The Darts will be determined to go one better this season after defeat in the playoff final three months ago. A third place finish last time out puts Adrian Pennock’s side among one of the favourites to return to the National South. Dulwich Hamlet will be the first competitive test for the Darts this term. Extra interest in this fixture not only comes from the fact the two clubs are just 16 miles apart, but Hamlet have a number of former Dartford players within their ranks.  

Last Season’s Trilogy

Luke Wanadio is one of those players. The winger was the difference maker when Hamlet knocked the Darts out of the F.A Trophy last season. He has top scored for the London side in the previous two campaigns. Last year Wanadio won the Players and Supporters Player of the Year awards. In his three spells with the Darts he made 99 appearances and scored 18 goals. Dartford’s last visit to Champion Hill was comfortable in the end. It took until halfway through the first half for the Darts to break the deadlock. Hayden Bullas opened the scoring with a clean strike. Callum Jones doubled the lead before the interval and the striker netted another early in the second half to seal the victory. The sides met three times during 2024/2025 and the spoils were shared across those games. At Princes Park, the Isthmian Premier fixture finished 2-2. Jones and Wanadio were on the scoresheet again. Hamlet took the lead through the now departed Ralfi Hand. Olly Box made sure the Darts did enough to save a point.

Pre-Season

Over the last month the Darts have tested themselves against higher league opposition. Although they lost to Football League sides, Charlton Athletic and Gillingham, they did beat Eastbourne Borough and drew with rivals Ebbsfleet United. Dartford also finished level in games against Herne Bay and Faversham Town. Dulwich Hamlet beat Basingstoke Town in pre-season and former Darts, Wanadio and Jordan Wynter scored. During his time with Dartford, Wynter played 147 games scoring twice. Hamlet also travelled out to Germany to take on Altona 93 and won on penalties. The Londoners did manage to beat Sevenoaks Town as well as Bracknell Town. However, they were also beaten by Farnham Town, Margate and Eastbourne Borough. Another former Dart, Danny Mills netted in the loss against the Sports. The forward scored seven goals in 26 appearances in his spell at Princes Park.

Manager’s view

Adrian Pennock is pleased with this summer’s preparations, but there is nothing like competitive football. He spoke to Dartford FC TV after the Ebbsfleet United draw and said: “Overall, collectively as a squad, everyone has done really well. There has been some really good performances”. The Dartford boss addded: “It’s a long season, a really long, long season and of course we want to get off to a really good start. But it’s never going to be easy, every game will be difficult. I can’t wait”. Pennock is relishing the challenges ahead and the visit to Champion Hill, he commented: “We know it’s a very difficult place to go, it’s an away game and then matches are coming thick and fast, which I’m really looking forward to because that’s our bread and butter”. Hamlet manager, Mark Dacey echoes those comments from the Dartford manager. Dacey spoke to Dulwich Hamlet TV after their win over Bracknell Town and said: “I’m excited because pre-season is great and it’s an opportunity to try different things out, but ultimately win, lose or draw you’re only really looking at performance because you don’t lose sleep over the result”, he added: “The beauty of it now comes from every team that plays competitvely, it means something. Now all of a sudden there is a table to look at”. The Hamlet boss is confident his side will be up for the season’s opener, he commented: “We’ve got a very hard first game, but we’re not hiding from anybody and we will take the game to Dartford as fully as I’m expecting them to bring it to us”.

Team News

Pennock will hand out some debuts this weekend after signing six new players. Jonny Henly is likely to start in goal having arrived from Folkestone Invicta. In defence new arrivals include Ben Frempah and Sam Smith. Whilst in midfield Ikechi Eze and Sammie McLeod bolster the numbers. Dan Smith suffered concussion against Herne Bay, but should be ready to face his former side. The striker played for Hamlet during the 2022/2023 season. Academy graduate, Dean Nayler will be a long term absentee. The defender suffered a knee injury versus Eastbourne Borough and needed an operation. Sam Okoye will be building up his fitness having missed all of pre-season. Samir Carruthers limped off in the final friendly with a groin strain. Dulwich Hamlet’s new man in the dugout, Mark Dacey has overhauled Hamlet’s squad over the summer. Nyren Clunis and Anthony Cook have returned to the club. Amadou Kassarate will know all about Dartford’s Henly and the two Smith’s. All four played for Folkestone Invicta last term. Toby Bull and Geoffrey Okonkwo have moved up from Sussex. Bull was at Lewes and Okonkwo at Whitehawk. Tom Chambers, Giovanni Palmer and Alfie Payne are also new arrivals. As well as Joseph Adewunmi, Gaspar Mico and Mannie Mensah. After impressing during pre-season Lonit Talla and Sol Baugh complete the new signings.

Head to Head

Dartford wins: 7 / Dulwich Hamlet wins: 4 / Draws: 5

Previous Six Meetings

Dulwich Hamlet 0 – 2 Dartford (29/03/2025 – Isthmian Premier) Dartford 2 – 2 Dulwich Hamlet (14/12/2024 – Isthmian Premier) Dartford 0 – 1 Dulwich Hamlet (05/10/2024 – F.A Trophy) Dartford 3 – 0 Dulwich Hamlet (01/04/2023 – National South) Dulwich Hamlet 1 – 2 Dartford (08/10/2022 – National South) Dartford 1 – 1 Dulwich Hamlet (08/01/2022 – National South)

Statistics

• • Dartford are unbeaten in eight league games against Dulwich Hamlet (W5, D3)

• • The Darts have won the last three league games at Champion Hill and are unbeaten in the last four

• • Dartford are unbeaten in their last five opening day fixtures (W4, D1)

• • The Darts only opening day defeat in the last nine was in 2019 (W5, D3)

• • When opening the season on the road, Dartford have won their last three

On This Day

Dartford have only started their season twice on this day both against Welsh clubs. The Darts beat Merthyr Tydfil 1-0 in 1969 to begin the Southern League campaign. In 2014, Dartford lost 2-1 at home against Wrexham with Tom Bradbrook scoring for the hosts. The only other fixture on this day was an Eastern Floodlit Cup semi-final. The Darts drew 0-0 with Hastings United before winning the second leg 2-1 on the way to winning the competition.