Burman unhappy with player restrictions for Ryman Charity clash

Sunday 18th July 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he is disappointed with the number of players that he can field against Leatherhead in the Ryman League Charity Shield at Princes Park on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts have played Dagenham & Redbridge (3-1), Gillingham (1-3) and Southend United (2-0) already this pre-season, but Burman revealed to www.kentishfootball.co.uk that he can only play fourteen players against the Ryman League Division One South side.

He said: “We were asked to get the game on. It’s a charity game but the league wanted to put the game on between the two trophy winners, so we’re treating it as per normal.

“I have got a big squad and I can only use sixteen players and three subs, which is a bit disappointing, being that we’re putting the game on in pre-season.

“I might be looking at getting another game on somewhere if I can. I’ve got to keep the lads fit, it’s paramount to what I want to do.”

The Shield has been revived after a six-year absence as Dartford (last season’s Ryman Premier League champions) tackle last season’s Championship Manager Cup winners.

Burman is preparing his new look squad for the club’s inaugural Blue Square Bet South campaign, which kick’s off at home to Havant & Waterlooville on 14 August.

When asked how he thought his side will do this season, the Darts boss replied, “The club are frightened to death at the moment, maybe. No, listen, we have to go in there, I’m looking at it, if Blackpool can get promotion to the Premiership, anyone, anything could happen, can’t it?

“We’re new to this league, we’re going to come up here and enjoy ourselves and if I thought for one minute everyone wanted to avoid relegation, I’d be absolutely gutted.

“We’re going to have a real good go and see what happens - and let’s enjoy ourselves.”

Legendary goalkeeping coach, John Macrae, meanwhile, has launched the Dartford Goalkeeping School.

“We’re launching it on 7 August, it’s between 09:30 and 10:30 on Saturday mornings,” he said.

“We’re very lucky with the coaches that we’ve got with myself, Andrew Young, Deren Ibrahim, Tony Kessell, Jamie Turner, Lee Haywood, Craig Clark and Matt Reed.

“It’s a great opportunity for the children, boys and girls, between 8-16 to have fun, learn the skills and techniques from goalkeepers, active players who are actually coaches.

“It’s great, it’s nice to have and they’ve got the ethos and they really enjoy coaching. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity for the kids.

“The quality of the staff, there’s very few goalkeeper schools outside of the professional game that will have our standard of coaching and it’s £6 per session.

“Parents for the younger ones, we’ve got the facility of the breakfast bar at the ground so it’s quite a nice little package.”

Macrae has been impressed with the calibre of player that Burman has enticed to Princes Park this summer.

And he is relishing his first look at Blue Square Bet South football next month.

“We’re walking into the unknown for our first game against Havant and we’ll see what it really is all about - that’s when it all matters,” he said.

“I’ve never watched a Blue Square South game as I’ve always been involved with Dartford and the academy, so my times always taken.

“I know Tony, Steve Moseley and Paul Sawyer have seen games, but myself, I’m excited. I’m going into my fifth different league since I’ve joined Dartford. This is my sixth season.

“We looked at the fixture list and we went through the teams and they’re good and at the end we thought there’s no easy games. There’s no given games like there was in the Ryman Premier or Ryman North.

“We’ve recruited well this season, experienced players who are established Conference South players so we won’t roll over. People will look at us and say that’s another hard fixture, exactly the way we look at other teams.”

When asked his prediction for the season ahead, Macrae replied, “I’d be happy us playing well, playing good football and getting results.”

For more details about the goalkeeping school, visit www.dartfordfconline.com/site/?q=pages/dartford-goalkeeping-school

Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that season tickets are NOT valid for the Leatherhead game.

Dartford v Leatherhead

Ryman League Charity Shield

Tuesday 20th July 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT