Dartford FC Previews

Month: July 2026 (Page 3 of 3)

Season Preview 2026/2027

July 18, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Aveley

This time two years ago Aveley reached their peak finishing seventh in the National South. In their debut season they made the playoffs losing out in the eliminator round, but set their highest ever finish. Leading up to their record breaking season, the Essex club had won consecutive promotions under Danny Scopes, so momentum was on their side. Then second season syndrome hit and they were relegated, bottom of the pile and returned to the Isthmian Premier. The Millers almost bounced back immediately last term, but fell short in the playoffs.

2025/2026 Season
Isthmian Premier: 2nd
F.A Cup: 4th Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 3rd Qualifying Round
County Cup: Semi-Final
League Cup: 4th Round
Top League Scorer: Ollie Peters (14 goals)

Aveley took a couple of months to get their promotion push going. Perhaps, adapting to a new manager after a relegation season the Millers needed time. A 1-1 draw with Dartford at the end of September was the start of a four month unbeaten league run spanning 16 games. The Millers went from 11th to fourth and within in a couple more matches reached second where they remained. Hoping to reel in champions Folkestone Invicta, the Essex club couldn’t make up the ground then eventually lost in the playoff semi-final.

Manager – Brett Munyard

Brett Munyard started off his managerial career at White Ensign. In his time with Ensign he guided them promotion from Step 7 to Step 5. He then moved to Brightlingsea Regent in November 2021 and managed to steer them to survival in the Isthmian Premier. Most recently Munyard moved from Regent to Maldon & Tiptree before becoming manager of the Millers in the summer of 2025.

Summer Transfers

Some of Aveley’s transfer dealings have involved former Dartford players. Eddie Dsane had two seasons at the Darts and scored 27 goals. Having been used as a substitute under Adrian Pennock last season, Dsane felt it was time to move on despite a new manager arriving at Princes Park this summer.

Malachi Napa played under Alan Dowson in the 2022/2023 campaign and made 22 appearances for Dartford. The winger joins Aveley from Isthmian North champions Maldon and Tiptree.

Louis Dunne was part of the Dartford side that made the playoffs featuring 24 times in 2024/2025. The midfielder originally signed for Aveley, then Chelmsford City came calling with a player coach role that he accepted.

Giovanni Palmer joins from Dulwich Hamlet and Max Booth from Peterborough Sports. Ellis Bates impressed on trial during pre-season and has earned a permanent deal from Stevenage.

Ex-Dart, Liam Nash departs the Millers and teams up again with former Dartford manager Steve King at Eastbourne Borough. Jesse Nwabueze will be featuring for King’s Lynn Town. Harry Haysom, Tobi Tinubu and Ryan Charles have also departed the Millers.

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 7 / Aveley wins: 3 / Draws: 4

Previous Six Meetings

Dartford 2 – 0 Aveley (17/01/2006 – Isthmian Premier)
Aveley 1 – 1 Dartford (20/09/2025 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 1 – 2 Aveley (27/02/2024 – National South)
Aveley 0 – 1 Dartford (26/08/2023 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 2 Aveley (17/04/2010 – Isthmian Premier)
Dartford 4 – 5 Aveley (15/12/2009 – Isthmian League Cup)

Next Meetings

Aveley v Dartford – Saturday 31st October 2026
Dartford v Aveley – Saturday 9th January 2027

Statistics

  • Dartford have lost only one of the last ten in all competitions against Aveley (W6, D3)
  • The Darts have lost just once at home against the Millers in the league (W3, D2)
  • Dartford are unbeaten in their last five trips to Aveley (W3, L2)

Match Highlights – 2025/2026

Click here to display content from YouTube.
Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy (opens in a new tab).

Open "Highlights DARTFORD v AVELEY" directly

Highlights courtesy of Dartford FC TV

Season Preview 2026/2027

July 18, 2026 / / 0 Comments

AFC Whyteleafe

A phoenix club rebuilt just five years ago, AFC Whyteleafe has had nothing but success on their way to the Isthmian Premier. Starting from the Surrey South Eastern Combination, they were promoted in their debut as runners up. After a year consolidating in the division above, Leafe won consecutive titles, reached Wembley in the F.A Vase before last season’s playoff triumph made it back-to-back-to-back promotions. As a measure of the club’s progress they will be sharing ground with Cray Wanderers this season at Flamingo Park.

2025/2026 Season
Isthmian South East: 4th
F.A Cup: 1st Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 1st Qualifying Round
County Cup: Quarter-Final
League Cup: 3rd Round
Top League Scorer: Moses Emmanuel (21 goals)

At the end of September, AFC Whyteleafe entered the playoff places and never fell out. The Surrey side racked up the second highest number of goals reaching 109 in the league. Results included two 8-0 victories, a 6-0 win and a 5-0 opening day triumph. However, it wasn’t as easy in the playoffs and they had to battle past third place Jersey Bulls and runners up AFC Croydon Athletic. On both occasions AFC Whyteleafe held their nerve winning on penalties to earn another promotion.

Manager – Ennio Gonnella

In 2021, Kelly Waters founded AFC Whyteleafe and then went on to manage the club for four years. When the now Chairman made way he promoted Ennio Gonnella from his position as assistant manager. Gonnella had two previous spells with Kent Football United and a stint at FC Elmstead before joining the Leafe and guided them to a third consecutive promotion in his first campaign.

