What to expect 2025

[Top Cat]

I asked the same question to Steve Irving at the Chelmsford match last Good Friday and was told it was down to the supporters’ association to organise. Steve actually raised the issue with Micky Austin whilst I was there. So I’m assuming the DFCSA facilitate the testimonial fund raising activities and match? It seems to me that it has gone on far too long now that perhaps one match for both players would be the best option. It really galls me that two of our finest players, who both gave a decade plus of loyal service, have been treated so poorly. Someone just needs to take ownership and get it sorted; preferably whilst both players are still capable of bending over to tie their own laces.

And then I just need to find the ticket I bought for Bradders’ originally scheduled match.

I still have two tickets for the Bradbrook testimonial , and was also asking the question when or if it was ever going to take place ? I believe there were quite a few tickets sold for this match and understandably postponed due to covid , but three years on and still no updates from the club , which doesn’t surprise me . No mention of any sort of refund which doesn’t surprise me either . Perhaps they can take the balance off a season ticket next season just a thought .

If the club isn't responsible for organising testimonials and you're not getting any answers, then my question to you and the other guys is, who sold you the tickets?

Bradbrook testimonial tickets were advertised by the club at the time , and you had to go through the clubs ticket sales online and print them off , or buy them at the ground ? so on that basis I presume the club sold them ?
The testimonial should of taken place April 2020 and as we know covid put a stop to that , but well over four years later and still no mention to those of us who purchased the tickets to as and when this match will ever take place . We all know the website is not fit for purpose, but you would think the club would have the decency to keep fans informed on such matters .

[Ajaxman DFC]

[quote="Top Cat" post_id=22545 time=1728233750




Bradbrook testimonial tickets were advertised by the club at the time , and you had to go through the clubs ticket sales online and print them off , or buy them at the ground ? so on that basis I presume the club sold them ?
The testimonial should of taken place April 2020 and as we know covid put a stop to that , but well over four years later and still no mention to those of us who purchased the tickets to as and when this match will ever take place . We all know the website is not fit for purpose, but you would think the club would have the decency to keep fans informed on such matters .

It doesn't sound like the chairman's response was particularly helpful. If he doesn't know, then who does? Which would go some way to understanding the lack of communication throughout the club in general.
I believe the issue is going to be raised, among other topics, with the recently appointed communications officer. That's providing they can get hold of him. But depending on where he's come from this will probably be before his time and we"ll be the none the wiser.
The ticketing is clearly down to the club not the DFCSA's department. Before we had e-tickets on smart phones, whenever we had a big game in the FA Cup or a local derby which was all ticket, I used to purchase mine from either the club shop or Jack Smedley's office.
It might be worth emailing Jack maybe. After all it is 4 years down the line now and in the absence of any dates on the horizon atleast there should be the option of a refund in place.

[MINTY]

Having lived in and around Dartford for most of my life until 2013, I naturally supported them. Bought into the new stadium and grabbed myself a season ticket. Got carried along on the wave of success like anyone else. There were always going to be bumps along the way, but generally thought the club was being run well, until recently.
Steve King got us to the play offs, Dowse got us to the playoffs, but failed to get us further. Dowse was given a new contract and then we all know what happened.
Now we have a new manager with a new team, that will take time to settle. Some players will not doubt be moved on if they are not up to it and by recent results, that seems a given. The club lies mid table in the Isthmian. The hardcore fan base travel home and away paying their hard earned money and hats off to them for that. The ultimate ambition surely has to be promotion, like any other club up and down the country. Attendances are starting to wane.
Now, I'm not sure if Jay the ex groundsman has been replaced or not, haven't see any reports myself, could have missed it, if so apologies. But not having a groundsman in place is not very professional at all, especially for a club of this size.
A Communications Officer was recruited by all accounts, but no one can get hold of him, laughable.
As for the testimonial farce, well. How long has it been since Bradbrook and Noble left ? Perhaps the club thinks it has all been forgotten and no one cares anymore.
The Board for me sounds outdated and needs refreshing. You can't live on past success alone, you have to move forward, if not you're left behind.
Princes Park is a great stadium and the facilities excellent. The club should be doing everything in their power to get the best out of it, on and off the pitch.
The one good thing I've heard lately coming out of Dartford is the women's team, earning money from their cup runs and generally fun to watch. At least one Darts team is going in the right direction.

[M1 South]

Who is the new communications officer? Was it ever announced??
Sounds like he’s giving the Scarlett Pimpernel a run for his money??

[Hitchin Dart79]

Having lived in and around Dartford for most of my life until 2013, I naturally supported them. Bought into the new stadium and grabbed myself a season ticket. Got carried along on the wave of success like anyone else. There were always going to be bumps along the way, but generally thought the club was being run well, until recently.
Steve King got us to the play offs, Dowse got us to the playoffs, but failed to get us further. Dowse was given a new contract and then we all know what happened.
Now we have a new manager with a new team, that will take time to settle. Some players will not doubt be moved on if they are not up to it and by recent results, that seems a given. The club lies mid table in the Isthmian. The hardcore fan base travel home and away paying their hard earned money and hats off to them for that. The ultimate ambition surely has to be promotion, like any other club up and down the country. Attendances are starting to wane.
Now, I'm not sure if Jay the ex groundsman has been replaced or not, haven't see any reports myself, could have missed it, if so apologies. But not having a groundsman in place is not very professional at all, especially for a club of this size.
A Communications Officer was recruited by all accounts, but no one can get hold of him, laughable.
As for the testimonial farce, well. How long has it been since Bradbrook and Noble left ? Perhaps the club thinks it has all been forgotten and no one cares anymore.
The Board for me sounds outdated and needs refreshing. You can't live on past success alone, you have to move forward, if not you're left behind.
Princes Park is a great stadium and the facilities excellent. The club should be doing everything in their power to get the best out of it, on and off the pitch.
The one good thing I've heard lately coming out of Dartford is the women's team, earning money from their cup runs and generally fun to watch. At least one Darts team is going in the right direction.

Could do with a bradbrook or noble around the team to show that what it’s all about to wear the black and white as the last 2 years or so the majority donning the kit have been and continue to be nowhere near good enough

[DA Mikey]

A big welcome to our new welfare officer, Dr. Harold Shipman.

[Ajaxman DFC]

A big welcome to our new welfare officer, Dr. Harold Shipman.

Dr. Shippingoals.

[Jonty]

If anyone watched the recent documentary "The Club That George Built" will get a prime example of how to run a non-league football club. It tells the story of how a former football player (George Dowell) took over his local club Worthing after a life-changing car crash which left him paralysed from the chest down. He turned the club around, that was in 200k debt and turned it into a self sufficient club. What is noticeable is that he is a hands on chairman, who is at the club on a daily basis ensuring that all his staff know their jobs.

My local club Tonbridge is another fine example of a well run club, which was not always the case. It was only when Sophie Purves came on board that things started to happen, she was instrumental in engaging with local businesses and the community. She orchestrated a development program of the new pitch, club shop, new bar and upgraded the floodlights. Since her arrival the crowds have doubled as well and she didn't do too badly at York City either before moving down South.

I have always been a great admirer of our board and what they have achieved for our great club, which I am eternal greatful for. Without them, we would not have a club today. However, it pains me to say it but we need someone to come on board like Sophie Purves, who would get the club moving forward again and get a grip of the day to day running of the club and those who are employed within. Leadership comes from the top and should filter down the chain and from the outside looking in, something has gone wrong since we lost Chairman Dave. Maybe I have just had too much table wine and all of our current problems are just to do with the club constitution. Either way, I get a bad vibe at the moment and the only positive I can take from the season so far is the "Winchester Arms". Maybe we can rename it "His Arms Ref" in honour of Grassbank. Even he has p!$$ed lately as I have not heard his famous phrase on the terraces.

[Sleightly Deceptive]

If anyone watched the recent documentary "The Club That George Built" will get a prime example of how to run a non-league football club. It tells the story of how a former football player (George Dowell) took over his local club Worthing after a life-changing car crash which left him paralysed from the chest down. He turned the club around, that was in 200k debt and turned it into a self sufficient club. What is noticeable is that he is a hands on chairman, who is at the club on a daily basis ensuring that all his staff know their jobs.

My local club Tonbridge is another fine example of a well run club, which was not always the case. It was only when Sophie Purves came on board that things started to happen, she was instrumental in engaging with local businesses and the community. She orchestrated a development program of the new pitch, club shop, new bar and upgraded the floodlights. Since her arrival the crowds have doubled as well and she didn't do too badly at York City either before moving down South.

I have always been a great admirer of our board and what they have achieved for our great club, which I am eternal greatful for. Without them, we would not have a club today. However, it pains me to say it but we need someone to come on board like Sophie Purves, who would get the club moving forward again and get a grip of the day to day running of the club and those who are employed within. Leadership comes from the top and should filter down the chain and from the outside looking in, something has gone wrong since we lost Chairman Dave. Maybe I have just had too much table wine and all of our current problems are just to do with the club constitution. Either way, I get a bad vibe at the moment and the only positive I can take from the season so far is the "Winchester Arms". Maybe we can rename it "His Arms Ref" in honour of Grassbank. Even he has p!$$ed lately as I have not heard his famous phrase on the terraces.

Jonty. That is SOME table wine. As much as I try, with multiple permutations, I can’t grasp that final sentence. The rest resonates though!

[Jonty]

The funny thing is SD, I only had 3 glasses.

[M1 South]

I quite fancy this Sophie Purves! Sounds like my sort of woman?
I reckon she cooks a lovely Shepherds Pie??

[Sleightly Deceptive]

I quite fancy this Sophie Purves! Sounds like my sort of woman?
I reckon she cooks a lovely Shepherds Pie??

Are you getting your Purves mixed up with your pervert and a cottaging pie?

[M1 South]

One’s beef & one’s lamb but I enjoy both!! x

[Tony H]

For certain we’ll all be a year older and hopefully giving our all for the Darts come rain or high water.

[Jonty]

I quite fancy this Sophie Purves! Sounds like my sort of woman?
I reckon she cooks a lovely Shepherds Pie??

She would have have you in the Shepherds Pie M1S. I have put a snippet below from 3 years back with her plans for Tonbridge.



If only we have got her at DFC, she would have shaken the club up and she lives closer to Dartford than Tonbridge too.

[KentC]

The biggest worry I have is that the club slips into complacent mode. It was one thing to be perennial contenders who just missed out in the league above, but we should be huge contenders in this division, certainly amongst the favourites, and everything the club does should be about getting promotion back into NLS. Ade had a massive task in rebuilding the entire squad and has done reasonably well so far, but I get uneasy when I hear so many people waxing lyrical about a 3-1 defeat away to Worthing. Sure it was better than the week before and I understand the manager has to look for positives, but at the end of the day we still lost! I hope I'm wrong but I'm sensing the club's aspirations are a little lower than I would like them to be.

The saying is "Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you will land amongst the stars" ... I worry that we're not fully committed yet to even looking up.

Really well put spike, you say what I’m thinking only better articulated.

[Lars Resort]

Is that sheep in the background?

[Lars Resort]

Bodø playing a depleted Maccabi tonight and maybe a rare win for a Scottish club tonight in Europe