The club has been known as Ebbsfleet United since 2007

The name of Gravesend and Northfleet could return to football four years after the side became Ebbsfleet United.

The Blue Square Bet South club are gauging opinion as to whether they want a return to the club's original name.

Chairman Phil Sonsara told BBC Radio Kent: "The club plays in Northfleet, the two predominant towns are Gravesend and Northfleet.

"However Ebbsfleet United won the FA Trophy, not Gravesend and Northfleet. It's a difficult call."

The club, which was formed after the Second World War when Gravesend United and Northfleet United merged, changed their name to Ebbsfleet in 2007 when the club began a shirt sponsorship arrangement with Eurostar, whose trains use Ebbsfleet station which is located close to the ground.

If there's enough groundswell to say Gravesend and Northfleet is what people prefer that's fair enough - it would have to be driven by the fans Phil Sonsara

Sonsara continued: "I always believe the football club should be associated with the region.

"It changed its name to accommodate the Ebbsfleet valley, there's a lot of history around Ebbsfleet that a lot of fans don't appreciate.

"But I have to act in the best interest of the football club. If there's enough groundswell to say Gravesend and Northfleet is what people prefer that's fair enough. It would have to be driven by the fans."

The club, which was renamed Ebbsfleet United in 2007, were subsequently taken over by the football fans' website myfootballclub.co.uk, and went on to win the FA Trophy in 2008 for the first time in the club's history.

The club are currently third in Blue Square Bet South, seeking to win promotion back to Blue Square Premier in their first season since being relegated.

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