9thoct03

Sampson wants to lead Dartford in own stadium
Tommy Sampson, manager of Dr Martens League Eastern Division Dartford, has revealed he would like to be the club's manager if the Darts return home to the town, writes Stephen McCartney.

Forced out of their Watling Street ground in 1992, Dartford have groundshared Cray Wanderers, Erith & Belvedere and Purfleet and now play their matches at Nationwide Conference neighbours Gravesend & Northfleet.

Sampson revealed:  "Putting a Dartford team on the pitch is a success in itself.  We don't look to win league's, FA Trophy's, but we look to do our best and survive until we can put one thousand people in a Stadium in Dartford, with a young side that I might have been nurturing for a couple of years.

"I say to people my next ambition is to be the manager of Dartford in the town and I will love to do that for the club I love!" 

Bromley knocked Dartford out of both the FA Cup and Kent Senior Cup in the space at ten days at The Clive Christian Stadium in Hayes Lane.

Dartford lost 3-0 in the FA Cup second qualifying round, but with a much younger and experienced team, missing seven first team players, they lost  3-2 in the first round of the Kent Senior Cup.

Paul Sykes was forced to miss the game after being held up in traffic coming from Birmingham and Steve Marriner went down with a bout of flu on the morning of the game.

Dartford's two goals were scored by seventeen-year-old striker Danny Nicholls.

Sampson said: "I'm not surprised my young players did us proud, because they are all very good young players.  Danny Nicholls who scored our two goals, has just signed a one-year's contract and I have real high hopes for him."

After playing five games away from home, the Darts return to Stonebridge Road on Saturday against Corby Town.

Sampson added: "Corby Town are one of the sides who are very difficult to play up there, they don't travel practically well and I hope we can play well on Saturday afternoon.  I don't know much about them other than the fact I know eight or nine of their players from last year."


Dartford  vs  Corby Town, Saturday 11 October 2003, 3.00pm  Dr Martens League Eastern Division,
@ Stonebridge Road, Northfleet