I'm not taking Burgess Hill for granted, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman says he wants his side to avoid slipping up on a potential banana skin against Burgess Hill Town on Saturday.



The Darts open their FA Cup campaign in the Fourth Qualifying Round where a win will see play in the First Round in two weeks’ time.

Burgess Hill Town arrive at Princes Park sitting proudly at the top of the Ryman League Division One South table, unbeaten in fifteen league games with 12 wins to their name.

The Hillians began their FA Cup campaign in the Preliminary Round and have knocked out Eastbourne Town (1-0); Croydon (3-2); Fleet Town (4-0) and stunned Vanarama Conference South side Sutton United by winning 3-1 win at Gander Green Lane in the last round.

The Sussex club have scooped £16,925 from their FA Cup and are just one win away from reaching the First Round for the first time in their history.

Burman said: “No, I don’t want it to be a banana skin and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“We’re playing against a team three divisions lower than us and we’ll give them the utmost respect but our main concern is to progress into the next round.

“They’re having a great season and I’ll give them a lot of respect for doing so.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and it’s helped them financially with the Cup games that they’ve played previously.

“I’m hoping it’s a decent game obviously. We’re going to be going out there and we’ll prepare no different but it’s not League football. It’s Cup football and we have to make sure we get our organisation right and our things and we can progress to the next round.”

Burman, who has guided the club to the First Round on two previous occasions, knows the opportunities that non-league clubs receive by going on a Cup run.
 
“We’re pleased that we’ve avoided the other sides in our own league and we’ve got new opposition for Saturday,” he said.

“It is that bit of a distraction (from the league) and the players, the fans and the club wants the publicity and hopefully we can start on our run in The FA Cup and have our two, three, maybe four games in it to be successful.

“With the TV coming to your grounds and things like that and the players are all being interviewed.

“If you’re drawn against a League club then it has its rewards once the First Round comes into play. A lot of games are on TV and that’s why it’s good.

“I’m not taking anything for granted. We’ve got a job to do on Saturday and we’ll be preparing and doing the best we can to progress to the First Round.”

Burman revealed that the club do not budget for the £12,500 that is up for grabs this weekend.

“Every penny helps. You don’t do your budget in thinking you’re going to get x-amount of money coming in from The FA Cup and it doesn’t come in.

“It’s always a bonus to get as far as you can in The FA Cup and that money is a bonus.

“It adds to certain things at the end of it. It’s enjoyable for the supporters, the clubs and the players, we all enjoy the publicity that it could bring you.”

Dartford go into The FA Cup sitting in the bottom three in the Vanarama Conference table, having collected three wins and seven draws from their seventeen league outings.

“I feel I’ve got a real good group of players together. I don’t think they’ve had their just rewards in fairness,” added Burman.

“I think they’ve worked really hard and played some good football but they’ve not had the results that we’ve deserved, but having said that the league is still there to be seen. 

“You don’t get relegated in October but I don’t want to be where we are really. I’ve got to say we’ve got to start putting things together and don’t come up with any excuses and get on with it and now show what a good side that I think we actually are.”

Visit Dartford’s website: www.dartfordfconline.com

Dartford  v  Burgess Hill Town
The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 25^th October 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT