Tuesday night saw Dartford host Potters Bar Town at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park. Dartford FC Women Co-Manager, Martin McCarthy, featured in the matchday programme. If you missed it, here is the full article:
SECTION ONE
The success of the Dartford Women’s team throughout recent seasons has been well documented. Yet, Connor Dymond and Martin McCarthy’s outfit want more. They’re hungry for promotion and more silverware. They’re thirsty to break more records, as they continue to rewrite the history books.
And it all starts again this season, as they aim to take that next big step. While the ladies take the glory on the pitch, we mustn’t forget those who put in countless hours of work off it… all for the love of the game and the club. These people have been brought in by joint bosses Connor Dymond and Martin McCarthy to help the team take the next step. People such as Micky Bennett (Goalkeeping Coach), Steve Sales (First Team Coach), Rhys Terry (Assistant Coach), and Ria Miles (Strength & Conditioning Coach). Such people deserve the plaudits as much as the players do, and they’re a testament to the hard work put in by Connor and Martin.
As a new season dawns, it’s only fair that Martin gets to have his say in these pages. And it was an absolute pleasure to chat with him over WhatsApp recently, as he shared his thoughts on his and Connor’s team, having just returned from a well-deserved holiday…
“I’m very well thanks mate, hope you are too?” (I am, thanks Martin) “I’ve just got back from a break in Turkey with my family, and it was great to get away after a long season.”
The season. It was long, but hugely successful despite just falling short of winning the London & South-East Regional Women’s Football League and with it, promotion. I ask Martin for his thoughts on last term, now that he’s been able to process it all and switch off.
“It was a fabulous season Chris mate, in many ways. Firstly, on the pitch it was great to see the girls just deliver everything that we had worked on in pre-season, and throughout the campaign. They’re a fabulous bunch and a group I’m extremely proud to manage.”
He continues, “The progress on the pitch was astounding. So many people expressed their delight at how they played, and how good they are, as well as how hard they work for each other. They represent Connor and myself so well, and endorse our values.”
Having seen the ladies play, I can confirm that their football is a thrill to watch. They do indeed work for each other, and their game is entertaining and attacking, which is a breath of fresh air. Having met most of them as well, they’re a lovely bunch who embrace everyone who supports what they do with open arms and hearts. But, how do the coaches manage all the different personalities in order to create a winning team?
“It’s very hard to keep everything as we do. But, having two people like Connor and myself who think the same way and deliver the same principles makes things much easier. The girls’ personalities are very diverse, however, the world would be boring if we were all the same! The key is, to just enable them to express themselves and then try to link them together in different ways to create a solid unit. Different backgrounds is an opportunity to learn the other ways that people express themselves, so it fits into our model that we’re always learning.”
Like most teams, obviously, the Darts are constantly evolving and moving forward. The key is to make the right additions who will fit into what is already a tight-knit group. At the time of our discussion, Connor and Martin have made three new signings… Amy Russ, Poppy Payne, and Abbey Davies. Martin introduces them…
“Amy is a great number 9. She scores goals, links up the play, and is a great character to have in our group. She’s a great person, who has played at a good level, so she’ll help the team.
“Poppy is a fiery character who gives as good as she gets! She’s as fit as a fiddle, and has a point to prove. She’s a genuine lady who is delighted to be at Dartford. She can play in a number of positions, and is someone I know that we can help develop week after week.
“Abbey is an unbelievable footballer. She possesses a terrific left foot and can ping a lovely ball. She works super hard, and is a player who has played at a higher level. She can again too, if she listens and learns from Connor and I. She’s a set-piece specialist and another great person, although she’s very quiet…”
It was recently announced that Connor and Martin had also added a fourth new addition, having completed the signing of talented midfielder Brionne Fowle from Enfield Ladies. It’s another statement of intent for the season ahead…
“Absolutely Chris. ‘Continued Progression’ is always the expectation I set any side I manage. Nobody can expect anything to be easy in life, let alone football, so we have to work as hard as we did last season as a minimum. Last year we were so good because we were hungry. We did more and more to try and achieve the success we had. But, progression means we have to work harder than last year, both on and off the pitch. We all also have to continue learning away from it more and more.”
He continues, “We have set the girls a target of what we want to achieve, and it’s more of the same. We know that we have to work harder, and we’ve already set the wheels in motion.
“Our pre-season is going very well. We returned two weeks earlier than last season because, we know that we have to work harder. The new players need to understand who we are and what we stand for as a team, so we wanted to give them that additional time, as well as hit the ground running. We have also scheduled our pre-season against teams that are at higher levels than ourselves, so that we can know where we are and what we have to do in order to achieve the level that we want to get to.”
