Hammers off to Kent

A West Ham XI will face Conference national outfit Ebbsfleet United later this month.

Ian Hendon's development team will travel to Kent on Friday, 29th July (7:45pm kick off).

The fixture was announced by the Kent-based club today on their website. "The Hammers will be sending a side to face the Fleet on Friday July 29 at 7.45pm," read a news item on ebbsfleetunited.co.uk.

"The fixture resulted from discussions between Fleet manager Liam Daish and Ian Hendon, the former Gillingham assistant manager who recently joined the Hammers in a development team coach role at the Boleyn Ground."

Ebbsfleet, who were known as Gravesend & Northfleet from their inception in 1946 until 2007 play their home matches in Northfleet at Stonebridge Road.

They are most famous for being owned by a collective of investors under the name MyFootballClub, who vote on club management issues - including Ebbsfleet's transfer policy - by way of regular online votes.

Ian Hendon's first test as West Ham United's new Development manager comes this weekend when he takes a team to Weymouth this Saturday.