Dartford welcome Chichester City to Princes Park this weekend as one of the form teams in the Isthmian Premier after a run of fifteen games without defeat. 

Following wins over Chatham Town and Whitehawk to start the New Year, Ady Pennock’s side find themselves third in the table, just four points behind leaders Dover Athletic after twenty-five games, and as they prepare to welcome the side who won promotion last season by winning the South East division play-offs, the Darts boss spoke to KSN.

“It’s been hard work,” Pennock told us. “We had to get a new squad together in the summer, not just the eleven but a whole new squad, we’ve now got some very good youngsters who we have mixed with some experience, and we are obviously pleased with the way that things are going, but there’s a long, long way to go yet and a lot of football to be played!” 

“People say we had a sticky start, but I never felt that as we were playing so well and created so many chances. I really enjoyed the football, but we simply weren’t putting the chances away.”

“We hadn’t had time to gel, but that’s happening now and we have had a good couple of months and long may that continue. Most of the season we have played very well and the youngsters are learning their trade – we’re building from the bottom up and let’s see where it takes us!” 

“We’ve had a great start to 2025 winning two tough games but they are all hard games in this league,” Pennock continued,

“Anywhere you go away from home to get any points is always a bonus. Win your home games and get something away and you’re halfway there, all the games are hard.”

“We lost to some of the “lesser” sides at the start of the season, but it didn’t bother me at all as I knew the boys would start gelling and it was just a case of time really, but there is still a long way to go!” 

“We got relegated into the League for a reason last year, there’s no point looking backwards though, we are looking forward!”

“I keep hearing that we are a massive club and should be doing this or doing that, and yes whilst facility wise, we are a “big” club with a lovely stadium and 3G pitch at the back, but we are not as flush as some people think.”

“We have a meeting with the fans this week and there is a five-year plan that the directors have put together to maintain the club!” 

Looking ahead to the weekend, Pennock said, “Chichester are one of the best teams we have played. We drew 2-2 down there and it was a really good game!”

“They have a centre-forward who reminds me a little bit of Peter Crouch when he first came to QPR when I was there, lovely touch about him – they’ve a really good midfielder and are playing ever so well as a team.”

“It won’t be an easy one this week, but we’re doing alright too, so it will be a really interesting game that I am looking forward to!”