Burman brings Norman to "forward thinking" Darts - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Dartford manager Tony Burman has today completed the signing of Steve Norman from Ryman Premier League side Folkestone Invicta after putting in an official seven-day approach, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 27-year-old, who lives ten minutes from Princes Park in South Ockenden, Essex, becomes the eighth player signed by Burman since the summer.

The versatile, Romford born player, who can play in midfield, in the heart of defence or at full-back, joined Folkestone Invicta in November 2004 from Chelmsford City having joined the Essex club from Dover Athletic in the summer of 2003.

Norman, who is a partner in a family plumbing business, has also played for Gillingham and now defunct Sussex outfit St Leonards.

Burman explained EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk why he has brought Norman to Princes Park.

He said: “He is in the experienced mould. He’s a defender who can play across the line. He can play midfield or centre back and he can play at full-back.

NEW SIGNING: Essex based versatile player Steve Norman leaves Folkestone Invicta to sign for Dartford.
Photograph courtesy of www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

“He’s played at a higher level, Conference and premier division. He’s a player I’ve looked at and will improve the squad.”

The Darts have brought Jay May (Tonbridge Angels), John Farley (Heybridge Swifts), Anthony Hogg (Dover Athletic), Lew Watts and Nick Barnes (both Maidstone United), John Guest (Welling United) and Alex O’Brien (one month loan from Tonbridge Angels), to the club since the summer as Burman takes advantage of the club’s return home and increased revenue from four-figure crowds.

“He choose to sign for us because after seeing Princes Park and seeing what I want to achieve he felt it was a good move for him, although he’s had to come down a league,” said Burman.

“But we are going to be forward thinking and after what I said to him he wanted to sign.”

But Dartford will soon be a Ryman Premier League side if they continue their form they showed yesterday as a Brendon Cass hat-trick secured a 3-0 win at fellow promotion chasing rivals Fleet Town.

Their tenth league win of the season puts the Darts in second place just two points behind leaders Dulwich Hamlet.

Burman added: “It was a very good win. I felt the team performance overall was excellent.

“We was very unfortunate against Sittingbourne but we carried on the performance for the game against Fleet.

“I know we had Alex O’Brien whose come in for Lew Watts and I thought it was a deserved three points.”

Norman is expected to be in the 16-man squad to face his former club Dover Athletic at Princes Park on Saturday.

Visit club websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk  

www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk