Dartford Players of The Past

[the duke]

Big Duane O A has left Wingate to sign for Braintree , he has never been the same since his knee op after being well liked at the Darts
Probably the biggest mistake he made was leaving the Darts for Woking

I remember along with TrevB chatting to him at Truro and he was a decent guy [No B...y B.g B......s ] and he was well liked and respected at the Darts and wish him well , except when he plays us , of course !!!!!!!!!!!

[PeteSamson]

I saw a posting today on Tony Brown's Facebook group ' Countdown to Remembering Dartford Football Club's Watling Street Ground opened in 1921, preparing to celebrate the centenary opening of the ground.

Sadly, it posted news of the death of former Dart player Ken Pottle, (1938-2020) who played for us in the late 1950's and early 60's, albeit for the reserves in the Metropolitan League from 1957 to 1960 and again from 1961 to 1966.

A poignant moment for me because the first Darts game I saw was Darts Reserves v Chelsea Reserves at the end of the 1957-58 season, when celebrating my birthday and my parents paying for a group of friends to see the game as a birthday treat. I do have an autograph book, which I am frantically trying to find, with the autographs of players from both teams signing it, and I do know Ken Pottle's signature was one of the clearer names signed. I had moved up to Merseyside before the Reserves won the Metropolitan League in 1961-62, but Ken would have been one of the players in that league winning squad. beating Arsenal to the title by 3 points in the days of 2 points for a win. I used to watch a lot of those Reserve games too, as many others did in those days, as the money wasn't about to follow the first team squad to the away games. Indeed, the Reserves in that Championship season were attracting gates of 1000. So, yes, great memories of my earliest days of supporting the Darts, and Ken Pottle was a part of that, and a name and player who gave very good service to the Darts, normally as a winger, and who I believe was a local lad too. Many thanks for those memories.

RIP Ken.

[BANANA BANANA]

Phil Roberts sent off for Chelmsford today.

[The 5th Searcher]

Jason Prior got a hattrick for Dorking against Tonbridge,
Lyle Della Verde got Wellings winner against Hemel Hempstead.

[Pedro]

George Borg departs Braintree.

[Skip]

George Borg departs Braintree.

That’s a shame. He could have at least waited until we had played them

[Reginald Horsfield]

George Sykes joins Flans Brentwood Town

[Ozymandias]

Did you see the photo of Syksie in the NLP. Blimey he's put some weight on since being with us. Not tubby but stocky.

[Park Life]

Only with us for a short loan period but Tom Knowles signs for Yeovil:-

http://nonleague.today/news/details.php?news_id=8863

[Lincoln exile]

This week's "Messenger" reports the death of Jimmy Fletcher who played in Alf Ackerman's team in the 1960s. He also played for Maidstone, where he became an England Amateur International, Gillingham, Chatham, Faversham, Southend, Gravesend, Margate and Dover. I didn't know until I read today's article that he later became a greyhound trainer.