Burman relishes first FA Cup clash at Princes Park

The Darts will hand fitness tests to defender Steve Norman today, whilst midfield playmaker, Eddie McClements is expected to be involved.

“This famous competition can bring financial rewards to many non-league clubs and publicity from the media, which everybody involves with those clubs, enjoys,” Burman told www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/forum.

“Our opponents were one of those clubs who enjoyed a good cup run last season and also have a good history in this competition.

“Having said that, the competition can have its draw backs as I think Leatherehead’s challenge for promotion was affected by the amount of games they had to catch up with in the league last season.”

Burman has had his fair share of injuries so far this season, and he said: “Injuries are part and parcel of the game and it just seems that its our turn to have these injuries at the moment.

“What I hope is that while this is occurring we keep picking up points and progressing to the next rounds of the Cup’s.

“I hope in the coming weeks that the injured players recover so that I can eventually pick from a full squad.”

Looking ahead to today’s preliminary round clash against Ryman League Division One South outfit Leatherhead, Burman wants a packed house at Princes Park to see his side through - and a potential home clash against Kent side Sittingbourne in the next round.

He said: “It’s the first FA Cup game at Princes Park and a major factor for me is going to be the atmosphere we can create inside the stadium to get behind the team and help them to progress to the next round of this great competition.”

Burman doesn’t want to feel the same as Clive Walker, who saw his Ashford Town side dumped out at the first hurdle - losing 2-0 to an Erith & Belvedere side that played with ten-men for 78 minutes at Park View Road last night - one of many headline grabbing performances that makes the FA Cup so special.

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www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/forum & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/wiki

Dartford v Leatherhead
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Preliminary Round
Saturday 1^st September 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT