Princes Park: Dartford FC

From Dartford FC

There is possibly something of a hint of how English football treats the women’s game to be found in the fact that Princes Park is the home of both non-league Dartford and the London City Lionesses. Thamesmead Town were also using the stadium until they went out of business in 2018. An amusing fact about the postcode of the stadium is that it is DA1 1RT, which is as close to you can get to the word ‘Dart’, making it entirely appropriate for Dartford. Owned by Dartford Borough Council, building work began on it in 2005 and it opened in the November of 2006, having cost £7 million at the time to complete construction.

Dartford themselves are a semi-professional club that was formed in 1888 by some of the members of there Dartford Working Men’s Club. They initially limited themselves to just playing friendlies, but soon began entering cup competitions and reached the Kent Senior Cup final in 1894. They then became founding members of the Kent League ahead of the 1894-1895 season, entering the FA Cup a year later. The club has enjoyed numerous ups and downs over the years, following many non-league sides in having financial troubles at one point or another. That resulted in the club having to play away from Dartford for a period.

Stats

Princes Park Photos

Princes Park Stadium Exterior

Princes Park Stadium, Terraces

Princes Park Stadium Gates

Princes Park Seating Plan and Where to Sit

It is hardly outrageous to suggest that Princes Park is quite basic when it comes to its layout. The Main Stand runs along one side of the pitch and offered four rows of seating for about 645 people. There is also a glassed area at the back that contains the clubhouse bar. The other three sides are basic terraced areas, with the side opposite the Main Stand being where you’ll find a Wooden Man sculpture, which keeps an eye on everything going on in the ground. If the club has segregation in effect then away supporters will be housed in the Car Park End.

Dartford FC Ticket Prices

The somewhat basic nature of Princes Park is such that the ticketing prices at the club are reasonably easy to understand. You don’t need to be worried about buying a ticket for a specific part of the ground or anything like that, instead simply looking to see which is the ticket type that is most appropriate for you.

In order to get a sense of how much you might be expected to pay, here is a look at the ticket prices during the 2023-2024 campaign:

• Adult – £10
• Concession – £5
• Youth (13-17) – Free
• Junior (5-12) – Free
• Under 5s – Free

Concession rates are available for full-time students, unemployed people and those that are registered disabled, with identification sometimes being required. Junior tickets have to be purchased with an adult ticket and an adult must accompany them into the ground.

How To Get Dartford FC Tickets

Given the fact that the lower leagues of the English Football League pyramid have less money, you’d be forgiven for expecting the likes of Dartford to have a poor website. Nothing could be further from the truth, which is why the club’s homepage is the best place to go if you’d like to get a ticket to attend one of their matches. That being said, you can also get tickets on the gate if you find that easier.

Where to Buy

• Ticket Compare

Getting To Princes Park

Train – Those travelling to Dartford by train will find Dartford Railway Station about a mile away from the ground, offering a 15 to 20 minute walk for those that wish to complete the journey on foot.

Bus – Should you wish to get the bus to the stadium then you’ll be able to catch it from the Fast-Track B bus stop. This runs every ten minutes if it’s a daytime kick-off and every 20 of an evening, heading towards the Bluewater Shopping Centre but stopping at Princes Park.

Car – If you’re heading towards Dartford from the North then you’ll want to aim for the Dartford Crossing before leaving at Junction 1b onto the A225. Stay on that until you see signs for the stadium. If you’re coming from the South then you’ll want to get onto the M25 until Junction 2, at which point you’ll head towards the A2/Dartford A225. From there, it is all about keeping an eye out for signs or for the stadium itself if you’ve gone far enough.

By Air – In terms of geographical location, London City Airport is the closest. That being said, the fact that you’re flying into London means that others might be more convenient for you, with London Heathrow also being conveniently located. Gatwick and Stansted are also options, with London Luton being the furthest afield.

Taxi – Should you decide that you don’t want to walk from the train station to the ground, or you aren’t able to, then a taxi is a good option for you. The relative proximity of the two locations to one another means that it will likely cost you in the region of £5, traffic dependent.

Parking Near Princes Park

If you’ve chosen to drive to Princes Park then you’ll be pleased to know that parking is available close to the ground and it is free. The problem, of course, is that everyone else knows that too and so you need to arrive about an hour before kick-off to be guaranteed a space. You can also park on the roads around the ground, but just be careful of any parking restrictions that are in place.

• See Available Parking Near Princes Park

Useful Resources

• Parking - Just Park

Pubs and Bars Near Princes Park

About Dartford FC

In 1888, members of the Dartford Working Men’s Club got together and decided that the time was right to form a football club. Initially it was just about giving the members something to do and offering a way for them to keep fit, but it wasn’t long before cup competitions started to be entered and even won. When there were discussions about the formation of a Southern League Division Two, Dartford ensured that they were amongst the founding members. In the years that followed, Dartford moved between the Southern and Kent leagues on a regular basis. Things were relatively stable in the years that followed, until the 1990s.

In the wake of the Hillsborough Disaster, the Taylor Report suggested that clubs needed to ensure that their stadiums were safe, with Dartford spending large sums of money on planning and design fees. A deal was agreed to ground-share with Maidstone United, but they went bankrupt and that put financial pressure on Dartford. As a result, the club ended up leaving the local area and playing in the likes of Erith, Thurrock and Gravesend. In wasn’t until 2004 that Dartford Borough Council confirmed that the club could return to the town as they would finance the building of a new stadium, with some relative peace following.

Princes Park History

Having bounced around the local area for several years, the news that Dartford Borough Council would fund the building of a purpose-built stadium for the club was seen as a massive positive. Work began on it on the 14th of November 2005, following the plan laid out by Alexander Sedgley architects. Boasting a capacity of just over 4,000, Princes Park is considered to be one of the most ecologically sound football ground that has ever been built. The pitch, for example, is located two metres below ground level, which was done in order to reduce both noise and light pollution. In the end, it cost around £7 million to build.

On the roof of the stadium is found a sedum roof blanket, which is a living roof that provides an air filtration system that is entirely natural. Solar panels are used to serve the changing areas and public toilets of the local community, whilst a water recycling system serves the clubhouse toilets. As well as the main pitch used by Dartford, there is also an all-weather pitch on-site for community use, whilst the clubhouse itself contains the likes of banqueting suites, bars and meeting rooms. The fact that it is able to be so self-sustainable is something that it is believed other football clubs should look to follow in the future.