Emotional scenes as Darts fans see how Football’s Coming Home

Breathtaking designs for the new Princes Park Stadium triggered a flood of emotion when they went on display to Dartford Football Club supporters hours before the team’s match against Barking and East Ham on Saturday. Many loyal fans who have followed the Darts during a thirteen year exile from the town were openly overcome as they viewed a short presentation on the project by Deputy Council Leader Jeremy Kite, Senior Councillors and architects.

More than 300 supporters gathered at Gravesend & Northfleet FC’s Stonebridge Road ground to hear Councillor Kite describe how new banqueting, social and sports facilities for the whole community would sit alongside traditional terraces, tea bars and stands at the new 1000 seater Stadium.

Architectural practice Alexander Sedgley has designed one of the most ecologically-sound football stadiums ever built and director Roger Sedgley spent nearly two hours chatting to fans and introducing both the Club and community facilities. The new Stadium will provide banqueting facilities for 250 guests – ideal for weddings and celebrations – as well as community space for meetings, classes and children's parties.

Gregg Keattch, 37, of Sackville Road has been a lifelong fan. He said,

“This is a momentous, massive and emotional day for the club and its supporters. The plans are fantastic and amazing and it’s something to really look forward to. This is somewhere to socialise and play football.”

After 13 traumatic years away from the town the realisation that The Darts are really on their way home caused emotional scenes. One anonymous supporter pressed a note into Councillor Kite’s hand praising the Council for creating a new sense of optimism in the town and giving local people a facility to be proud of.

Cllr Jeremy Kite, Deputy Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said the Council’s vision for Princes Park was not just about football but was intended to deliver some of the benefits of the Town’s growth to local residents

“Developers, housebuilders and landowners have all done very well Dartford in the last decade and it’s about time that local people started to see a slice of the action. Great facilities and top quality design aren’t just for big business or the rich. New facilities at Princes Park are just one of several projects designed to shake our town up and put local people back at the top of the pile. Princes Park isn’t funded from Council Tax and we’re still one of the lowest taxing Council’s in Kent.”

“The designs are magnificent and capture the spirit of Dartford. These are top quality sports and community facilities which reflect our town’s natural heritage and meet the needs for the district,” he said.

“Football is definitely coming home and Dartford people are on the winning side.”

The Princes Park planning application is lodged this week and will be decided by the Council's planning committee within weeks.

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