Darts put keepers through their paces in aid of British Heart Foundation

Friday 08th May 2009

DARTFORD goalkeeping coach John Macrae says the future is looking bright at the Princes Park outfit, writes Stephen McCartney.

Every side, apart from the first team, from under 13 to reserve team level, collected some silverware last season and Macrae says some decent players are working their way up through the ranks.

“Every team, going down to the under 13s won a trophy, which is superb,” Macrae told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Everyone, the players, coaches, and not forgetting the families, has put in a big effort and it’s being rewarded.”

Macrae revealed that he has high hopes for many players, but signalled out two sixteen-year-old’s, Danny Crouch, a midfielder come striker and midfielder Carl Dent, to progress.

He said: “We’ve got players already representing Kent under 18 and Carl, although he’s sixteen, has played in the cup final at Gillingham, a proper game of football when they lost 2-1 to Birmingham. It was really a good game - the best team won.

“That’s two of many, those two names I’ve picked out of the hat. Against Ashford Town (in the Kent League Floodlight Trophy final in midweek) we had five of the under 18 team playing. It just shows strength in depth of the club going through the ranks - it’s a good place to be at the moment.”

Academy product, Colin Richmond, meanwhile, scooped every player-of-the-year award at Ryman League Division One South side Sittingbourne, and the system is at bursting point for next season as youngsters bid to join one of Kent’s biggest non-league football clubs.

“You have to remember this is our second year and we’ve got 75 players coming for trials, which is a lot of hard work for the guys involved, Simon Copley and Jamie Coyle,” said Macrae.

“We’ve got high hopes for next season.”

Back to the first team, the Darts found life in the Ryman Premier League tough following their championship winning Ryman One North campaign, but boss Tony Burman changed around his side’s fortunes and the club went on to finish in a respectable 8th place after 42 games - just five points adrift of the play-off lottery.

Describing their first campaign back at this level, Macrae admitted he experienced highs as well as lows.

“A roller coaster, very much so,” he replied. “From winning the Ryman North we went in there and as a management team we were surprised by the standard that we went into.

“That really threw us. We knew we were a good team but not good enough after the first five or six games.

“Tony knew things had to change and the personnel changed quite dramatically. At the end of the season we just missed out on the play-offs.”

With quality Kent rivals Dover Athletic now out of the way, romping to the Ryman Premier League title by 22 points, this now gives the Darts the chance to stamp their authority on the division next season.

“If that makes the playing field more even, we’ll give it our best shot,” said Macrae.

“If it’s up for grabs, I’m sure other clubs will be feeling the same. That’s the great thing when you look forward to a new season. All fans, players, management teams all look at it, this season will be us, we all think that way!”

The goalkeeping coach and his team are currently working hard to promote the club’s third KEEPER WARS event, which will be staged on the community pitch at Princes Park Stadium on Sunday, 7th June from 11 o’clock to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

“Basically, we’ve changed the format from previous years,” he said. “It’s going to be four minutes of intense shot stopping and goalkeeper’s showcasing their talents.

“It is hard work for the keepers, we’ve done a DVD, which we’ve put on YouTube, which is called “Keeper Wars Dartford FC Invite“, which people have been logging on to.

“The response has been excellent. We’ve got 48 goalkeepers, the crème of the Kent goalkeepers will be there this year.

“Last year, when it was awful weather, it was attended by 28 goalkeeper’s and three goalkeepers got signed by clubs from that event. Where else can you showcase your talents without going for a trial?”

Macrae, meanwhile, will keep the club’s goalkeepers Andrew Young, Deren Ibrahim and Adam Molley, 17, on their toes during the summer.

“We’ll give them three weeks off, but we have a once a week session to keep them ticking over,” he added.

Burman, meanwhile, has this week, so far, released just two players from last season, with Steve Butterworth and striker Brendon Cass being shown the door.

Young, Jamie Day, Adam Gross, Jay May, Rob Haworth, Danny Dafter and James White have all agreed new terms for next season.

Four players had signed two-year deals last summer; Adam Flanagan, Jamie Coyle, Lee Noble (who is attracting interest from Hartlepool United) and Ryan Hayes.

Just one pre-season friendly has been arranged to date and that’s Cody McDonald’s return to Princes Park when relegated Norwich City visit Princes Park on Saturday, 11th July (3pm). Tickets will go on sale on the first day of June.

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