Tag: Dartford

Dartford

Returning to the Isthmian Premier after 14 years in the National Leagues, the Darts were relegated from the National South last season. After a 13-year nomadic existence, a return home in 2006 proved to be the catalyst. The Darts won two Isthmian titles and a National South playoff to reach the top of non-league and earn an eighth-place finish. Relegation back to the South and several playoff misses proceeded last season’s drop.

2023/2024 Season
National South: 21st
F.A Cup: 1st Round
F.A Trophy: 2nd Qualifying Round
Kent Senior Cup: Semi-Final
London Senior Cup: Semi-Final
Top League Scorer: Luke Coulson (10 goals)

Having finished runners up in the campaign before few would have expected last term to end in relegation. Although performances weren’t great, up until the New Year the Darts were mid-table and closer to the top seven than the bottom four in terms of points. Due to poor displays on the pitch, two weeks later Alan Dowson departed. Losing streaks developed and one win in eighteen saw Dartford slump into the bottom four and they couldn’t get out.

Manager – Adrian Pennock

The Darts were a sinking ship when Adrian Pennock arrived and although the former Gillingham and AFC Bournemouth defender couldn’t save them from relegation, he gets a chance to rebuild the squad in the Isthmian Premier. His experience could be valuable for the Darts having managed Welling United, Forest Green Rovers, Gillingham and Barrow. A spell out in the Far East with Brunei DPMM culminated in winning the 2019 Singapore Premier League.

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