Pure DFC Archive

If its confirmed that the season will be called short, I would hope, if the season is to be concluded by ppg and playoffs, this would be carried out asap and not left for several months to conclude.

However if as some have suggested we have not played enough games to go down that route, perhaps some imagination could thrown as an alternative to canceling outright?! Maybe a mini league of top 8-10 clubs, in two groups and then onto knockout tournament. with winner and runner up go up?
Hopefully we can start to plan for next season asap either way, but feel cancellation would be very unfair to any of the top 7-8 clubs, after all their efforts

second thoughts you would need a system to decide who is relegated too. All off, and start again when crouds can return?! whichever clubs dont go to the wall.

Anyone hear the faint tumble of virtual dice?

Sounds like a sensible call to me.

https://www.dartfordfc.com/club-statement-2/

The decision by the National League board to suspend the fixtures in the National League North and South (but not the top division) has come as a great shock and disappointment to all of us.

It seems that the ‘vast’ majority of clubs in the North and South called for suspension. We were not one of them.

Although not wanting to take on any type of loan as a club and most certainly not wanting to rely on a loan to the League to be distributed fairly and equitably, we did very much want the league season to continue.

We have been in contact with our Member of Parliament, Gareth Johnson, gaining his support in approaching the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The hope being that the second tranche of financial support can be in the form of grant aid (as with the first tranche) to avoid any clubs having to saddle themselves with debt to survive.

This suspension may give time for the League to negotiate a change to this funding channel and for this reason, we support a temporary suspension.

Our overriding desire is to ensure that we continue to keep everybody involved in putting matches on in these terrible times as safe as we possibly can. The stringent protocols we have put in place are managed and monitored with great care. With this in mind, we very much want to continue the season as soon as possible. Our undying thanks must go to our staff and supporters association for all their hard work in achieving this.

This great Club was founded by the great Community of Dartford in 1888 and rescued in 1992. Our supporters are the life blood of the Club and are missed terribly by everybody associated. I for one can’t wait for the day when we can open the gates again and be together supporting the team as one.

Thanks go to all of our supporters for their continued support in these strange and worrying times. We will do our very best to keep everyone engaged and informed as to what happens next.

Keep safe everyone

Steve Irving
Co-Chairman

To all the Board, and everyone behind he scenes, we thank you all.

Great statement and sentiments from Steve Irving and the club. It does not surprise me that Darts wanted to carry on and I hope that, with some lobbying, the government will provide further grants - maybe to those clubs wishing to complete the season could do so via a restricted number of games.

Great statement from the club.
Fingers crossed the government sees sense and further grants are forthcoming.

As far as I'm concerned in order to preserve the integrity, morality and community spirit non-league football proudly represents the National League board can go and do one. Step 2 should be upgraded to the top tier of non-league, with a new sponsor, following an almighty sinkhole opening up beneath the feet of the bungling self-serving NL board who will dissolve into oblivion as their precious 'elite' law unto itself division becomes known as just little old EFL 3.