Tag: Dartford

Dartford

A rebuilt squad last season ended in the playoff final after taking the title race down to the final day. Dartford have bounced back previously, 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. The Kent side recorded an eighth place finish in the National League. Relegation back to the National South came soon after. Several playoff misses proceeded another drop, but the club are aiming for upward progression once more.

2024/2025 Season
Isthmian Premier: 3rd
F.A Cup: 3rd Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 3rd Qualifying Round
Kent Senior Cup: 2nd Round
League Cup: 4th Round
Top League Scorer: Callum Jones (13 goals)

It’s three months into the season and despite winning four of the opening five games, Dartford slipped down to 15th. A winless spell of seven included hammerings against Billericay Town and Dover Athletic. The tide began to turn when The Darts started to pick up draws and then victories. A longest unbeaten run in the division equalled a club record of 21 games. In that sequence they won ten in a row and were now involved in a title race. The Darts fell short on the final day and despite home advantage lost the playoff final. Perhaps an away final would have been better as the Kent side had the joint best record on the road.

Manager – Adrian Pennock

At the start of his first full season as Dartford boss, Adrian Pennock had to build a squad from scratch. His valuable experience gained at Welling United, Forest Green Rovers, Gillingham and Barrow certainly helped the former Gills defender. He also had a spell out in the Far East with Brunei DPMM culminating in winning the 2019 Singapore Premier League. Pennock gave the Darts a chance of the title going into the final day of last season but had to settle for third place. Although the campaign ended in a playoff final defeat, Pennock has built strong foundations for 2025/2026. 

Summer Transfers

The majority of the squad have been retained. Seven of those graduated through the academy including Young Player of the Year, Olly Box. The Darts can also call upon last season’s top scorer and Player of the Year, Callum Jones. Influential and experienced midfielder Samir Carruthers is also staying.

Pennock has boosted his squad at both ends of the pitch. Dan Smith will provide another option up front and Jon Henly replaces the departed Jacob Marsden in goal. The pair sign from Folkestone Invicta where Smith won Supporters Player of the Year. Full back, Ben Frempah has joined from Wingate and Finchley. In midfield the Darts welcome Sammie McLeoad from Sevenoaks Town and Ikechi Eze from Potters Bar Town. An impressive pre-season on trial for Sam Smith means he will be a Dart. Smith joins from Maidstone United, but was another at Folkestone Invicta last season as he was on loan.

Last season’s captain Josh Hill has retired and so the new skipper will be Michael Olarewaju. Other departures include Tyler Christian-Law now at Herne Bay and Ashdon Day now of Whitstable Town. Marsden has signed for Concord Rangers whilst Duane Ofori Achemapong, Blu Husthwaite and Josh Atkinson have also left.

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