Non-League: Dartford FC

There’s more to Dartford than the Rolling Stones and a Thames Crossing. We went along to the impressive Princes Park to see a club very much in the ascendency.

Lying on the edge of London’s urban sprawl and probably better known for being somewhere most of us crawl through in heavy traffic on our way somewhere else, Dartford may not immediately come to mind as a place to catch a decent game of football. But prepare to be surprised.

Dartford FC had been something of a nomadic club prior to Dartford Borough Council providing both funding and a site for the Princes Park Stadium in 2005, and construction was completed in less than 12 months. The club had been ground-sharing at various sites, including at the club now known as Ebbsfleet United, since 1992.

The architects of Princes Park have done a great job of maintaining the feel and aspect of a traditional non-league ground, including 642 seats, while factoring in mod-cons to make it a really comfortable and authentic matchday experience.

The 4,100-capacity stadium follows an ecological design, including a sedum roof blanket for insulation and solar panels to power the changing facilities. The ground also collects and recycles rainwater.

Princes Park is close to the M25 and I had no trouble parking right outside the ground with just 10 minutes to go to kick-off. The ground is well stewarded with a really nice refreshments bar and club shop, and is accessible throughout for wheelchair users.

About Dartford FC

Dartford FC was founded in 1888 by members of the Dartford Working Men’s Club and has mostly seen action in lower echelons of the English non-league system until promotion to the Conference South (sixth tier) in 2010. The club peaked with three seasons in the Conference National (fifth tier) between 2012-15, but has been an established force back in the Conference South since its return, finishing runners-up in 2017-18.

The club will have to improve on its showing in the goalless draw I witnessed against Hemel Hempstead. Dartford missed a penalty with ten minutes to go, the shot going a metre over the bar – possibly the worst I’ve ever seen taken live.

The fans were great, with drums and chanting for the first quarter of an hour or so but really needed a goal or a least more action to keep it going.

Overall, the set-up is great at Dartford FC. The ground is the right size, entry is £14, which is about par for this division nowadays, and – if things start happening on the pitch – the catchment area is big enough to grow the crowds significantly.

How to get to Princes Park, Dartford FC

Princes Park is just off the A225, not far off the A282 that leads up to the Dartford Crossing. It’s about a 1km walk from Dartford station, which connects with London’s Charing Cross Station.