DFC – more than just a football team

You know what DFC do on the pitch. But how much do you really know about all that goes on, off it?

As part of our drive to keep our supporters more informed about the club, we’ll now be bringing you regular news and updates on our activities within the community.

Did you know that DFC currently work regularly with 36 out of 42 primary schools in Dartford and Swanley?  And even help some children with their reading? That it provides football sessions for children with special needs? Or that the club runs and supports several mental health initiatives?

Head of Community Darren Phillips started working for the club in 2018 and has set about transforming how the club operate in and around the area. Some of the programmes have been put together with nationally allocated funding, although some funding has now been put on hold with sponsors being sought to make up the shortfall.

Initiatives include and have included:

• Premier League Primary Stars

Inspiring girls and boys from 5-11 in the classroom, playground and on the football pitch. The national programme provides free lesson plans, activities and video content for primary schools, with 14 schools in Dartford taking part in physical education, Reading Stars and the Premier League Primary Stars shield and 36 schools entering an annual football tournament.

• Road Safety Assemblies 

Kent County Council asked for our community coaches to deliver workshops and assemblies on road safety following a fatal accident in Dartford. Eight schools took part. There was no direct funding for this, however the message was too important to ignore.

• Disability and SEND 

Kent FA provided funding for 10 weeks of football delivery for children with special needs on Wednesday evenings at Princes Park last year. Our weekly session at Milestone school takes place on Wednesday mornings led by Dartford FC Schools & Community officer Julie Sutherland

• PHSE – Darts in the Class

Funded by the National league Trust, this programme focused on sharing the history of Dartford football club to a younger generation, giving them a history and background story on the club prior to it being reformed in 1992. Eight schools took part, completing tasks linked to English, Maths and Science.

•  HAF Holiday Course
  These courses take place in school half-term holidays, aimed at children and families who are in receipt of free school meals. They are funded by KCC giving between 30 and 60 children the chance to play sport and receive a free hot meal. The course is run four days per week, normally between 10am and 3pm.

• School Tournaments 
  We deliver a minimum of 11 school football tournaments each year, beginning in September and running through to May, culminating in Primary Final Day on the stadium pitch where six trophies can be won by qualifying schools.

• Head in the Game / Mind
  A 12-week mental health football programme that combines physical activity and in-depth discussions on various mental health topics. Through the power of football, participants of all skill levels engage in exercises, drills, and conversations, facilitated by mental health professionals. 

• Barclays Girls
  Dartford FC Schools & Community officer Julie Sutherland delivers sporting opportunities to girls only, through PE or football specific sessions in a number of schools. The programme has helped identify future sports leaders who volunteer their time to organise events in school or within their local club. Some of the young leaders like Mia Collins, Evie Northwood and Isobel Young also play women’s football at a higher level for Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea U18s / U21s.

• Grassroots Football

We currently provide playing opportunities for children from the age of 3 to 18 years of age. An open session for children age 3 to 6 takes place on Saturday mornings. This is to learn the basic skills of the game. We eventually feed them into new Under 7 teams. Teams from Under 8s to under 18s play in the Selkent league and Kent Girls and Ladies football leagues. Under 13s to Under 16s represent Dartford Football Club in the Kent Youth League. At the end of season 23/24, 330 children had played for Dartford Football Club on Sundays. For the coming season we will have 31 teams and over 400 players!!

To find out more on any of our community projects, to get involved or help with vital funding, contact Darren on darren@dartfordfc.com

We’ll be bringing lots more insights from the community team going forward, so please help us by sharing and keeping an eye out 

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