Darts are flying, reports Sawyer - EXCLUSIVE

Ryman League Division One North club Dartford reported back to pre-season training on the community pitch at Princes Park Stadium tonight fit and raring to go, writes Stephen McCartney.

With manager Tony Burman still in Greece, Paul Sawyer and new coach Steve Moseley cast their eyes over twenty players, whilst goalkeeping coach John Macrae trained Tony Kessell and James Tedder.

The Darts only have two more sessions ahead of their showpiece pre-season friendly against a youthful Tottenham Hotspur side next Monday (16^th July) - and against Crystal Palace the following Friday.

The game against the Eagles has been billed as the return of star-winger Dave Martin and Peter Taylor, and the all-ticket clash has already sold out.

Sawyer was, however, delighted with the players’ attitudes during the close season.

“Most of the lads have come back in shape,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I think many of them are members of gyms these days, when in the old days we used to come back a stone over weight. You don’t seem to have that anymore.”

On tonight’s session, he said: “We’ve had a run around the golf course for a warm-up. I’d say there’s some very good times round there and we’ve worked hard on the Astroturf tonight - what you’d expect really.

“We expected to come back flying, it’s been a good session.”

Non-league football has certainly changed since Sawyer’s playing days.

“When you used to have your two month break, you’d probably panic a little bit and have a run for the last couple of weeks before pre-season started,” he recalled.

“You’d put half a stone on, a stone, and you’re just relying on your pre-season to lose that weight, but it doesn’t seem to happen these days.

“I think people are more conscious what they look like, especially the younger lads, and they’ve come back in good shape anyway.”

Sawyer said that the players can expect hard graft as they prepare for the new Ryman League season, which kick’s off on 18^th August.

He said: “We’re conscious that we’ve only got three sessions this week so we want to make it as hard as we can for the first couple of sessions.

“Saturday we’ll work on some ball work as well so we’ve got to get the balance right this week (as) we’ve got two games next week.”

Dartford’s skipper, 27-year-old right-back Tommy Osborne, admitted tonight’s session was “very tough.”

“Tough first one, very tough, but for the next five weeks I think they’re all going to be tough,” he said.  “We’ve got to be ready for the 18^th of August.

Looking ahead to nine warm-up matches, Osborne added: “I think you’ve got to treat them to get fit but no-one likes losing and if you can get good results in pre-season, I don’t think it does you any harm for the start of the season.”

* www.kentishfootball.co.uk shall bring you more in-depth interviews with Osborne and Sawyer later in the week, as we preview the two showpiece home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

Dartford’s Pre-Season Friendlies:

Monday 16^th July (HOME) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI - 7:45pm
Friday 20^th July (HOME) CRYSTAL PALACE - 7:00pm
(This match is ALL TICKET - SOLD OUT!!!)
Tuesday 24^th July (away) Tunbridge Wells - 7:45pm
Thursday 26^th July (away) Sevenoaks Town - 7:45pm
Saturday 28^th July (HOME) HASTINGS UNITED - 3:00pm
Tuesday 31^st July (HOME) LEWES - 7:45pm
Saturday 4^th August (away) Bournemouth Poppies - 3:00pm
Tuesday 7^th August (HOME) IPSWICH TOWN XI - 7:45pm
Saturday 11^th August (away) Burgess Hill Town - 3:00pm

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/forum