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Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:09 am
by Kentc
I must say I have only been following the darts since early 2000s and reading this thread and the memories from the long term supporters is great reading. Please keep them coming they’re a great read.

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 12:34 pm
by babylon
In the 80s we drew 1-1 in the fa cup with Bournmouth who were in L1 at the time.
When the 3rd round draw was made on the saturday out came
.......Man United v Dartford or Bournmouth.
Unfortunately we lost the replay 4-1 but if we had of got through
We would have had a a lasting memory of taking on Man U at old trafford. We would probably have got well beaten but what an experience it would have been.

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:32 pm
by Lincoln exile
If we had played at Old Trafford and got a share of a huge gate ( by our standards) it might well have changed the history of the club.

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 2:59 pm
by GordonRoadDart
A random selection of memories:

the ground dipped away near the corner flag on the stand side (opposite end to Watling Street);

the smell of liniment when a player came to the touchline to take a throw-in or corner;

players being knocked out when they headed the old leather ball that had become sodden on a rainy day;

the reserves winning the Metropolitan League, playing matches every two or three days at the end of the season and finishing above Arsenal 'A';

Tony Sitford equalising against Aldershot in the closing minutes in the FA Cup;

no substitutes allowed so injured players who could (just about) walk were stationed out on the wing;

no pre-season friendlies against other teams permitted, so practice matches between two Dartford teams were the order of the day.

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:14 pm
by Trevor B
Pete
That was my treat as well when dad took me, Percy Dalton's peanuts and the man selling them coming round with the large wicker basket on his arm.
6p or 2.5pence but today they would want that for one nut never mind a bag :cry:

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 12:25 pm
by Ozymandias
My dad always came home with a bag of peanuts and the blocks of cough candies bought from the shop across the road after every home game.. Then my mum and dad would take me to games. I remember Pacey's silver hair was a stand-out. Then when I started going up with my mates if the ball landed on the stand roof across from the main stand we all shouted 'Rust' and watched as immediately afterwards supporters would begin brushing their hands over their head.
The guy who had a radio on full blast in the main-stand listening to the half times or incoming scores (those were the days) and some irate supporter shouting ' turn that f****** radio off I'm trying to watch the football'.
Also, and I know this isn't at WS, but standing at Plough Lane with us losing against a very good Wimbledon side, soon to be in the league. Our meagre band of supporters were surrounded by young bully boy supporters who ran round from the home end. With one outstanding youngster who was all mouth about to upend his packet of crisps over a Darts supporters head, the wind blew quite violently and he ended up wearing them himself. Much to the pleasure of all us lads and to many of his own. Then one solitary Dart's supporter told him to 'do one' and he went off, his face like thunder/embarrassment with his fellow lads in tow.

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 5:24 pm
by GordonRoadDart
Ozymandias wrote: With one outstanding youngster who was all mouth about to upend his packet of crisps over a Darts supporters head, the wind blew quite violently and he ended up wearing them himself. Much to the pleasure of all us lads and to many of his own. Then one solitary Dart's supporter told him to 'do one' and he went off, his face like thunder/embarrassment with his fellow lads in tow.
Of course, those were the days when every bag of crisps came with its own little blue bag of salt to tip over the crisps! :D

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 5:44 pm
by Dartford Knight
Inflatable black and white penguins , light at the end of the tunnel , and throwing celery at the dover keeper - happy days

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:04 pm
by old git
My 1st game at WS was March 1958.
I have so many memories
The abandoned game against gravesend when there was fighting
going on all over the pitch
beating Aldershot and Exeter in the fa cup
Winning 11-1 in the ksc against Faversham.
Alf Ackerman punching in the winner against Chelmsford
Alf also knocked out a Poole town player and got away with it
The 73/74 season when we won the Southern league and reached
Wembley in the trophy
Tommy Huckstepp scoring 50+ goals two seasons running.
Chelsea opening our new floodlights in the mid 60s
Happy happy days!!

I also remember all these Babylon. How many can say that they have seen the Darts at Wembley. I also remember winning at Barnet in the fa cup and unluckily losing up at Port Vale. A keeper breaking his leg- can`t remember which one. Buying second hand progs in the shop.

Re: Princes Park vs Watling Street

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 8:11 pm
by PeteSamson
Then of course, in the pre- social media days, we had to wait for the half time scores of the old First Division games to filter through to the fans care of numbered plates being placed under the letters A B C D etc in front of the main stand and the corresponding fixtures being printed in the programme.

In terms of music, I can recall it being Max Bygraves 'Tulips of Amsterdam and Dean Martin's version of 'Volare' belting out over the loudspeakers. Music before Merseybeat came over the air. That was in 1958. Memories indeed.