Kentish Football 
Dartford choose Thurrock for "financial reasons" - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Dartford officials estimate that their first fixture at their impressive, 4,100 capacity, all-covered stadium will be on Saturday, 23rd September, and it is anticipated that all celebration events will be held over that weekend as the club ends its 14-year exile - hopefully in front of a sell-out crowd.
During that time the Darts have played at Cray Wanderers’ Sidcup ground at Oxford Road, and Erith & Belvedere’s former home at Park View, Belvedere.
But a disastrous fire at Park View in September 1997 put both club’s future’s in doubt and with this in mind a new ground sharing arrangement was made with Purfleet Football Club in time for the 1998-99 season.
The Darts then moved back to Kent at Gravesend & Northfleet’s Stonebridge Road ground in time for the 2001-02 campaign until moving out in April 2006 and Mr Skinner explained his reasons for declining offers from three or four clubs – including another Essex club - to return to Ship Lane.
“For financial reasons really,” he said in an EXCLUSIVE interview with www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening.
“We were made very welcome when we were there before and we knew everyone would be friendly.”
The Darts have decided the five-mile journey through the tunnel would be the best option for everyone concerned.
“We had about three or four offers from people who said we could go there but Purfleet was the best deal – both distance and financial,” added Mr Skinner.
He hopes the club’s loyal fans will put up with the inconvenience for another month or so as come the end of September, they will have the best venue to watch non-league football in Kent – and beyond.
“I think it will be ok as it will be a couple of games and people will put up for it for a little while,” he said.
Signs that football’s coming back home to Dartford can be seen all around the town. And if England achieve World Cup glory in Germany, the club will definitely benefit from the feel good factor that will spread across the country as people will want to watch football at all levels.
Commuters at Dartford train station are being informed of Princes Park Stadium over the public address system and a poster has been erected on Dartford Borough Council buildings adjacent to the train station.
An air of excitement is gripping everyone connected with this friendly club.
The new stadium is coming along at pace, and the membrane of “Extra Grass”, which is being laid on the main pitch is causing attention from Premiership neighbours.
The “Extra Grass” will allow the germination and growth of the grass seed, ready for the first game, as Mr Skinner explains.
”It’s a new system. It’s a plastic membrane on the pitch and the proper grass grows through it and that plastic membrane holds all the roots together.
“The Extra Grass is able to take wear all year round. And in fact the assistant groundsman at Charlton Athletic has visited the ground and is thinking about putting this system in at The Valley.”
The Council are still in negotiations with Rugby League side Kent Ravens about playing at Princes Park during the summer months, as the pitch will be able to withstand action throughout the entire year.
Mr Skinner – who travels to Germany to watch England play Sweden in the World Cup this month – also revealed two players, who played under Peter Taylor in the mid-80s, goalkeeper Gary Harrald and midfielder Robbie Garvey are contractors working on building their new home.
And he said the club will announce the identity of their new sponsor next Friday at their new home.
The announcement has been delayed as the sponsor is currently away on holiday.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd