get an injury, it’s one that ends up keeping you out for a while but I’m desperate now to get into the pre-season. I’ve been doing the warm-ups, I feel good and raring to go.

“And it’s the first time in my career I’ve been out of contract so when Ebbsfleet got in touch and I met the manager and CEO, from what they said I wanted to be part of this and come and join it. I had the chance to go back and do pre-season at Chesterfield with a view to a deal. But also I’ve got a family, a newborn baby, so the chance of something that was good for me, that appealed to me, I had to go for it and Ebbsfleet was that one.”

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