Summer Transfers

A debut season in the Isthmian Premier can be daunting, but AFC Whyteleafe are not content to just make up the numbers. Over the summer the Surrey side have signed some experienced players who know this level. Matty Warren and Francis Mampolo arrive from National South side Tonbridge Angels. Montel McKenzie won the Isthmian Premier title last season and joins from Folkestone Invicta. Geoffrey Okonkwo makes his move from Dulwich Hamlet and Peter Ojemen from Salisbury.

Ade Cole was part of the Brentwood Town that came so close to another promotion last term. Making a step up from Sheppey United is Dami Olorunnisomo.

Head to Head

No previous meetings

Next Meetings

AFC Whyteleafe v Dartford – Saturday 17th October 2026
Dartford v AFC Whyteleafe – Saturday 17th April 2027

Statistics

  • Dartford lost just one game against newly promoted sides last season (W2, D3)
  • The Darts have never played AFC Whyteleafe, but did win both meetings against the folded club Whyteleafe in the Isthmian Division One South during the 2006/2007 campaign
  • AFC Whyteleafe will be one of three new opponents this season for Dartford

Pre-season Friendlies

July 2, 2026 / / 0 Comments

Dartford v Charlton Athletic – Friday 3rd July

Ben Greenhalgh’s first proper look at his squad of players will be against Championship side Charlton Athletic. A common fixture in Dartford’s warm up to a new campaign, the Darts have hosted the Addicks in the last five years. In the seven Princes Park friendlies against the London side, Dartford have lost the lot. A year ago the score was 3-2 to Nathan Jones’ team. Callum Jones levelled after Daniel Kanu put the visitors in front. Greg Docherty restored Charlton Athletic’s lead, but Samir Carruthers netted from the spot. The winner came from Micah Mbick.

Dartford v Ebbsfleet United – Tuesday 7th July

Olly Box will not have to wait long for his return to Princes Park. No doubt it will be strange to see the forward in the red of Ebbsfleet United. The last three friendlies against the Fleet have ended in draws. Carruthers and Jones were on the scoresheet again 12 months ago as it finished 2-2. The Fleet missed out on the National South playoffs last season on goal difference.

Folkestone Invicta v Dartford – Saturday 11th July

Dartford’s first away friendly will be against Isthmian Premier champions Folkestone Invicta. On their way to the title Invicta were one of three teams to win at Princes Park in the league. The return fixture finished all square with a Callum Jones putting Dartford ahead twice only for Nathan Paul-Lavaly and Joe Pigott to level. The Darts have won the last three friendlies without conceding. Ben Greenhalgh scored in the previous one as the Darts won 2-0.

Sutton Athletic v Dartford – Tuesday 14th July

A youthful Dartford side featuring Ebou Adams started in the last friendly against Sutton Athletic, which the Darts won 4-0 in 2013. The Southern Counties East Premier division side finished ninth last season and begin their fourth campaign at step five. Away fans travelling the very short distance may bump into former Dartford goalkeeper, Deren Ibrahim who is now Chairman of the club.

Whitstable Town v Dartford – Saturday 18th July

The Darts travel to the Southern Counties East Premier champions Whitstable Town, a side who return to the Isthmian Division One South East after four years away. Now managed by Lee Martin, the 2025 F.A Vase winners will be Dartford’s penultimate hosts in the pre-season schedule. The Darts won 4-0 in a 2008 friendly with Lee Noble on the scoresheet. In competitive football Dartford have won the last two games 6-1 both in the Kent Senior Cup, the most recent in the delayed 2020 final.

Dartford v Billericay Town – Tuesday 21st July

Back at Princes Park, Dartford take on Isthmian Premier playoff winners Billericay Town. The previous pre-season meeting was just three years ago when the Essex side won 1-0. Over recent seasons this fixture has had a competitive edge. Two years ago both sides were challenging for the Isthmian Premier title with the home side winning 4-0 in both fixtures. Last term Dartford drew 1-1 at home with Olly Box scoring, but lost 3-1 on the road.

Faversham Town v Dartford – Saturday 25th July

A repeat of a pre-season warm up match from last summer, Dartford drew 0-0 a year ago. Greenhalgh will know about the Lilywhites as they finished one place and a point below Margate, just outside the playoff places. Steve Watt is the new man in charge at Faversham and he will have promotion ambitions. Dartford fans may recall meetings with the coastal club in the early to mid-nineties Kent League days.

Dartford v Chelmsford City – Tuesday 28th July

The history and club size of these two clubs are comparable and that has led to a little rivalry over the years. Post World War Two through to the nineties this was a permanent fixture in the Southern League. After Dartford’s decline it took a while for the clubs to renew that rivalry in the National South. The Clarets are a bogey side for the Darts. Since the millennium, Dartford have won seven to Chelmsford City’s 16 with only six draws. Good job this fixture is just a friendly.

Dartford v Ashford United – Saturday 1st August

One final warm up before the new season starts will give Greenhalgh his last chance to look at the squad in action before the opening game. Two years ago, the Darts won in a friendly against the Isthmian South East side. Olly Box, Callum Jones and Ashdon Day scored the goals that day in a 3-1 win. Ashford United came ninth last season but still smashed in 92 goals in the process.

Newer posts »

© 2026 Dartford FC Previews

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