One of the changes for this new season will see the team playing all their home games on the main Princes Park pitch. It’s something that everyone involved fully deserves, and it should help the team step up to the next level.
“Yeah, it’s brilliant that we’ll be playing in the stadium full-time mate. I think it’s only fair, and it shows how far the ladies have come.
“Playing in the main stadium will help us attract good players. It’s somewhere that people will want to play, so players who have played at a higher level will be attracted to the possibility of playing for us. Now, playing in the stadium combined with the best coaching in the area, means we have a great chance to drive the club forward. It’s also great for the supporters too, as more can come and watch the ladies play.”
With time allowing me to finally chat with Martin, It’s only fitting that he gets the opportunity to introduce himself, afterall he doesn’t often get the chance to get the attention he deserves at the club. So, first of all, what exactly is his role within the Dartford FC Women’s team and what’s it like working alongside Connor Dymond?
“Connor and I share the Manager’s position mate. We split things equally. Mainly, I deliver the coaching, while Connor does the managing side of things. However, we also both get involved in the other parts too.
“I’d say that I’m the ‘hard-faced manager’, and he’s the smiling one. As a salesman (more on this shortly), I’m the talker in the dressing room and he’s the thinker. However, we work brilliantly together and we both play the ‘good cop’ and the ‘bad cop’ when needed. Connor is a great guy and a great person to share this journey with. We’re so alike that we have become great friends. We have formed a great family friendship, which wasn’t what we set out to achieve originally. He’s funny, loyal, and trustworthy, which is exactly the person you need to work alongside.”
The word that comes to mind is family. And that’s exactly how I feel whenever I’m in the presence of Connor, Martin, and their team. It’s a family, and they always make me feel welcome and comfortable. On a personal level, they’re both family men too…
“Yes, I have three kids (Cian, Isla, and Ruby) so, whatever I do outside of football I always like to involve them and my wife Hayley. Everything I do is for them, so I try to spend as much time with them as possible.”
Like most, Martin’s role within the club is part-time. He’s the Commercial Manager for the club, which is in effect a salesman, which he loves… “It involves talking which, anyone who knows me, knows I do a lot of… HaHaHaHa!”
He also coaches other footballers… “Yes. Last season I was the First Team Coach at Crawley Town in the EFL League Two. Which, for a local Dartford boy was a huge achievement!”… and he practically lives in the gym… “I love being able to work out mate, as it helps to keep my stress levels down.”
As the end of our conversation draws near to its conclusion, I ask Martin what his hopes for the future are?
“For the girls, I hope they achieve everything that I know they can achieve. They’re an unbelievable group that, hopefully, understand that with Connor’s and my experience, and their grit and determination, we could be unstoppable. For me personally, I just want to keep on being happy mate. I’ve worked at most levels in football, that I understand that often it’s not the best people that get the jobs. Being hopeful of doing this or that can also be down to ‘who you know’ instead of ‘what you know’.
“When the time feels right, I’ll go back to a level of football I wish to. However, my priorities are the wife and the kids now, especially after being away from them for so many years.”
It’s been a pleasure chatting to Martin, and I’m sure we’ll continue to chat throughout the season because, that’s who Martin is. For now though, I’ll let him have the last few words…
“Please come and support the ladies. Last year was a rough one for the club, yet the girls excelled. They work tirelessly to represent OUR club, so your support can only make us better. They’re amazing individuals who just want to play for the shirt (if only we could say that about everyone last season).
“As for me, I’m a local Dartford boy, who’s managing his hometown club. I understand what it means to be a Dartford person, and why I’d move heaven and earth to be successful for the club. Sometimes, people don’t know what it means to be Dartford through and through. The supporters are the best in the world, and we have to understand what a privilege it is to be a part of this club.”
It is indeed a privilege!
SECTION TWO
Faith or Superstition?
Faith.
Favourite Food?
Chicken (Nando’s).
Favourite Drink?
Diet Coke.
TV Series or Film?
Love both.
Music or Podcast?
Music to unwind, Podcast to gain more education.
Sporting Hero?
Roy Keane.
Non-Sporting Hero?
My Dad (Pat McCarthy).
Do you follow any other sports besides football?
I love all sports. I played Rugby Union at a good level when I was a kid, so I have a soft spot for this.
What football players, past or present, would make up your dream five-a-side team?
Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United)
Paul McGrath (Manchester United)
Roy Keane (Manchester United)
Paul Gascoigne (Tottenham)
Diego Maradona (Napoli)
If we lost, what a night out it would be afterwards… HaHaHaHa!! 🍺
By Chris Palmer