Box to Box: Why there’s no stopping Olly Box – now the gloves are off!

Olly’s Dad Ron talks to Gareth Morgan about his son’s progress in the sport he eats, sleeps and breathes

With goals, tricks galore and a permanent smile on his face, it’s clear why Olly Box has become a firm fans’ favourite.

The 19-year-old has been in scintillating form this season, terrorising defences for fun and sitting top of the club’s goal charts with 11 (League and Cup) to his name.

However, the teen star’s football journey could have taken a very different path after a year in goal when he was younger.

And for Dad Ron – his No.1 fan and former youth team and district manager – he’s thankful it was a short-lived spell at the other end of the pitch.

He said: “He played in goal for a season at Under-8s because we were struggling for a keeper. He was really quite good. He was small but very agile and they were obviously smaller goals at that age group.

“Thankfully, it only lasted a season, because after that he was top of most of the goalscoring charts and he hasn’t looked back.”

Olly was football mad from when he could walk, never far from a ball, and showing the early promise that has since seen him become a regular fixture in the Darts starting line-up.

Ron said: “He always had a natural ability to take on players and score goals without having to really think about it. Every step he’s taken, whether it’s in kids’ football or in adult football, he has just taken it in his stride and it hasn’t really phased him.

“He always had a ball attached to him. His mum Barbara was always telling him off for kicking a ball around the house.

“Even when we went on holiday, he would find a way to kick a ball. I remember we were in Portugal one year and there was an Astro-turf pitch nearby. He set up the red and white barriers used for roadworks in a goalmouth and spent two hours practising free-kicks.”

Olly’s football journey began at a local soccer school between the ages of five and six before playing for Danson Sports Blues Under-7s, where Ron took over coaching duties. His first season was in goal, but it became clear his abilities lay out on the pitch.

Ron continued: “From Under-8s to Under-12s, Olly played up a year with the team. It was clear he was better than a lot of kids his own age, even though he was small.

“From Under-11s to when Covid hit, he was also in the District team that myself and Trevor Hand – who has Dartford connections – ran.

“His twin sister Chelsey, who’s next to him in the photo when he was in goal, was also a talented player. At one time, they were both playing for Bexley District and were both top scorers of their teams. She actually won the Golden boot that year because she scored in the finals which Olly’s team didn’t make.”

At Under-12s, Olly joined Crayford side VCD where he was second top scorer, before joining Phoenix Sports.

He spent a year with the Crystal Palace Development team at Under-11s and Tottenham Development team at Under-13s. At Under-14s, he had trials with Colchester Utd and Crystal Palace.

Ron said: “Colchester wanted to sign him but we decided it was too far to travel. With the other sides, the feedback often came back that he wasn’t big enough.”

The setbacks became Dartford’s gain, as Olly joined Dartford Academy at Under-16s from Phoenix.

While he was accepted by two other clubs for their scholarship set-ups, Olly opted for Dartford due to the facilities all being in one place and the friendly coaching staff.

During the first year of the Academy, he played for Corinthians in the Isthmian South East League – his first taste of men’s football.

Ron recalled: “He’s effectively been playing adult football for three years now and it has really helped him. He’s always been able to look after himself, but was obviously small. However, there’s a big difference between youth and adult football so these early experiences really toughened him up.”

Last season, Olly spent half at Margate, before working his way into the first team at Dartford. After a few sub performances, he finally got his first start after they were taken over by DFC Director Tony Burman.

Ron continued: “He was playing in a struggling team that was destined for relegation at the end of our season, but was still creating chances and scoring chances.

“Tony gave him his first start. But I remember his first sub appearance, well.

“He came on in the last few minutes, turned someone inside out and then got kicked up in the air! The whole of the Dartford squad ran over and started having a go at the guy who kicked him.”

This season has been the breakout one, with his confidence growing game-by-game.

Ron and wife Barbara have four children, with Olly living at the family home at present, while working in a local pub.

Ron added: “There was speculation last year that some teams were looking at him, but he’s happy here and just wants to play football. It’s why he signed a two-year contract last season.

“He’s happy and buzzing with how the team are doing. He has Ady who believes in youth offering his guidance and he’s able to play with the friends he’s made through the Academy.”

While his son’s name is chanted by fans week-after-week, Ron’s happy to reflect on his proudest moments so far.

“We love watching him play,” he added. “We were on holiday for a few days after Christmas and drove straight from the airport to get to the Chatham game on New Year’s Day to watch him.

“For me, he’s always had this natural ability to take on players. A lot of the skills you just can’t teach, as they are in the head. He makes the right decisions on the pitch and always has.

“Last season, when he was scoring a few goals, I was really proud. Now we are just taking each season as it comes and enjoying it.

“But probably the proudest moment as a dad came when he was being interviewed to join Dartford Academy and he was asked who his footballing hero was. ‘My dad’s my inspiration,’ he said. I’m not ashamed to tell you it brought a tear to my eye.”

And for the Darts fans who love to watch him take the game in his stride, they are just happy Olly has such a supportive family behind him – and that Ron didn’t let him spend another season between the goal posts.

The post Box to Box: Why there’s no stopping Olly Box – now the gloves are off! appeared first on Dartford Football Club Official Website.