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Dartford

Ground: Princes Park

Visits: 1

Date: 30th December 2023

Match: Dartford - Welling  1-1  (National League South)

Attendance: 2 022

For Saturday afternoon there were no games at a new ground in the London area in the top five divisions. Instead I looked at National League South and once I realised Dartford v Welling was a derby I decided this was to be my match for today. With direct Thameslink trains it was an easy journey to Dartford from my hotel next to Farringdon station. Kick-off was at 3pm and at 12.30 I arrived at Dartford station. The plan was to have lunch and then head to the ground. I had earmarked an Italian restaurant and I managed to find it without any problems. I spent nearly an hour at the nice restaurant before making the short walk to Princes Park, the home of Dartford FC.

Until 1992 Dartford FC played at Watling Street but when that ground had to be sold to a property developer to pay off debts Dartford were homeless. After years of groundsharing at neighbouring clubs there was positive news in 2004 when Dartford Borough Council announced it would provide funding and a site for the building of a stadium in Dartford in time for the 2006/07 season. Princes Park was opened in November 2006 and for the first time since 1992 Dartford had a stadium of their own. Princes Park has a capacity of 4,100 with three stands being terracing and the main stand offering 645 seats. Unless segregation is in place (very rarely) you can move around as you want inside the ground. On Boxing Day 2,017 showed up for Welling v Dartford and when the reverse fixture was played today the attendance was very similar (2,022). As the game was about to start, Welling fans were standing in the East stand and Dartford fans in the West Stand. For some unknown reason teams switched sides and a huge sigh could be heard inside Princes Park. An impressive switching ends operation took place and after 10 minutes fans were behind the goal their team was attacking in the first half. At half-time the reversed process took place but all was done in a friendly manner.

Welling are in the relegation zone and being mid-table Dartford were obviously favourites to pick up all three points in today's derby. In the 19th minute Dartford scored to make it 1-0 and that was to be the score at half-time. In the second half Welling had plenty of chances, including hitting the post but Dartford seemed to hold on to the three points. In the 7th minute of stoppage time Welling finally, via a Dartford own-goal, managed to equalise and in my opinion they got a deserved point. The attendance this afternoon was 2,022 and for a game at level 6 that is a very impressive number showing the depth of English football.

My trip was coming to and and but hopefully I will be back in England at Easter, still needs 5 grounds to complete those elusive 92!

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Church

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Match!

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Princes Park

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Rear of the South Stand

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Rear of the West Stand

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South Stand

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West Stand

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North Stand

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A strong man

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East Stand

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Memorial wall

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Floodlights

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Teams entering

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Kick-off

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South Stand

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South Stand

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West Stand

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West Stand

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West Stand

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North Stand

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East Stand

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East Stand

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Princes Park under lights

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Pano

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Pano