Meet the Darts Family: Madeleine Stuttle, match-day receptionist

What is your connection to the club?

This will be my third year as match-day receptionist.  

What does the role involve?

I’m the first port of call for anyone coming through the main entrance of the stadium. I have to ascertain whether they are guests, officials, directors for the away team or supporters looking for tickets, greet them and ensure they get to where they need to be. 

How did the position come about?

I saw an advert looking for volunteers to help during the Euros in 2018 and after applying, ended up in a volunteer management position. I got to watch all the matches from the inside track and ended up just a few feet away from the likes of Harry Kane. I loved it! 

Since then, I’ve worked at the women’s competition and the Finalissima – the match between the winners of the South American and European championships where I was on the pitch with Messi. 

I enjoyed volunteering so much I thought I’d see if any were needed at Dartford, my local team. And then I saw an advert looking for local volunteers at around the same time, so I got in touch and here I am!

How long have you been a supporter for?

More than 40 years!

What does the club mean to you?

I lived near Watling Street and the old ground, when I first moved to Dartford. And then, coming from a footballing family, I went a couple of times. My dad David always used to say it was ‘real football.’ I’ve been a fan for a long time now and followed them through the bad and good times.

Do you have a favourite Darts memory?

The best match I’ve been to is the second leg of the Southern League Cup Final in 1988 against Bromsgrove Rovers. The first leg was up at their ground. We lost it 3-1. 

I went to the second leg just to support the team. There was no real hope of turning it around and then we missed a penalty at the beginning. So, the feeling was we’d done well to get to the final, but that was that. But then we scored three goals and we won it. 

I was a teacher and had taken a sixth form student who was a football fanatic and when everyone was running onto the pitch at the end, she said: “Come on, let’s do it!” It was a bit naughty, but such a great win!

Favourite player now?

Luther Williams has done well in the pre-season and Tyler Christian-Law is looking good! 

Thoughts for the season?

Andy’s got some really good ideas and he seems to be pulling things in the right direction. But I don’t envy the job he has got right now. 

I hope we’re near the top of the table at the end of the season and that we win more than we lose. 

When you’ve supported a team for a long time, you sort of just get used to whatever comes your way. You’ve seen it all.

But I believe we have all the ingredients to be a successful club again, so I hope we can get a few wins, get some momentum behind us and I can see it bringing a lot of fans back.  

Gareth Morgan

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