Dartford FC: 10 Years at Princes Park
By Joseph, Sub-Editor
On 11th November 2006, Dartford FC played their first game at the new, environmentally friendly stadium (Princes Park) in front of a sell-out crowd of 4097 people. A decade later, we take a look at the progress that Dartford FC has made as a club since the new stadium was built.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Darts never really had a home stadium. Before this, the home stadium had been Watling Street, however, after the Hillsborough Disaster, such stadiums were no longer permitted by the FA and Dartford FC had to move. Although the club was still in a financially healthy state, it couldn’t afford a new stadium that fit the new requirements from the FA so Dartford had to ground share for the next 15 years. Some of the grounds that Dartford shared included ones in Erith, Thurrock and Gravesend. Dartford had stayed in and around the 8th tier of the football pyramid for roughly 10 years, and the club was slowing going out of business. However, in 2003, an upturn in results led to a chain of high attendances leading to the influx in funds needed to keep the club competitive.
In 2004, the news that the club and supporters craved arrived, Dartford Borough Council were planning to build a new stadium in Dartford ready for the end of the 2006/07 season. After a series of poor results in 2005, Tommy Sampson left the club and Tony Burman took over in a caretaker role, however, a series of impressive results led to the club offering Burman the job on a full time basis.
On 11th November 2006, Dartford FC played their first game at Princes Park in front of a sell-out crowd against Horsham YMCA, winning 4-2. In the 10 years that followed, the Darts would have one of the best decades in the club’s history. In 2008, Dartford were promoted to the 7th tier, the Ryman Premier. Two years later, Dartford went up to the 6th tier, the Blue Square Conference South. In 2012 in the play-off final against Welling United in front of a sell-out crowd Dartford won 1-0 to reach the top tier of Non-League football. In 2013, after a very successful season in the Blue Square Conference Premier, Dartford were named the best part-time club in the country. However, they were relegated back to the sixth tier in 2015 and are currently 3rd in the league, comfortably in the playoffs and still in with a chance at winning the title. In this time, Dartford have also reached the first and second round of the FA Cup, have won the Kent Senior Cup, and have reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy.
What could have caused such an incredible decade for a club that had done relatively little in the decade beforehand? Well, it is fair to say that part of the reason is Tony Burman, who has done an amazing job over the past decade to improve the team’s position so much. However, part of the reason has to be the new stadium. With the new home that Dartford received a decade ago the achievements of the club have soared. The new stadium has given the club a new sense of community, and now more people are coming to watch the club’s games than ever before. This new feeling of community allows the club to push on and achieve more and more with each coming season.
As the current season comes to an end, it is important to remember where our club was a decade ago, compared to where it is now. This season is looking like it could be another one of triumph, very much fitting with the past decade at Princes Park. So, next time you go and watch the Darts, make sure you thank the stadium.