CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING PARTY: Let's end the season in style, says Burman - EXCLUSIVE

Thursday 17th April 2008

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman has almost admitted that his side have clinched the Ryman League Division One North title, writes Stephen McCartney.

AFC Sudbury’s 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Enfield Town in midweek means the Suffolk side can only finish with the same number of points (86) as the Kent giants with only two games left.

However, Dartford have a much better goal-difference of 17 and in my eyes have won the championship, barring four freak results.

At least 500 Dartford fans will flock to Edgware Town on Saturday to spark off the celebrations.

And the club’s last home game of the season against Wingate & Finchley on 26th April has been made all-ticket, with a crowd of over 2,000 expected at Princes Park.

When asked if Dartford have now won the league, Burman, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk replied: “Officially No! Because there’s still that chance that things go wrong but the odds are in our favour and they’re in our favour massively.”

However, a point in north London on Saturday will mathematically seal the title.

And Burman admitted: “We’re not there but there’s one hand on the trophy.

“At this moment in time I would settle for a point that will make us champions but we want to go and get six points from our last two games and that is what we’ll be trying to achieve.”

Edgware Town can look forward to a very lucrative day as over 500 Darts fans will be making the trip to the White Lion Ground.

“That is a figure that seems to be banded around and if it is 500 that will be fantastic,” said Burman.

“People want to be there at this precise moment. People want to be there for that little bit of history.”

Burman urges his team to end their Ryman League Division One North campaign in style.

“I just feel they need to go and enjoy themselves and savour the moments and play football the way we know they can play,” expressed the boss.

“If we do they’ll be fine and we do want to win the championship on points but we like to finish both games off in style.”

The Darts will be presented with the League trophy after their game against Wingate & Finchley - in front of over 2,000 fans.

And Burman said: “The signs are there will be over 2,000 people and the agreement with the ground is if we’re anticipating 2,000, we have to make the game all-ticket.

“Once we know tickets have been sold there will still be people that can get tickets on the day.”

Burman, meanwhile, has been saddened with the news that Egware’s joint-manager Del Deanus, 34, has been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, which is a terminal condition.

A Pro-Am Celebrity football match is to be held at the White Lion Ground on Saturday, 10th May (3pm) to raise funds for the former Tottenham Hotspur youth teamer and England Schoolboy international.

Burman revealed that his skipper Alex O’Brien knows Deanus well, adding: “Alex knows him very well, I don’t know him particularly well but we’ve heard of his plight and it puts things into perspective in a way.

“Edgware are trying to raise some money for him and hopefully with the big crowd they’ll get on Saturday, who knows, some of that may filter to him in the future.”

Visit Dartford’s websites:  www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

For more details on the match for Del Deanus, please visit Edgware Town’s website: www.edgwaretownfc.com

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering* Darts’ celebratory party at Edgware on Saturday and Mike Green and Phil Miles (ex-Chatham Town boss) aim* to provide LIVE website commentary on www.bbc.co.uk/kent and regular updates on 96.7FM.

* subject to signals etc

Edgware Town v Dartford
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 19th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At White Lion Ground, High Street, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 5AQ