Dartford boss Tony Burman unveils Mark Arber and Nathan Collier as his first two summer signings

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman has made his first two summer signings as he prepares for the club’s Blue Square Bet Premier campaign.


The Darts finished runners-up to Woking in the Conference South last season and re-joined the non-league elite for the first time in 26 years after they defeated Basingstoke Town twice and Welling United in the end of season play-off lottery.

They begin their Blue Square Bet Premier campaign with a home game against Tamworth on 11 August, before they travel to Woking on 14 August.

Transfer activity has been rather quiet at Princes Park so far this summer as Burman has to try to persuade quality players to join a part-time club.

But with the new season drawing closer, Burman was delighted to unveil his first two summer signings, following yesterday’s 1-0 home win over Leyton Orient, which was earned following Danny Harris’ goal two minutes before half-time.

Mark Aber, 34, who was born in Johannesburg South Africa, has a wealth of experience in football, previously played for Tottenham Hotspur, Barnet, Peterborough United, Oldham athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge and Stevenage Borough.

The Daggers was his last club, where he made 163 appearances, scoring 11 times for the Essex outfit between 2008-2012, after making 22 appearances (scoring once) in two separate loan periods at Victoria Road.

Arber has made 571 appearances for Football League clubs, scoring 49 goals during his career and Burman is delighted to be able to bring the defender to Kent for arguably the club’s biggest signing since playing at Princes Park in November 2006.

In a statement, which was published on the club’s official website www.dartfordfconline.com yesterday, Burman, who has clinched three promotions in the past six years, said:  “One or two years ago, I wouldn’t have ever thought I’d be having players like Mark coming here in the same office as me!

“He’s come in and has been very professional and has been impressed with what he’s seen.”

Arber is looking forward to the challenge at Princes Park, which sees the Darts face some big clubs in the shape of Luton Town and Wrexham.

He said: “I’m coming to a football club that’s on the up and from what I see here, there’s a good set of lads and it’s a club that’s going the right way.

Nathan Collier played for Hampton & Richmond Borough in the Blue Square Bet South last season.

Attacker Collier, who scored three times for Hampton & Richmond last season, has featured in every pre-season match for the Darts and also put pen to paper following yesterday’s win over the O’s.

The Darts continue their pre-season campaign on Wednesday night when Premier League giants Arsenal come to Princes Park.

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfconline.com  & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk  

Dartford  v  Arsenal
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 1^st August 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT