Whilst you're here, make sure you visit DartsBlog. It's not a spammed link which will bombard you with countless pop ups and useless advertising but it's a really informative Dartford FC blog by two of my mates which is updated regularly and also features a podcast. It talks about team news, results and everything Dartford FC related and I'm sure will be a good read for anyone who follows us.
http://www.dartsfcblog.blogspot.com/
Friday 8 January 2010
Xmas + The Run In Preview
It's been quite a disruptive festive period for the Darts and one in which our form on the pitch has "dropped" which could potentially be a reason for the the lack of noise on the terraces, especially at Princes Park. Fortuntely after the Boxing Day shambles both on and off the pitch, normal service has somewhat resumed. We went into Canvey and picked up a thumping 5-2 win which was obviously great but it was good to hear the choir back in good voice. We were close to the pitch and closer to the players and were able shouting lots more encouragement which I feel that the players fed off of although they would have been extra determined to put in a good performance and Robbie Haworth, Danny Harris and Lee Burns epitomised the word on that cold and rainy Tuesday night.
Then to Cray where we took huge support, as much as I've seen for quite sometime and were on song and in bouncy mood for large periods of the game. We quietened down during the 2nd half due to the fact that we were soaking up pressure like a sponge for most of it but it was good to now that we were back to winning ways both on and off the pitch.
It wouldn't be completely unfair for one to label Princes Park as the Old Trafford/Emirates Stadium of the Ryman League not just because of its quality as a stadium but because of the low volume of its supporters. As we approach crunch time this season, us fans must sort this problem out and raise our voices as we entertain the likes of Maidstone, Hastings and Canvey in the run in. Bognor is only 106 days away, and we will march there en mass, but lets ensure that we give the players the necessary support they need to ensure that we get there as Champions.
Then to Cray where we took huge support, as much as I've seen for quite sometime and were on song and in bouncy mood for large periods of the game. We quietened down during the 2nd half due to the fact that we were soaking up pressure like a sponge for most of it but it was good to now that we were back to winning ways both on and off the pitch.
It wouldn't be completely unfair for one to label Princes Park as the Old Trafford/Emirates Stadium of the Ryman League not just because of its quality as a stadium but because of the low volume of its supporters. As we approach crunch time this season, us fans must sort this problem out and raise our voices as we entertain the likes of Maidstone, Hastings and Canvey in the run in. Bognor is only 106 days away, and we will march there en mass, but lets ensure that we give the players the necessary support they need to ensure that we get there as Champions.
Monday 7 December 2009
A Free Advertising Opportunity
I remember watching an Everton game in the Europa League vs. AEK Athens. Everton were 3-0 up before half time. Cause for joyous singing and celebrations from the home fans one would think? Not quite. There was the sound of singing and jumping coming through my TV set for the full 90 minutes but it was instead from the Athens fans who seemed to get louder with every goal conceded. They sang as one, they're chants often went on for minutes and the only retaliation chant from the Everton fans was the very original chant of "Who are ya!". Even Liverpool, who's fans get non-stop praise for being awesome are frequently outsung by travelling European fans who venture to Anfield. Is this lack of singing an English thing? I'd like to hope not.
Stoke are a prime example. The Britannia is a giant sound box but their fans do it justice week in week out. Pompey's fans are also well known for their non-stop singing attitude. Then even down at our level. The Bognor supporters were non-stop at ours as were Hastings and Horsham and I see no such reason why we shouldn't also have such a reputation.
The way I look at things, the club has missed out on a generation of supporters due to events conspiring before my own birth but one key way to attract people back through the doors, especially younger people who can easily be tempted away to the likes of Millwall and Charlton is to keep up the atmosphere at games. The quality of football isn't going to be troubling the likes of the Addicks, and as big as Maidstone and Tonbridge are, Leeds, Southampton and Norwich pack a bit more punch on the fixture sheet. Therefore one way we have to get people coming back is making Dartford games an enjoyable experience, through constant noise, constant singing and constant bouncing which our Football League counterparts currently do not offer.
I'm sure we'll be doing ourselves no disservice on the player front as well as although money plays a big part in a decision to switch clubs, the facilities, stadium and general direction of the club coupled with the fact that they'll be playing in front of fanatical crowds of over 1000 versus mumbling crowds of around 500 can surely be a swinging factor.
The rant is nearly over, just one more thing. Regardless of the result, the weather or the "importance" of the match. As supporters, let's do what our name says we do and support the team. A team who are behind but can still hear the crowd roaring them on get that extra skip in their step and want to try harder to get that equaliser. Calling for substitutions or constant bo***cking isn't the way to go. Yes we get frustrated sometimes but lets not forget. We are top of the league and long may it continue.
Monday 30 November 2009
Shake it off, Shake it all off :D
All good things must come to an end and our league unbeaten streak did so at the hands of AFC Hornchurch at home on Saturday afternoon. It was by no means a vintage Darts performance and we were poor for large periods of the game but in a way perhaps it may signal a mental turning point for us this season.
Gone is the pressure of having to win every game which could be interpreted as a bad thing by some but in my opinion sometimes the pressure can get to you. I stopped playing football last year but the season before last, i was lucky enough to be captain of a team that lost only twice the entire season on our way to the Bexley C Division East U15 title :D. It was brilliant for me to be a part of the squad that kept on winning and grinding out results, but sometimes, even subconsciously, an air of invincibility crept into our minds and whenever we came against a team who were up for it from the off and put us under real pressure, we tended to panic. We weren't supposed to lose.
Our first loss taught me a lot. Firstly, that mental preparedness plays a huge part in determining the result of a game. A team who are 150% fired up for a game have got a better chance of winning in my opinion than a better team who are only 50% up for it. Secondly, a loss gives you a chance to really appreciate a victory the next time around and in a way, helps you to reset your mind. Thirdly and finally, a loss isn't the worst thing in the world. It has to happen to someone and undoubtedly it will happen to you, the main thing is to shake it off, learn from your mistakes and get back to winning ways.
Lest we forget, we are still top of the league, with the best squad in the league, the biggest fan base in the league and the best stadium in the league. I'd say we've still got a lot going for us :)
Gone is the pressure of having to win every game which could be interpreted as a bad thing by some but in my opinion sometimes the pressure can get to you. I stopped playing football last year but the season before last, i was lucky enough to be captain of a team that lost only twice the entire season on our way to the Bexley C Division East U15 title :D. It was brilliant for me to be a part of the squad that kept on winning and grinding out results, but sometimes, even subconsciously, an air of invincibility crept into our minds and whenever we came against a team who were up for it from the off and put us under real pressure, we tended to panic. We weren't supposed to lose.
Our first loss taught me a lot. Firstly, that mental preparedness plays a huge part in determining the result of a game. A team who are 150% fired up for a game have got a better chance of winning in my opinion than a better team who are only 50% up for it. Secondly, a loss gives you a chance to really appreciate a victory the next time around and in a way, helps you to reset your mind. Thirdly and finally, a loss isn't the worst thing in the world. It has to happen to someone and undoubtedly it will happen to you, the main thing is to shake it off, learn from your mistakes and get back to winning ways.
Lest we forget, we are still top of the league, with the best squad in the league, the biggest fan base in the league and the best stadium in the league. I'd say we've still got a lot going for us :)
Friday 27 November 2009
In Focus - Danny Harris
This week my player In Focus is Danny Harris. He's been with The Darts for about a month and a half after joining us on a dual registration contract with Hertfordshire Blue Square South side Bishop's Stortford and thus far it looks to be another shrewd bit of business by Darts boss Tony Burman.
Harris caught all our eyes from Day 1 when he sealed the deal against our arch-rivals Tonbridge with a brilliant curling shot into the bottom corner after coming on as a substitute. From then on he's continued in terrific goalscoring vain and currently has 5 goals in 7 starts.
Harris in my opinion has all the traits of a good striker. He's got a good turn of pace, he knows where the goal is and most importantly he has the determination and engine to boot. I've always felt that the big man, little man combo is one of the most lethal strike combinations in football and that this season, despite having arguably the best strike force in the league, we didn't have that. For me Haworth, May and Burns are all similar types of players; strong, well built and hard-working but I've always said the addition of a pacey striker in combination with those three would destroy any defence in the league. Not only is Harris pacey, but he's an adept finisher and will work equally as hard as the "target men" as shown by his exploits against Dover. He's a definite BSS quality striker, and I'm glad we've got him on board. Hopefully if he does well this season, TB will look to put him on a permanent deal for next season.
Harris caught all our eyes from Day 1 when he sealed the deal against our arch-rivals Tonbridge with a brilliant curling shot into the bottom corner after coming on as a substitute. From then on he's continued in terrific goalscoring vain and currently has 5 goals in 7 starts.
Harris in my opinion has all the traits of a good striker. He's got a good turn of pace, he knows where the goal is and most importantly he has the determination and engine to boot. I've always felt that the big man, little man combo is one of the most lethal strike combinations in football and that this season, despite having arguably the best strike force in the league, we didn't have that. For me Haworth, May and Burns are all similar types of players; strong, well built and hard-working but I've always said the addition of a pacey striker in combination with those three would destroy any defence in the league. Not only is Harris pacey, but he's an adept finisher and will work equally as hard as the "target men" as shown by his exploits against Dover. He's a definite BSS quality striker, and I'm glad we've got him on board. Hopefully if he does well this season, TB will look to put him on a permanent deal for next season.
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Coming Up on the Blog
I'm glad to announce that there'll be quite a lot of new content hitting the blog in the coming days beginning tonight with the live première of Dartford v Dover - The Motion Picture :D
The trailer was out yesterday and is post below for those of you who haven't sent it but basically its just a little video I put together of the "Ultras" day out against Dover.
Secondly I'll be putting up a weekly feature I'm aptly naming, "In Focus". In this little segment I'll be giving an introduction to the player, how he's doing so far and what I like about him.
Thanks all for your readership, it's much appreciated believe me. Also thank you to my first official blogger follower for subscribing :D
The trailer was out yesterday and is post below for those of you who haven't sent it but basically its just a little video I put together of the "Ultras" day out against Dover.
Secondly I'll be putting up a weekly feature I'm aptly naming, "In Focus". In this little segment I'll be giving an introduction to the player, how he's doing so far and what I like about him.
Thanks all for your readership, it's much appreciated believe me. Also thank you to my first official blogger follower for subscribing :D
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