I’ve got a manager in Tony Burman who is believing in me, is honest with me and I can’t ask for more, says in-form Dartford striker Alfie Pavey

DARTFORD striker Alfie Pavey says he’s feeling settled at Princes Park.

 

The 22-year-old started his career in the Academy at Maidstone United before he was snapped up by Millwall, where he made six appearances in the first team.


GOAL:  Dartford striker Alfie Pavey (number nine) scores agaisnt Bognor Regis Town in his last home outing at Princes Park.
Photo: Edmund Boyden - www.edboydenphotos.co.uk

However, he was loaned out to Barnet, Aldershot Town, Bromley, Hampton & Richmond Borough and Dartford whilst with the Lions and signed for Welling United following his release at the end of last season.

However, he made a couple of appearances for the Wings before signing for their Vanarama National League South rivals Dartford.

Pavey scored his eleventh goal of the season for Tony Burman’s side at the weekend, scoring the only goal of the game at Bostik Premier side Burgess Hill Town to set up a home clash against Sky Bet League Two side Swindon Town in The FA Cup First Round (4 or 5 November).

“It’s good for the club, good for the fans, the second year in a row now that they’ve made the First Round,” said Pavey.

“We’re looking forward to the draw, Swindon at home.  You always want a League club when you get into the First Round of the Cup, I’m looking forward to it.

“We were sitting there watching the Draw together and when it got drawn everyone was like ‘yes, we’ve got a League club, but do you know what? We know they’re a League club and we know they’re a good side but on our day it’s The FA Cup, you never know what can happen. We’re going into that game knowing we can win that game.”

The FA Cup First Round is a good chance for non-league footballers to showcase their talents on a bigger stage and hope for a dream move higher up in the footballing ladder.

“Personally to me when I was at Millwall I got a glimpse of The FA Cup but I just see it as another game.  It’s an opportunity to show what I can do and we’ll just see what happens,” said Pavey.

“Non-League club’s get into that First Round and it attracts bigger eyes and on a personal note all I have to do is keep doing what I’m doing and we’ll see what happens. 

“As a club it helps boost the club up massively financially and it’s good for the fans, so we’ll see what happens.”

Pavey says Burman’s belief in him this season has been a factor in his form so far this season.

“I came in on loan towards the end of last season at Dartford and I didn’t really get going but it’s nice to be back,” said Pavey.

“I’ve got a manager in Tony Burman who is believing in me, is honest with me and I can’t ask for more.

“I feel settled. When I was at Millwall I was going on loan and then I wasn’t getting a run of games and maybe that was down to me and my form but I feel like now I’ve found a bit of form and it’s my place to lose.  If I drop my consistency I know where I’ll be sitting and that will be on the bench!”

Dartford are currently in the top four in the Vanarama National League South table with seven wins, four draws and two defeats and they travel to fifth-placed Chelmsford City, who have an identical playing record, on Saturday.

Pavey said: “The League’s tight at the moment, isn’t it? Chelmsford are one of those teams who are always going to be up there. It’s a hard month for us.

“If you win that there, at some point we start pushing up the table. It’s a winnable game once again and everyone’s got to make sure that they’re on it and we’ll see come five o’clock.”

Dartford are only two points adrift of league leaders Braintree Town, who lost their top-flight status at the end of last season.

Visit Dartford’s website:  www.dartfordfc.com

Chelmsford City  v  Dartford
Vanarama National League South
Saturday 21^st October 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Melbourne Community Stadium, Salerno Way, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2EH