Tag: Dartford

Dartford

Title challengers up until the festive season, the Darts drifted out of the picture like everyone else during an inconsistent 2023. Hopes were raised to the maximum when they completed an emphatic double against eventual champions and local rivals Ebbsfleet United over Christmas and the New Year. The Darts showed their potential in an outstanding three months between September and November dropping just two points over an eleven-game spell. From February onwards the Darts failed to record consecutive wins, draws or losses and in the end had to settle for a runner up spot and a fourth playoff campaign in five. In 2018, the Darts lost out on promotion on goal difference and the last three playoff appearances have finished in penalty shoot-out heartbreak, reaching the final three years ago.

2022/2023 Season
National South: 2nd
F.A Cup: 2nd Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 2nd Round
County Cup: 2nd Round
Top League Scorer: Alex Wall (11 goals)

Manager – Alan Dowson

A proven manager at this level, Dowson’s last major success was taking Woking up to the National League. Finishing runners up four years ago, he won the promotional final, had the Cards flirting with the National League playoffs and recorded Woking’s best F.A Cup run in almost two decades. At Hampton and Richmond Borough, he led the Beavers to the Isthmian Premier League title, then reached consecutive playoff campaigns. Dowson also spent seven years at Kingstonian where he won the Isthmian Division One South. Already he has a runner up medal in his first campaign with the Darts last term.

Summer Transfers

Replacing the centre back pairing of the retired Tom Bonner and Faversham Town bound Connor Essam was key this summer. Dowson has signed former Havant and Waterlooville trio Paul Rooney, Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Joash Nembhard, the promising Baris Altintop from Braintree Town and Joe Rabbetts on loan from Dorking Wanderers. Harvey Bradbury had a successful spell towards the end of last season with the Darts, the striker has signed a permanent deal. Lewis Manor and Mitchell Beeney arrive from Concord Rangers and Brandon Barzey from Hampton and Richmond Borough.

Dartford

An outstanding start to last season with seven wins and a draw saw the Darts as the pace setters. They went seventeen home games from the beginning of the campaign without defeat, dished out some thrashings on the road and at times played some delightful football. Momentum was lost between October through to January and although they managed to claw some of the deficit back, the Darts slipped up when it mattered falling short in the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. Steve King met his target on the field, but the club deemed a change necessary this summer.

2021/2022 Season
National South: 4th
F.A Cup: 4th Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 5th Round
County Cup: Winners
Top League Scorers: Marcus Dinanga (13 goals)

Manager – Alan Dowson

A proven manager at this level, Dowson’s last major success was taking Woking up to the National League in his first season three years ago. Finishing runners up, he won the promotional final, had the Cards flirting with the National League playoffs and recorded Woking’s best F.A Cup run in almost two decades. At Hampton and Richmond Borough, he led the Beavers to the Isthmian Premier League title, then reached consecutive playoff campaigns. Dowson also spent seven years at Kingstonian where he won the Isthmian Division One South and was also successful in his first managerial post at Walton and Hersham.

Summer Transfers