Darts working hard to bring back the crowds

Dartford are one of 140 teams that are playing in the FA Carlsberg Trophy this weekend, and although this season’s competition has only reached its first round qualifying stage, no fewer than 45 of those 140 clubs have played in a national final before, writes Stephen McCartney.

Those clubs have appeared in at least one final of The FA Trophy, The FA Vase or the old FA Amateur Cup - and 35 of them did it at the old Wembley Stadium.

Dartford have been the only Kent club to reach a FA Trophy Final, when in 1974, the fifth ever final, Ernie Morgan’s men were beaten 2-1 by Morecambe.

And of course, Deal Town, are the only Kent club to have won a Wembley Final, when in 2000 they lifted The FA Vase in the last final played underneath the old Twin Towers.

Dartford, meanwhile, get their Trophy campaign for the season underway, with a very tough tie at Ryman Premier League side AFC Hornchurch on Saturday.

The Essex side might be ninth from bottom with 15 points from 10 games, but the Urchins have won three of their four league games at Bridge Avenue, and Darts boss Tony Burman is expecting a tough tie.

“We’ve got a tough game,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk earlier in the week. “Hornchurch are a really good side, they’re full of experience.

“I’ve been and seen them, we’ve had them watched a couple of times and it’s going to be difficult for us,” he warned.

And he added: “But it’s a Cup game, we’re going to enjoy it and if we don’t progress, we’ll have a go with them, and if it doesn’t go our way, we’ll come out the Cup, so be it, we’ll get on with other things.”

Dartford’s six-match FA Cup campaign was ended by Bromley last weekend when former Margate striker Danny Hockton scored the only goal of the third qualifying round clash.

But Burman felt it should be his side that travel to Blue Square South club, Eastbourne Borough next weekend.

“You have to respect what they’re good at like we did against Bromley,” said Burman.

“I felt our tactics we’re right against Bromley and our tactics we created a lot of chances and they didn’t go in.

“”Brendon Cass missed a load, he could have had two or three on Saturday, but when I say missed them, he’s in a position to put them in.

“They’re chances that we’ve created. If we weren’t creating chances, I’ll worry.”

Cass, however, bounced back and netted two goals in Dartford’s 3-0 win over Great Wakering Rovers in midweek, taking his goalscoring tally to eleven for the season.

That game, however, saw only 675 come through the turnstiles - the lowest ever crowd watching the Darts’ first-team at Princes Park.

But the club’s general and commercial manager, Nicola Collett is working hard to ensure crowds get back to over the 1,000 mark.

She has been working hard behind the scenes, following her appointment at the Ryman League Division One North club, two months ago.

Writing in her programme notes, she said: “You may be wondering what I have been up to and I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my aspirations and what events I have planned.

“I feel its imperative to quickly raise the club’s profile within the community, in order for this to happen I am focusing on networking, radio coverage, newspaper coverage, website news and community links with local schools.

“I also feel it is important to involve our loyal supporters, so, we are going to have a one-year family fun day party on the plaza on 10^th November starting at 11:30am prior to the big match against Waltham Abbey.

“I am also very keen to work with the local schools in the community and we are introducing educational visits to the stadium. This has proved to be very successful and we are now in the process of organising the visits.”

Meanwhile, back on the pitch, striker Jay May sits out the second of his three match ban against AFC Hornchurch, and another striker, Tom Bradbrook doesn’t return from his trip to America until Saturday evening.

There will be football at Princes Park next Tuesday; either a FA Trophy replay against AFC Hornchurch - or a Ryman League Cup tie against Aveley, who play the other side of the tunnel.

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering two FA Trophy ties this weekend:

Saturday: AFC Hornchurch v Dartford

Sunday: Aylesbury United v Margate
(3pm at Chesham United FC, The Meadow, Amy Lane, Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 1NE)

Visit Dartford’s websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/forum

AFC Hornchurch v Dartford
FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round
Saturday 20^th October 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster, Essex RM14 2LX