Orpington appoint Richard Dimmock as their new manager as club aim to raise £2m for new pavilion for the whole community to use at Goddington Park

ORPINGTON have appointed Richard Dimmock as their new manager.

 

The club finished in fourth place in the Kent County League Division Two West last season and have appointed the former Welling Town, Lordswood and Meridian VP manager today.

“I wanted to go to a club with ambition and a project and Orpington fitted those requirements perfectly,” said Dimmock.

“What the club has planned for the future is exciting and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”

The club have secured a deal to play their home games at Oxford Road in Sidcup next season – the former ground of Cray Wanderers between 1973 and 1999.

The club have launched an online fundraising campaign to raise the £2m needed to build a new pavilion (below) for the whole community to use at Goddington Park.



Planning permission was granted by Bromley Council in November 2023 and the volunteer led amateur football club, which has 40 teams and 600 players have partnered with Millwall Community Trust, who will deliver more football and other services to under-served Bromley residents.

“We will provide a fully accessible building for people with seen and unseen disability,” said a club statement.

“Our pavilion will have eco-friendly measures such as solar panels, water reclamation and bio friendly planting.”

Fundraising officer Julie Covill has been tasked to bring in corporate sponsors to assist with the project.

“Orpington FC is on the brink of an incredible project that promises to elevate sport, recreation and community in Goddington Park to new heights,” said Mrs Covill.

“To ensure its success, we are reaching out to our fantastic community of supporters and we believe that each one of you has a crucial role to play in bringing this vision to life.

“Many businesses value community engagement and supporting a local sports project can be a mutually beneficial partnership.

“Remember, the strength of Orpington FC lies in the unity of its supporters.  By coming together, we can overcome any challenge and achieve greatness.

“I am confident that with your support, we will not only meet but exceed our fundraising goals.

“Thank you for considering how you can contribute to this exciting project. Let’s make Orpington’s dream a reality, and in doing so, create a lasting legacy for our community.”

The club state that their current 90-year-old pavilion is no longer fit for purpose and the windowless, breeze block, undersized facility doesn’t meet the Football Foundation’s minimum requirements.

For further details, please visit Orpington’s website: www.orpingtonfc.co.uk