Dartford boss Tony Burman relishing fitness tests against pro sides

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says his side will give Gillingham a decent run-out on Friday night, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Darts opened their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 home defeat to League Two Southend United last Monday and welcome Andy Hessenthaler’s side to Princes Park for their next game as they build up to their Blue Square Bet South opener at Weston-Super-Mare on 13 August.

Danny Harris and Paul Goodacre are both expected to blow the cobwebs away after coming back from holiday, although club captain, Elliot Bradbrook is expected to sit out and do some training instead.

“We’ve got a tough two weeks, that’s what we wanted, with the pro sides coming here in the first couple of weeks and they’re tough games,” said Burman, whose side also face Championship side Millwall (19 July) and League Two new boys Crawley Town (23 July).

“Like I said, 45-60 minutes is hard against the pro sides so it will serve its purpose and hopefully we’ll be a lot fitter in the next couple of weeks.”

Burman took plenty of positives from his side’s performance against Southend earlier in the week, holding the professional side for an hour before three goals found their way past Deren Ibrahim.

Burman said: “I’m pleased, it was positive, it was the first game.  The players have done a real tough, tough training session and I appreciate all the pro sides coming here over the next couple of weeks.  That will help us out with our fitness but also we’ll give them a decent game.”

The visit of Gillingham will add some extra spice to Friday’s clash.

“We’ve got to work hard,” said Burman.  “We all like to win games but it’s not always the case (in pre-season against Football League clubs), but as long as your players are working hard.

“I know Hessy (Hessenthaler) will come here and he wants his players to have a good work out and we’ll try and help him out like that.

“Our players will work hard, that’s why he wants to come.  He knows it’s going to be a decent game and a decent work out for his guys and at the same time it’s a  tough work out for us as we’re non-league against the pro boys and they are fit rightly so but it helps both sides.”

The Gillingham boss says he is looking forward to his side’s visit to Princes Park.

“Always love going back to Dartford, love them,” Hessenthaler said last night, following his side’s comfortable 5-0 win at Kent League side Erith & Belvedere.

“As much as they probably got the hump with me when I took over down at Dover because there’s a big rivalry there, I had some good times as a player there and I’ve got a good relationship there with the manager, Tony Burman, an ex-team mate of mine.”

Gillingham are playing fourteen pre-season friendlies this summer – nine of them a road show of Kent non-league sides.

Hessenthaler added: “We want to help these club’s if possible.  It’s always good to go back to your old club and see people there.”


Visit Dartford’s website: www.dartfordfconline.com & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk  

Visit Gillingham’s website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com  

Dartford  v  Gillingham
Pre-Season Friendly
Friday 15^th July 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT