Watts complets move to his home-town club - EXCLUSIVE

Lew Watts has finally completed his move from Maidstone United to Dartford this morning, writes Stephen McCartney.

The central defender, 31, has been drafted into the squad for the Darts’ game at Croydon Athletic - and boss Tony Burman is delighted.

He EXCLUSIVELY told www.kentishfootball.co.uk this morning: “He’s got Conference experience with Gravesend and was a player I tried to sign when he was at Welling but it didn’t come off.

“He’s been at Tonbridge where he was captain of the side that won promotion and has a wealth of experience at the higher league and the league that we are in. He’s a player who has a winning mentality.”

Watts, who lives “a stones throw” from Dartford’s new Princes Park Stadium, made up his mind to play with his home-town club after Burman invited him to the £6.5m Stadium.

And players will be queuing up to sign for Dartford once the stadium opens on 11 November against Horsham YMCA.

“I have put other seven-day approaches for one or two other players to add to the squad,” revealed Burman.

“Twelve months down the line we are in a much better position to attract players. Princes Park is obviously one of the main attractions and believe me it’s helping in a big way.”

Watts signed for Tonbridge Angels in October 2005 to add some much needed experience to their defence, after ten years service at Park View Road. Was previously with Gravesend & Northfleet and Fisher Athletic.

Fifth placed Dartford make the trip to Thornton Heath on Saturday to play a Croydon Athletic side in tenth place - just two points behind.

“The ground over there is a nice compact ground and I think it will be a very difficult game,” said Burman. “I’ve watched them a couple of times.

“We had a good start, yes, then we had a strange seven to eight days when we lost two league games and went out of the FA Cup.

“It told me a few things that I needed to know about the squad and although we lost against Dulwich it was a good performance and we had a good result, which we needed, against Maidstone.”

Croydon Athletic v Dartford
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 30^th September 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At The Keith Tuckey Stadium, Off Mayfield Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 6DN