Kentish Football

Darts boss Tony Burman relishing first Fleet clash for 18 years

Friday 27th August 2010
AS DARTFORD prepare to face their nearest and fiercest rivals for the first time in a League contest since April 1992, boss Tony Burman is under no illusions what faces his side when Ebbsfleet United make the five mile trip to Princes Park on Saturday afternoon, writes Mike Green.


Speaking after the Darts first won of the season, - 3-0 at Princes against Bishops Stortford on Tuesday night – Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “Obviously I’m pleased to get the first win, and hopefully it will be of some relief to the players, and take some of the pressure off of them. Tuesday’s performance was still a bit nervy, but we had the luck and we got the points and now we move onto Ebbsfleet at the weekend.”

Burman, of course, has been associated with the Darts for many many years as both a player and now as manager, and is best placed to tell the neutral exactly what victory means to both sides. 

He said: “As far as the managers are concerned its “just” another three points but as far as the supporters are concerned there’s a lot of bragging rights involved. That said, there’s probably a lot of the supporters who are coming Saturday who don’t remember and have never seen a Dartford-Ebbsfleet (Gravesend) game. 

“They were always very, very good games and there was always a very good local rivalry but at the end of the day Saturday for us its just another three points” the Darts boss added with a rueful smile!

“I’ve had some really good games against the Fleet down the years as you have to remember that we were once both in top flight non-league football. 

“To be fair to Ebbsfleet, they’ve had a tremendous run with playing in the Conference and winning the FA Trophy – the clubs moved on fantastically well. 

“But now they’ve had a blip and come down, but we’re still on the move, and we’re trying to get to where we want to be and that’s in the Conference itself. We’ve got a few years to try and get there, but personally I’d be delighted if all the local Kent clubs all get into the Conference – what a League that would be!”

After Saturday’s showdown, the Darts move face a tough Bank Holiday Monday trip to Chelmsford, and that added to the Derby means a very difficult couple of days for his side – a fact that Burman agrees. 

He said: “You know everyone will be talking about Saturday but we’ve got a big, big game at Chelmsford on Monday. 

“I’ve seen Ebbsfleet and they look a very good side and I’ve seen Chelmsford too and they are going to be a good side. We’ve had a tough start to the season and if we come out of both games over the weekend with something I’ll be delighted!”

When asked about the fitness of his skipper Elliott Bradbrook (who missed Tuesday’s win with a hamstring strain), Burman said, “he came off with a hamstring at Farnborough on Saturday and it was sore on Sunday and again on Monday, yet he came Tuesday wanting to play and that’s just an adrenalin thing, and I said no to him playing. 

“We’ve got a squad now and I’ve got to use it accordingly – I can’t afford to have players playing at this stage of the season who aren’t fully fit – I don’t want to lose important players for between four and six weeks. The eleven that played Tuesday played did well, but our squad is going to be used to its maximum over this weekend that I can guarantee. 

“There are a few who have been missing of late that could feature on Saturday, but as I’ve said we’ve got to use our squad as we face a massive massive weekend!

Finally, Burman added, “It’s a big game on Saturday there’s no doubt – I just hope that it’s a good game for the spectators that are here and lets hope that we all enjoy ourselves, but I just hope that we get the three points and then we can think about Chelmsford!”

Fans are reminded that this derby game is all-ticket - with a crowd of over 2,000 expected.


Dartford  v  Ebbsfleet United
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 28th August 2010 
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT








 

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