Hello again, welcome to another edition of Walking With The Darts, a monthly update on all things related to Dartford FC, courtesy of Dartford Living Magazine.
Before I begin, please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of content recently. It has been a hectic few months at the football club and on a personal level, so a little time away was needed to reflect on what has been a long season.
It’s no secret that our journey under the guidance of Ady Pennock continues with another campaign in the highly competitive Isthmian Premier League. The 2024-25 season was a hugely successful one for many reasons, but we eventually fell short after losing out in the Playoff Final to Dover Athletic. We’re now raring to go again for what promises to be another exciting year of proper football.
Pre-season is literally just around the corner, and begins with the visit of EFL Championship outfit Charlton Athletic on Saturday 12th of July. We then host Eastbourne Borough on the 19th, before travelling to Herne Bay on the evening of the 22nd. Gillingham then come to Princes Park on the 26th, before we travel to Faversham Town on the 29th. The pre-season will then finish with us hosting our local rivals Ebbsfleet United on Saturday 2nd of August.
However, before things kick-off on the pitch, there is the annual DFCSA Fun Day to enjoy! The event takes place on Sunday 6th of July, between 10.30am and 3.30pm. There will be lots of things to do, including food, drink, music, raffles, children’s activities, and of course a free training session alongside the Dartford players. This will be a day you’ll not want to miss, so be sure to add the date to your diaries!
On the player front, we said goodbye and thank you to the likes of Jacob Marsden, Duane Ofori-Acheampong, Tyler Christian-Law, Louis Dunne, Hayden Bullas, and Josh Hill. The skipper has retired from action to focus on his family, whilst Louis and Hayden returned to their parent clubs.
Meanwhile, the remainder of the squad have either signed new contracts or had the extension options on their contracts exercised. We also welcome new signings Dan Smith (striker) and experienced goalkeeper Jonny Henly. Negotiations are ongoing with Michael Olarewaju, while a few more new faces are sure to arrive in the near future.
Three of our players featured in the Isthmian Premier League’s Team of The Season! So, huge congratulations to Josh Hill, Samir Carruthers, and Sam Odaudu on their marvellous achievement. Meanwhile, midfield maestro Denzelle Olopade was named in the Kent Online Sport Team of The Season. So, huge congratulations to him as well!
The 2025-26 season will see the Darts wearing a new kit, after a new partnership with clothing giant Adidas was announced during the off-season. The deal, which replaces our former one with Puma, will see a new range of Dartford FC clothing and accessories, as well as the home, away, goalkeeper, and training clothing.
There have also been many other new ventures and partnerships announced recently, alongside a deal with Southern Counties East League First Division side Halls Athletic to groundshare Princes Park. All information and news can be found on our official website.
As far as the Dartford FC Women’s camp is concerned, the 2024-25 season was another successful campaign despite Connor Dymond and Martin McCarthy’s team eventually losing out to Fulham in the London & South-East Regional Women’s Football League. The West Londoners went on to win their games in hand, which ensured that the Darts fell just short in second place.
However, the ladies did retain the League Cup after opponents Fulham had to withdraw due to fielding an ineligible player during a previous round. The result meant that the Darts have now won the trophy three times in the last four years!
That proved to be the only silverware won by the ladies this season, after an early exit in the Women’s FA Cup at the hands of Actonians saw Connor Dymond and Martin McCarthy set about focusing on the league. The small matter of the Kent Women’s Cup saw the Darts narrowly lose out to Chatham Town FC Women in the Final too.
Perhaps the biggest success story coming from the ladies’ camp was Rachel’s Day, which took place on the final day of the season (18th of May). Whilst on the pitch, Fulham beat the Darts 3-0, the far more important event took place off it in what was a truly extraordinary day.
Rachel Ahern, a Dartford football player has been used to fighting for the ball on the pitch. However, she has been fighting something far more serious in recent times, having been diagnosed with breast cancer. After successful surgery and many rounds of treatment, this spirited young lady has shown tremendous courage, fight, and spirit, and always with a smile on her face.
The final day of the season saw her and the club celebrate Rachel’s Day. It was a family day event surrounding the fixture at Princes Park, whereby many people came together to help celebrate and raise funds and awareness for CoppaFeel! – a charity focused on raising awareness of breast cancer and kicking it together!
It’s only fitting that I finish with a quote from the Dartford FC Women’s camp…
“Rachel’s Day was nothing short of extraordinary. A powerful, heartwarming finale to the season, celebrating someone truly special. Surrounded by community, fans, volunteers and family, we came together with one mission: to kick cancer. With incredible spirit and unity, over £5,000 was raised, turning love into action and hope into impact. A day to remember, a cause to believe in, and a reminder that together, we are powerful!”
Please remember to keep an eye on all teams’ progress via our social media platforms and the official club website throughout the season. And as always, thank you for your continued support and thanks for reading.
By Chris Palmer