Ashmore lost his patience last month and climbed into the terrace behind his goal to confront a rival fan

It is hard not to grimace as Nathan Ashmore reels off the catalogue of horrific racist insults that he has endured throughout his career. All the familiar ugly comments are there but more shocking than the language used is the frequency with which the Ebbsfleet United goalkeeper is abused.

“It happens almost every weekend,” the 28-year-old says with a shrug. “I expect it before every game and it’s never going to go away.”

Usually he ignores it, believing that reacting means the abusers win, but in last month’s National League fixture away to Boreham Wood, for the first time the insults became too much. There were a few supporters behind the goal at Meadow Park incessantly goading him but one man, a voice protruding louder