Princes Park Special: Welcome home Darts!

Dartford captain Tommy Osborne admitted that he will be a very proud man when he leads his team-mates onto the Princes Park pitch on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts open the stunning, all-covered, £6.5m stadium, for the visit of Horsham YMCA as the club finally end their 14-year exile from the North Kent town.

Tickets for the Ryman League Division One South clash sold out some three weeks ago and a capacity crowd of 4,100 is expected.

Osborne, the 27-year-old right-back, is relishing the moment when the buzzer rings and the Darts run onto the pitch minutes before Eltham based referee Ian Crouch blows the very first whistle at Princes Park.

“For me personally it’s going to be a proud moment to lead out the team,” Osborne said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Me and the boys have been looking forward to this for quite a while now and with a bit of luck we can put on a performance and get a result the day deserves - which is a Dartford win.”

Osborne knows his team-mates will need to impress many of the club’s new fans at the new stadium.

“I mean we want to do a job so it’s not an anti-climax,” he said. “No doubt the management team (Tony Burman, Paul Sawyer and Steve Robinson) at twenty to three will be reminding us we’ve got a game to play and we’ve got to get a result on the day because three points is the most important thing - you can’t forget that.”

Osborne feels the players will thrive on the big-match atmosphere, adding: “To be honest with you they’ll thrive on it really than freeze and with a bit of luck 4,000 people should easily be a 12^th man and hopefully we can get a result and three points.”

The Darts have played at various different venues during their 14-year exile and Osborne feels this has been a “stumbling block” for the club.

He said: “I was asked to write some notes for the programme and I think not having our own ground has been a stumbling block in order for the club not being able to make strides forward.

“Now we’ve got our own ground there’s nothing stopping Dartford going from strength to strength and progressing through the league’s.

“I don’t feel automatic promotion is out of the question and I think we’re well capable of the play-off’s.”

Fans who were unable to purchase tickets for the showpiece opening game at Princes Park on Saturday, don’t have long to wait for the next one.

Boreham Wood are the visitors next Tuesday in the Westview Cup and another big crowd is expected for that one.

“We’ve got to remember the fans who have travelled to the games to support us,” added Osborne.

“There’s going to be a lot of fans who maybe haven’t seen us play before and hopefully if we do well in front of them we can keep the gates as high as possible.”

FIRST DAY:  Work on Princes Park started on 14th November 2005.

Proud Dartford manager Tony Burman paid tribute to Dartford Borough Council for bringing the club home, writes Stephen McCartney.

Burman was quick to thank Cllr Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford Borough Council, for fulfilling his promise of building the Darts the best non-league football stadium.

“The people at the council, there’s too many names to mention, but Jeremy is always at the forefront of most things because he’s leader of the council,” Burman said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“But the guy has promised us something and it was a big dream in his mind a couple of years ago and he’s seen it through and I’ve got the utmost respect for him for keeping his promise and fair play to him.

“I hope the community and Dartford Football Club and the people running the stadium, it’s a massive place for all the community to go.”

COMING HOME:  Dartford's players are relishing their homecoming on Saturday, in front of 4,100 fans.

Dartford manager Tony Burman has warned Horsham YMCA will do all they can to spoil the party on Saturday’s historic day, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Sussex side were thrashed 6-0 when the two sides met in the FA Trophy at Thurrock’s Ship Lane ground in the FA Trophy last month, and Burman warned they will be seeking revenge for the Darts’ homecoming.

“They will be 100% going out to spoil the day for us,” Burman said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“There’s no way they are coming there and just sit down again. The rules are there for them are the same for us.

“They’ve got to get used to what the atmosphere is going to be like so have we but it’s a cup final that we didn’t think we would have because it’s in front of 4,000 people.

“It’s a new stadium that’s going to be out home, it’s not anyone else’s now - we can call it home and above all we’ve got a training pitch which is second to none and we want to get working on that and try to help the lads to improve.”

PACKED:  Princes Park will be packed to the rafters for Dartford's homecoming
on Saturday.

Dartford boss Tony Burman admitted he has a job on his hands to keep his players’ focused for Saturday’s opening game at Princes Park, writes Stephen McCartney.

Burman, club officials, and Dartford Borough Council, have been in daily meetings as the countdown to the club’s return to the town, following their 14-year exile, is now just hours away.

“I can only describe its going to be a fantastic opening,” Burman revealed EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“It’s not going to be a normal preparation for a game but I think we all have to try and understand that.

“But my main objective is to get three points on Saturday and I will do my best to keep the players focused on what they have to do.

“But it’s going to be difficult for both sets of players because there’s going to be so much going on.”

But with 4,000 Darts fans - most of them watching the team for the first time in many years - cheering on his side, Burman hopes his side will relish the occasion, but above all collect three vital Ryman League Division One South points against Horsham YMCA.

“I hope they take it well,” he said. “They’ll have 4,000 on their side as well.

“I can’t tell you if the young ones are going to freeze or whether I’m going to freeze - I hope I don’t.

“I was fortunate to play in front of a lot higher than that and some of the players, who are with us, have played in big crowds too.

“But we’ve got to try and keep them focused. It’s not an easy game, it’s a difficult game but everyone will want us to do well.”

BUMS ON SEATS:  When will you be visiting Princes Park?

Welling United manager Adrian Pennock wishes Dartford all the best for their big day on Saturday, and insists the two club’s will meet in league action in the not too distant future, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wings knocked the Darts out of the Kent Senior Cup, winning the Park View Road clash by three goals to nil, in what was Dartford’s last ever game in exile.

Describing Dartford, nice-man Pennock told www.kentishfootball.co.uk : “A great set-up. I’ve got a lot of respect for Tony Burman and he’s doing a fantastic job down there and it’s great that they’re going back home.

“Dartford are going back home and that’s what everybody wants and I really wish them all the best for the future because it’s a big club and everybody deserves to play at home.

“They’ve been struggling over the last 14 years and I really hope they go higher and higher and Tony is the right person to do that.”

Cray Wanderers’ goalkeeper Steve Northwood used to watch the Darts play at their old Watling Street ground as a youngster.

He told www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk : “I’m so pleased for everyone associated with the club that the big day is almost here.

“I used to go to Watling Street when I was younger and still look out for Dartford’s results even though I play for Cray.

“I just wished that it was us involved in the first game as the atmosphere will be electric!”

All photographs are courtesy of www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Visit Dartford's official website:  www.dartfordfc.co.uk