Farley pleased with his comeback - EXCLUSIVE

John Farley has fought his way back from his season-long ankle ligament injury - by making his comeback today, writes Stephen McCartney.

The 34-year-old defender suffered the injury last September whilst playing for Dartford in a Westview (Ryman League) Cup tie against Folkestone Invicta.

And he played the full 90 minutes for Kent League side Erith & Belvedere in their opening 4-0 pre-season friendly defeat at the hands of Blue Square Southern outfit Fisher Athletic.

Farley, whose expected to sign for the Deres, was pleased that he managed to get through his first game unscathed.

But Farley, whose played for his home-town club Welling United, Horsham, Heybridge Swifts and Tonbridge Angels, also suffered the heartbreak of not being fit enough to play at Dartford’s £6.5m Princes Park Stadium.

He picked up the injury whilst the Darts were groundsharing Thurrock’s Ship Lane ground.

“Personally for myself, I know I still need to get myself a little bit fitter,” Farley said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after today’s match.

“I haven’t played in a year, so I thought it went allright.”

Farley admitted that he wants to sign for the Deres, managed by Chris Cosgrove and Paul Gorman.

“I’ve got to talk to Chris and I’ve got other commitments as well with my family,” he explained. “I’ve got two young children now, so hopefully, I will (sign).

And Farley believes the Deres will benefit from his experience and commitment at the back.

He said: “Hopefully with my experience going down the years and 100%, I always give 110%, so hopefully, we’ll help them out.

Farley spoke about the nightmare injury that kept him out of action for so long.

“First of all, they thought my ankle ligaments were injured,” he recalled.

“I was training for Dartford for about eight weeks, and it still didn’t feel right.

“I was seen by a specialist physio, who dealt with ankles, and we went through eleven sessions of that and it still didn’t get better, so in the end I decided to have an operation.

“They just went in and had a look at it and it was tissue that had broken away and stuck between the two joints and there wasn’t nothing else a physi o or anyone could have done.”

Darts boss Tony Burman showed Farley around the site of Princes Park whilst the new stadium was being built - and Farley had no hesitation but to sign on the dotted line last summer.

“Tony Burman took me up there and you could see the potential that it actually had and I could see it before it was actually built,” recalled Farley.

And on his time with the Darts, he said: “I enjoyed my time up there. All the boys were a good laugh and the management was good as well.

“I respect Tony and what he’s actually done up there and I know he’s working hard.”



GOOD TO BE BACK:  Defender John Farley, 34, made his comeback today for Kent League side Erith & Belvedere.
Photograph courtesy of www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/wiki

Dartford, who welcome Tottenham Hotspur (Monday) and Crystal Palace (Friday) this week, are expected to do well in the Ryman League Division One North this season - and Farley agrees.

“I would expect them to be up in the top three or two (with) the players that they’ve signed.

“Hopefully they’ll push on, they’re a big club now with what they’ve got.”

Photograph courtesy of www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk/wiki