Chatham Town v Dartford Wed 1 Jan 2025

[Spike]

14 games unbeaten and Dover are wobbling at the top of the table as we are shooting up faster than Robert Downey Jr at a Christmas party.

A fantastic crowd and an excellent travelling contingent of Darts fans despite the thoroughly miserable weather. I don't think I've ever been as wet as I got today, my alleged "shower-proof" coat gave up even before kick-off and weighed more than I did come full-time. It was worth it though. Our young squad are proving to be a real force in this division and once again were worthy winners. What a great Christmas.

[Lars Resort]

I agree with Billy about how we are playing and looking professional. The team are playing for each other and at the moment it's good to watch. No bickering, just getting on with it.
All players brought in on loan are given a fair crack of the whip. There doesn't seem any bench warmers.
Gone are the five minute circus acts of the last four years. We have a team with players that have been given a chance to bond by Ade and is paying off.
Just hope we don't take our foot off the accelerator on Saturday for lower teams in this division.
Hopefully management won't allow that.

[The Futures White]

Attendance 3006

According to Kent Online the attendance at yesterdays match was a record for Chatham.

[Ajaxman DFC]

Great result yesterday. Chatham are in good form like ourselves and are far stronger than their performance against us on August Bank holiday.
3006 must have been a record attendance in recent times at the Bauvill. Their official capacity is 5000 but I can't see that somehow. For one thing their extended main stand doesn't allow standing pitchside like it used to. Well, atleast not the last time I was there when the stewards were moving people on.
The 2-0 scoreline was a massive statement on the field for Dartford FC yesterday.
Unfortunately I couldn't be there as I was busy moving pubs, defecting from the Malt Shovel to the Ivy Leaf.

[Fred OLness]

Bet the Ivy Leaf is a lot cheaper.

[Darren]

Away win and clean sheet against a very decent Chatham side makes a perfect start to the new calendar year. Before the game, I would have taken a draw given the dreadful weather.

My Chatham supporting mate sent a message after the game simply saying ‘ You just have that bit more class. Physical and quick.’

Dover losing again had blown the title race well open so let’s take full advantage!

COYDS!!

[Ajaxman DFC]

Bet the Ivy Leaf is a lot cheaper.

Guinness is 50p cheaper. And they sell homemade ham and cheese rolls etc.
Also, if they've sold out they will go the kitchen and make you one.

[KSTDART]

Did anyone happen to take down or see anyone else take down a Dartford flag yesterday? Not one of mine but a Darts fan from Devon ? He went to take it down and it had gone ?

[Fred OLness]

Bet the Ivy Leaf is a lot cheaper.

And no bloke with the perpetually worn old brown jumper.

[Harry]

It looked like a professional performance, apart from the first 10 minutes I felt we were in control of the midfield and their attack didn't make any genuine goal scoring opportunities.

Hopefully we can continue these types of performances as we have managed to put ourselves in a good position for the second half of the season.

[Park Life]

The ground capacity at Chatham seems a bit mixed dependent on what website you go to. It's either 2000, 3000 or 5000 including seats for 500?
Now taking into account there were over 3000 there yesterday I'm also going with the 5000, but does it really have a safety cert for that many?
500 seats and covered end holding about the same (or even a few hundred more) meant there were approx. 1800 standing around the pitch.
Just didn't seem that many there to me.

[Ajaxman DFC]

Bet the Ivy Leaf is a lot cheaper.

And no bloke with the perpetually worn old brown jumper.

Sure it was brown and not gravy stains?

[Lars Resort]

Ajax I am intrigued. Was you defecting in a drinking capacity or do you run a pub?

[DA Mikey]

My first visit to Chatham and I was reasonably impressed. It’s a shame there is no cover behind the east goal, unless you count the academy put-up thingy. Felt like we were a horde of Eastern European labourers attending a site induction in that at half time. Still, it was brief respite from the rain.
Second half, I attempted to cram into the stand and spent ten minutes on tiptoe trying to see over the mass of heads. Luckily enough Whitefield’s deflected cross had already happened and we got out of there before Eddie the hat’s finish, even better that the lads all flocked over to where we were standing for their celebration.

