PLAY-OFF FINAL: It's no good being in the final finishing second, says Tommy Sampson

TOMMY SAMPSON looks forward to the BIGGEST EVER KENT DERBY on Sunday between two of his former clubs – Dartford and Welling United – for a place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier up for grabs for the winner.

Tickets for the Play-Off Final were sold out at 3 o’clock this afternoon and a crowd of 4,000 will look forward to the winner-takes-all showdown between Tony Burman’s Darts and Jamie Day’s Wings.



“It’s going to be a fantastic game.  To be honest I’ve not seen Dartford - I saw them in the Kent Senior Cup Final – I’ve not seen Welling play for god knows how long so I don’t know who the better side is!

I’ve spoken to Tony Burman and Paul Sawyer and wished them the best of luck.

They are two of my old club’s. Dartford are a big love for me and I was at Welling for a little while.  Graham Hobbins, who sadly died, signed me from Dartford in 1983.  He was telling me Welling had big ideas because I dropped down from the Southern League to the Athenian League and Graham convinced me the club would go on for big things.

I think I played 80 or 90 games. I was only there for a couple of years then I went to Bromley, so I’m very Kent based.  It was Graham who said there is bigger things ahead and Sunday will prove that!

I don’t know Jamie Day very well.  The last time I say Jamie was on a golf day.  He’s done a magnificent job at Welling.  I follow their results because it’s Kent.  There was a difficult time when Andy Ford was in charge but he’s broadened it up and he’s got on with it.

As you say, winner-takes-all.  There is no second place.  They say second is first place for losers and I always subscribed to that view in my footballing career.  It’s no good being in the final finishing second.   No one remembers you!

Sunday will be winner-takes-all. There is no bigger game in the world at any level.  Winner-takes-all.  In South London they say s**t or bust, but I don’t think you can print that!

I can’t get there unfortunately I’ve got other commitments, which is a shame, with family, but I wish Tony and Paul all the best and I wish Jamie Day the same.  The Hobbins’ family, it will be a great tribute to Graham if they can get up!

In the context of what the prize is, you’re probably right, it is the biggest game.  I can’t think of a bigger game!

Dartford have been involved in most of them. I honestly believe Dartford are the biggest non-league club in Kent.  That might be proved on Saturday. 

When I was at Dartford, when it was hand-to-mouth, I always said Dartford should be a Conference club and I’ve been gone from Dartford for six years.   What Tony Burman has done there has been absolutely fantastic!

He picked up the reigns from me and at the end of the reigns was a donkey not a racehorse so he’s done fantastic to turn that donkey into a racehorse over the years.

There’s people like Dave Skinner, Steve Irving, Bill Archer, Paul Sawyer, Terry Skelton behind the scenes who have seen misery with Dartford and Sunday will be a fantastic result if they get through.

Then the hard work starts!

They talk about the Conference as non-league football still – and it’s not!

I believe Dartford will not be going to full-time and that will only show that as a mistake only in the future.  If we can all read the future we’d all never lose a game!

Dartford not going full-time is probably a wise decision at the moment. With their facilities they can afford to train two or three times a week and be part-time.  I’m sure the players will look after themselves after the game as the modern non-league players are more than professional than the two fags and a pint of beer after the game which was the case when I was growing up!

I’m sure they’re much more conscientious and I’m sure Tony and Paul in between games it is ingrained on their players how important it is to stay fit and well.

I can’t believe Welling can contemplate going full-time.  The last full-time manager of Welling was Tony Sitford.  He was appointed full-time manager in 1983 – you have to check the records.

Tony was going to be a part of the empire building.  Welling were very forward thinking those days and they got into the Conference with Terry Robbins and Kevin Hales.

I’m not going to come down on either side or either club.  As far as I’m concerned I’m a neutral. 

Dartford will probably be in my heart on Sunday more than Welling, but I enjoyed my time at Welling.   They’re a very progressive club.  I wish Jamie and his players the best of luck as I have with Tony and Paul and their players.

The Dartford story is like a fairytale, following the groundsharing days at Ebbsfleet,  as I had with my cost.  I had to leave Dartford as there was no way forward and Tony has found that way forward.  Obviously with the new stadium and I’m in absolute awe of what he’s achieved there. 

There will be a tinge of envy on my part on Sunday because that’s only natural.  Dartford will be my big love and always will be.

I’m out of the game from illness. I look for Dartford’s results before I look for Manchester City’s and Manchester United’s results!

The last time they had 4,000 was the day they opened it when I was manager of Horsham YMCA.  It should be a great afternoon.  I’d love to be there, but I have prior commitments with family.

The latest is I’m making great improvement, but I’m still waiting.  There’s no end date.  I’m hoping another year, 18 months will see me improve, better, but who knows?

I can’t give you a date other than the fact that I am improving.  I’m using a walking stick.  I’m not in a wheelchair anymore.  They said very slow, small steps and that’s what I’m taking.

The day I can get back into football will be the very first day of my life again because football was the air that I breath and it’s the sleep that I slept.   It’s not my hobby.  The food that I ate was football. It was so part of my life.

Sunday’s game brings back memories of all the big games that I have been in.

Enjoy yourselves on Sunday!”

Tommy Sampson

Dartford  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South Play-Off Final
Sunday 13^th May 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT