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JACK POWELL thinks Ebbsfleet United’s winning habit can count for a lot when they return to the National League next season.
Daryl McMahon’s Fleet won 20 games in a final 23-game unbeaten run that saw them follow Maidenhead United up to Step 1.
Having finished runners-up, Ebbsfleet beat Chelmsford City 2-1 in the National League South promotion final last month.
Midfielder Powell, 23, has played in the Championship with Millwall but after leaving the London club last summer chose to increase his game experience by joining McMahon’s side.
“There’s more than one way to improve,” Powell told The NLP. “But on the whole there’s playing games of football and playing with better players. I’ve played with some really good players this year and, obviously, I’ve played. That goes hand in hand, so I’d definitely say I’m a much better player than when I left Millwall.
“To get promoted at the age of 23 is a big achievement. We go into the highest level of Non-League football next season and we’re looking forward to it.
“It will be some nice grounds and against some big teams – I think that will suit us. We’ve got quality throughout the squad, from front to back, and there’s quite a few options for the manager to choose from.
“A big thing we noticed in the National League South were the teams that had been promoted from the step below the season before last actually did really well. “Poole Town, Hungerford Town and Hampton & Richmond all fared really well because they had that winning habit. Hopefully we can take our winning habit into the new season and kick on.” McMahon has made his first signing of the summer by bringing striker Danny Mills from Whitehawk into a squad that boasts plenty of Non-League and Football League know-how. Highly-rated Powell may have only completed his first real full season, but says being able to tap into the changing room’s knowledge has enhanced his own game. “The manager helps me a lot,” said the England C international. “He’s a central midfield player himself so he’s always good to speak to about your game. We always reflect on performances every week, so we have good conversations about how I can improve. “Likewise with a lot of ex-League players we have. The likes of Andy Drury, Danny Kedwell, Aaron McLean, Dave Winfield, Marvin McCoy – they’ve all played in the League and are people I can lean on. Especially Jukesy (Drury) alongside me in centre midfield. “He and the manager are two people I take a lot from and can pick at their brains. They can help me improve and eventually get to the level I want to be.”