Noticed some good communication between our players, one particular moment of note after Olopade had walloped one high and wide, Carruthers was chatting to him shortly afterwards, I think to encourage and not to let his head drop. Whatever Ade has been putting in the sports drinks since end of October, please carry on! We’ve waiting long and patiently to get on a roll like this and it is exciting and very enjoyable! COYD

[Jonty]

Days like this don't come along too often, it will certainly remain in my memory for some time. For the first time since the Bradbrook days, I feel connected to the team and it feels even better that we have a manager who comes over to have a chat and shakes supporters hands, my son was thrilled to bits that Ade did this and the scenes at the end of the game showed what it meant to the players and management team. It was good to see their appreciation, not seen anything like that for a number of years and hopefully it will continue. There were a number of contenders for MoM but I went for Bullas in the end, it was reminiscent of when Eddie Mac played for us with his energy levels. It was also good to see some good play along the wings as well, which can only bode well for the remainder of the season and with 4 points separating the top 4 it could go down to the wire with us in the mix.

I was surprised by the attendance figure as it looked much less that 3000, especially when the main only holds 500 and 900 behind the covered end. Less said about their MC, my only gripe was that he announced their team sheet 4 of 5 times and failed to read ours out. He was very much like "its all about us".

Interesting to know that Ajax has taken over at the Ivy Leaf, I will try and pay a visit before a game this season. Before I moved to Yalding, my childhood sweetheart "Susan Fyle" used to live in one of those high modern terrace buildings next door. I bet KSTDART remembers her as he went to York Road school with me back in the 70's.

[Ajaxman DFC]

Ajax I am intrigued. Was you defecting in a drinking capacity or do you run a pub?

The former ofcourse Lars. In today's economic climate it takes either a very brave man or an out and out nut job to take on the latter.

[Bagdhad Billy]

Days like this don't come along too often, it will certainly remain in my memory for some time. For the first time since the Bradbrook days, I feel connected to the team and it feels even better that we have a manager who comes over to have a chat and shakes supporters hands, my son was thrilled to bits that Ade did this and the scenes at the end of the game showed what it meant to the players and management team. It was good to see their appreciation, not seen anything like that for a number of years and hopefully it will continue. There were a number of contenders for MoM but I went for Bullas in the end, it was reminiscent of when Eddie Mac played for us with his energy levels. It was also good to see some good play along the wings as well, which can only bode well for the remainder of the season and with 4 points separating the top 4 it could go down to the wire with us in the mix.

I was surprised by the attendance figure as it looked much less that 3000, especially when the main only holds 500 and 900 behind the covered end. Less said about their MC, my only gripe was that he announced their team sheet 4 of 5 times and failed to read ours out. He was very much like "its all about us".

Interesting to know that Ajax has taken over at the Ivy Leaf, I will try and pay a visit before a game this season. Before I moved to Yalding, my childhood sweetheart "Susan Fyle" used to live in one of those high modern terrace buildings next door. I bet KSTDART remembers her as he went to York Road school with me back in the 70's.

I noticed as well no Darts team read out which I thought was strange ! On their Facebook page some seem happier talking about the attendance over the football although a few nice comments about Dartford looking like a “class above”.

They don’t seem to want to mention the amazing away support either with one guy saying only 300 Darts in attendance which is massively off the actual number!

I miss the days of PP having a good away following which generally lifts the atmosphere when you have 2 sets of fans singing against each other..

[Lars Resort]

Well, I was beginning to think about your mental health Ajax. .

[Ajaxman DFC]

Well, I was beginning to think about your mental health Ajax. .

Thank you for your concern Lars. Happy New Year.

[Skip]

Did anyone happen to take down or see anyone else take down a Dartford flag yesterday? Not one of mine but a Darts fan from Devon ? He went to take it down and it had gone ?

Just seen this message on Twitter which might answer your question KST…