One year someone who's part-time will get into play-offs, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD manager Tony Burman has challenged his players’ to become the first part-time club to grab a Conference Premier play-off berth at the end of this season.


The Darts finished in eighth-place last season, finishing a point and a place below Luton Town, who are arguably the biggest club in the division.

Dartford kick-off their league campaign with a home game against Alfreton Town on 10 August, before travelling to relegated Aldershot Town three days later.  The Shots were relegated from League Two and have been deducted 10 points for going into administration during the closed season.

Burman wants to avoid the second-season syndrome that affects many clubs at all levels of football.

He said: “Well, I think you’ve got to try and better when you’ve done in previous seasons. 

“If we can do that or equal it we would’ve had another fantastic season, but it’s going to be hard work. It’s never easy.

“There’s been a lot of changes and we’ll build again and the guys I’ve signed they want to be playing at this level and are willing to learn and we’ll do things in the right way.”

Burman added: “The league is tough, massively tough!  You play against some good, good players. It is going to be tough. There’s no illusions about that.  You play at great grounds in front of big crowds and you’re playing against good players.

“We’ve got a way to go at the moment on that but I hope we get there.”

If history is replicated, Burman will guide Dartford to a promotion because that’s what he’s done every two years on average in the past.

But Burman said: “I think that’s a tough call to be perfectly honest with you!  This league is tough!”

The Darts finished on 66 points last season, fourteen points adrift of Wrexham, who finished in fifth-place. 

Champions Mansfield Town (95 points) and play-off winners Newport County (who finished third on 85) were both promoted to League Two.

Dartford finished as the highest ranked part-time club in the division last season and Burman said: “One year a part-time side will get in the play-offs and that’s the next step for this league.

“You look at people like Luton, they’ve got 27 people that they’ve just given shirt numbers to, sold over 4,000 season tickets and it’s a different ball game, a completely different ball game.

“One year someone who’s part-time will get in there.  I’ve got no doubt seeing it. If you can go on a run or be in form at the right time then you’ve got an opportunity to creep into the play-offs.” 

Burman was quick to praise his supportive backroom staff of Paul Sawyer, Steve Moseley and keeper coach John Macrae who have played a massive part of the club’s upward spiral in recent years.

“Yes, we’ve done really, really well, we understand that but we’ve still got the challenge,” said Burman. 

“The challenge is still there and we’ve got to make a new side again. It’s not going to be easy. We’ll do our best to still keep competing and still doing the right things for the club and I’ve got the utmost belief in all of the guys that work around me that we will keep going forward as a club and doing things and keep improving things the best we can.”

Dartford continue their pre-season campaign on Tuesday night when bitter-rivals Ebbsfleet United arrive at Princes Park.

The Fleet have been making the news during the close season with a number of summer signings after appointing former Dover Athletic assistant manager Steve Brown as their new boss.

Ebbsfleet United finished second-from-bottom in the Conference Premier last season in Liam Daish’s last season at the helm at Stonebridge Road and the club will be playing Conference South football this season.

Burman said: “We had a game (against Southend United) cancelled and in the end Ebbsfleet were able to come along and play the game so yes it will be good fun, a good game hopefully and we want both sides to get a good work-out from it.

“But you’ve got to keep a level mind on things in pre-season. You’ve got to pick out the best parts.” 

Dartford went down to a 1-0 defeat away to Conference South Bromley at the weekend with former Darts striker Jay May scoring the only goal of the game in the 64^th minute. 

Reflecting on their defeat at Hayes Lane, Burman said: “The best part for us was the first half. It was a different type of football.

“I wasn’t shouting shouting off the rafters when we drew Wimbledon and we drew with Dagenham.  The second half the other night was a lot better from us but having said that we played against some real, real good players against Reading.

Visit Dartford’s website: www.dartfordfconline.com  

Dartford  v  Ebbsfleet United
Pre-Season Friendly
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT