Monday, November 14, 2005, will long be remembered as the glorious day Dartford FC took their first concrete step back home. Sports editor TIM ASHTON reports...

SHOUT it loud and shout it clear, Dartford FC are coming home.

The talking has finished, the negotiations are over and the anxious waits for council decisions are no more Dartford are coming home.

Fans, management, players and, yes I admit it, the sports desk at News Shopper, are delighted action has replaced words.

Council approval, given in July this year, was met with celebration, rightly so, but surely the day the contractors move in and we can actually see something happening is a day to behold.

That day was Monday, November 14, 2005, meaning Darts will be back home sometime next year, hopefully in time for the 2006-07 season.

The £6.5m community stadium, designed by Alexander Sedgely Architects, has been rubber-stamped by Dartford Borough Council meaning contractors Jackson Construction can begin initial works at the Princes Park site.

These will run alongside on-going archaeology work though this is not expected to cause delays to the stadium's construction.

It is the end of a very long road for Dartford FC which began more than 13 years ago when they had to vacate their Watling Street home.

In the wake of demands for ground improvements following the Bradford fire in 1985 and the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 Dartford struggled to make financial ends meet.

For a time they shared their borough home with newly-promoted Maidstone Town with the view of sharing the upgrading costs but when Maidstone went into liquidation in 1992, Dartford could not survive on their own.

Watling Street was sold to pay the creditors and Dartford withdrew from the Southern League four games into the 1992-93 season.

Since then Dartford have survived thanks to the hard work of the Supporters' Association and too many backroom staff to mention.

The club shared with Cray Wanderers, Erith and Belvedere, Purfleet and, finally, Gravesend and Northfleet.

But now the long, lonely years in the wilderness are coming to an end because Dartford are coming home.

What can you expect at Princes Park?

  • All-covered terraces
  • Unique green living roof
  • Seating for 1,004
  • Total capacity of 5,163
  • Car parking for 300 vehicles
  • Space for four coaches
  • Dedicated FastTrack stop
  • Banqueting for 250 covers
  • Club bar
  • Terrace tea bars
  • Disablement friendly
  • Stadium shop
  • Club HQ and offices
  • Seminar room
  • Community changing rooms
  • Landscaped surroundings

The manager

TONY Burman said: "It is now a reality. With the contractors moving in, enthusiasm among the fans and throughout the club will lift again.

"Being able to watch the progress and development through the winter months will obviously be nice.

"I am just delighted there is going to be a beautiful stadium at the end of it.

"I cannot wait."

The avid fan

GARY Clark, a fan of 20 years, said: "It is great. It shows the money raised by the supporters club has been not in vain because we're coming home.

"Monday was all about the people who have given so much time, effort and money to keep the club afloat for all those years away.

"The real hard work starts here though."

The council

DARTFORD councillor and new stadium backer Jeremy Kite said: "We've come a long way since the Leader announced our plans for a new football stadium back in April 2004 and now we can stop the planning and start the building.

"The club can start planning for its future in the town and the town can look forward to being the home of The Darts once again."

The chairman

BILL Archer said: "It is a great day for the club and brings to an end speculation on the new ground.

"Dartford is a real footballing town and the passion was there at Watling Street and I am sure it will be at Princes Park too.

"It is not the end of the hard work though, we are entering a new era for the club and there is a big buzz in the town."

The builders

BERNARD Clarke of Jackson Construction, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the main contractor on such a prestigious project.

"Once completed, Dartford FC's new high specification ground will not only prove an excellent sporting venue, but also focus community aspirations and spark continued regeneration within the area."