You've just got to pinch yourself sometimes to see where we are, says Dartford boss Tony Burman

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman says he is looking forward to returning to Kingstonian in the FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round on Saturday.



The Darts clinched the Ryman Premier League title with a 6-2 win at Kingsmeadow on 10 April 2010 and return to the ground that brought back so many happy memories sitting in fifth-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier, with 33 points from 19 games.

Burman said: “It’s a place that brings back some good memories. We know the people at Kingstonian reasonably well and I know they’ll be wanting to beat us and we’ve got a tough game on our hands and we have to make sure that we’re properly prepared and right for the game.”

Reflecting on their champagne performance on that wonderful day, Burman said: “Kingstonian were up there, I think, in the play-off’s that year as well after a poor start that season, they finished off excellent and that’s why it was a good result when we went up there, but it’s good memories because we managed to get promotion.

“We’ve moved on, that’s right. We go there and we’ll show them the utmost respect and we’ll try and do a job and go through to the next round.”

Alan Dowson’s side are presently sitting in ninth-place in the Ryman Premier League going into the First Round clash on Saturday.

But Burman said: “It’s obviously going to be a tough game.  Most of this season we’ve been the underdogs in pretty much all the games we’ve played in.  That has changed now.  We’re obviously the favourites and Kingstonian haven’t got anything to lose. It’s a typical Cup game and we have to make sure we’re right, which the players have done all season.  They’ve done everything that I’ve asked them to do.

“Saturday, hopefully, will be no different and we’ll prepare ourselves in the right way, work hard, which is what we normally do as well and hopefully get through to the next round.”

When asked how far Dartford can go in the FA Trophy this season, Burman replied: “It’s what happens in the draws and how you are at the times when the rounds come through. I’d like to stay in the Trophy for as long as possible, make no mistake about that, that’s what I’d like to do.

“This is our first game in the campaign, we’ve come in a little bit later this year, but it’s something that I’d like to be in for as long as we can.”

Dartford are only three points behind leaders Grimsby Town and Burman is delighted with the way their Conference Premier campaign has gone so far.

He said: “It’s been exceptional! We can’t fault what the players have done.  They’ve been absolutely outstanding!  It’s a big word but the work-rate has been tremendous from every single player of the squad.  They’ve really played well away from home as well and maybe things haven’t gone quite right for us at home but that will happen.

“You’ve just got to pinch yourselves sometimes to see where we are and it’s a great compliment to everybody when we drew last week and we felt we dropped two points and that shows you how far we’ve actually come.

“In our changing room they didn’t think the point was good enough!”

When asked whether the promoted Kent club are serious contenders for the title or the play-offs, Burman laughed and replied, “We’re happy where we are at the moment because the people who are presently near the bottom of the league aren’t very far behind us.”

Fourth-from-bottom side Hyde are thirteen points behind the Darts.

Burman added: “In this league you can win three or four games but you can easily lose three or four games definitely and if that happens you’ve got to be very, very careful.

“I’m not putting any pressure on us to say we’re title contenders. We’ve come up in the league and we’re doing the job and hopefully we can succeed in that job that we set out to do.   If anything else comes along would be an absolute bonus.”

Burman takes his side to Hartsdown Park next Tuesday for a Kent Senior Cup (Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com) Second Round tie.

When asked how he will treat the Hartsdown Park clash against a side highflying in the Ryman Premier League, Burman said: “Well, I think my record speaks for itself. We’ve treated the games with a lot of respect. I’ve tried to play every player who hasn’t had games leading up to that match and we’ve rotated the first team squad.

“I’m looking, maybe, to give some Academy boys a game as well but that’s nothing different to what I’ve done before. It will still be the nucleus of the first team squad.

“We’ve got a strong squad but we just lack a little bit in numbers and that’s what you have to be careful off when you’re playing games that mean a lot, but there’s still important games in the league coming up on the Saturday.  You have to juggle it about and just hope you don’t get any injuries.

“It’s a strong squad but it hasn’t got great numbers so we’ll see what happens on Saturday and then we’ll move on to the Margate game.”

When asked what has pleased him the most this season, the Dartford boss replied, “What’s pleased me? What’s pleased me is the attitude of the players.  The work-rate has been absolutely tremendous. They’ve really enjoyed things and enjoyed their start to life in the Premier.

“The other thing that’s been pleasing is the away support that we’ve received, which has been second to none as far as we’re all concerned and hopefully we can change that a little bit at home. They’re getting behind us but maybe we can be a little bit more vocal at home.

“Our away support has been something to live in the memory.”

Meanwhile, Dartford have today unveiled the one month loan-signing of defender Semi Akayi, 19, a six foot four central defender from Charlton Athletic.

The Addicks have also sent striker Joe Pigott, 18, on loan to Blue Square Bet South side Bromley on loan until 1 January 2013.

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

Kingstonian  v  Dartford
The FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round
Saturday 24^th November 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Kingsmeadow Stadium, Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 3PB