16thdec04

Sampson hoping to keep hold of striker

DARTFORD manager Tommy Sampson has revealed the club have received a seven-day transfer approach for striker Danny Heale from Southern League Division One East rivals Maldon Town, writes Stephen McCartney.

The news has probably come at the wrong time for the Darts, with striker Jim Carter pulling his hamstring, playing in the reserves on Tuesday night.

Sampson revealed: "Maldon Town have put in a seven-day approach for Danny Heale - which we should know one way or another this Saturday.

"I am hopeful Danny will stay.  He is fighting for his fitness and has worked ever so well and we are just hoping he turns down the offer.

"He will be financially better off from what we are paying.

"I said to him from a sensible point of view it will be his third move in four months.  I think he should see out the season with us and score twenty goals."

The 21-year-old, who lives in Canvey Island, is the fourth Darts' player that has been approached by other clubs this season.

Midfielder Mark Horan stayed loyal with the Darts, declining a move to local and league rivals Erith & Belvedere and a manager of a Ryman Premier Division club telephoned Sampson about Tostao Kwashi and Eddie McClements.  The latter is on a one-year-contract at the club.

Sampson added: "If we manage to keep Danny, that will be the fourth offer we've rebuffed, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Earlier in the week, the draw for the John Ullmann Kent Senior Cup was made and Dartford have been paired with Neil Cugley's Folkestone Invicta in the last eight.

Sampson revealed: "I've played in three Kent Senior Cup finals for Dartford and lost each one to Maidstone United at their ground, two going into extra time.

"We had a great result against Welling in the last round and Neil Cugley is a good friend of mine, we speak every week.

"Obviously the Paul Sykes link, he is a big favourite at Dartford and we look forward in seeing him back.

"Folkestone are a good side, they are expected to beat us, but we'll have to see if we can do something about that."

Full draw:
Dartford v Folkestone Invicta
Dover Athletic v Ashford Town
Margate v Cray Wanderers
Tonbridge Angels v Gravesend & Northfleet

Meanwhile at a board meeting earlier in the week, four new directors and an honorary life president were appointed to join the Darts' board.

Fred Bonnett, 58, managing director of Evridge Precision Engineering Ltd of South Darenth, Harry Extance, managing director of Protosheet Engineering Ltd in Crayford, Dave Francis, owner of Shenley Road Garage & Practical Car & Van Hire in Dartford, and Tony Burman, Director of T.B. Transport in Belvedere and former player of Dartford Football Club from 1978 for ten years, have all joined the board as directors of Dartford Football Club at this very exciting time for the club.

Each of the four have been patron club members and long standing supporters of the club for many years, they all agreed that they would like to offer the club more support as directors.

Club chairman Dave Skinner welcomed the new directors and said: "I look forward to working with such a great team and it's great to have more local businesses coming on board to support the club."

During the meeting Fred Leach was appointed as honorary Life President.

This is the first time the club in their history have had a president.

Leach started his affair with Dartford Football Club as a supporter in 1928 at which time he was only five-years-old.

As well as being a supporter of the Darts, at the age of 17 he began playing football for J&E Halls in the Kent Amateur League, this continued until the age of 34 at which time he decided to stop.

In 1961 he joined the Darts supporters club and later became vice president of the club, at which point he found himself running the club on match days with Fred Smith, Michael Brett and others.

Leach has now resigned as a director and has taken the roll of Honorary Life President.

He said: "Having been supporting the club all my life I know most of the supporters.

"This period is a very exciting time for the team, directors and most of all the supporters.

"We can't wait until we get our new home at Princes Road.

Skinner added: "Fred Leach has provided outstanding service and commitment to the club all his life and as a result it was a unanimous decision from the board of directors to have Fred as our first ever Honourary Life President."

Dartford v Leighton Town
Saturday 18th December 2004
Southern League Division One East
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Stonebridge Road, Northfleet