Wealdstone
Founded: 1889 / Ground: Vale Stadium
A late surge coupled with Poole Town and Hungerford Town unable to participate in the playoffs, almost saw the Stones sneak a shot at promotion. However, the Middlesex club were unable to nudge past Hampton and Richmond Borough so ended the campaign in a respectable eighth. Wealdstone will feel they have a greater chance this time around as the top seven will take part in the end of season playoffs.
Last Season
National North: 8th
F.A Cup: 4th Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 3rd Round
County Cup: Runners Up
League Top Scorer: Elliot Benyon (16 goals)
Average Attendance: 734 (5th in league / 43rd in non-league)
The Manager – Gordon Bartlett
The longest serving manager in the National South having joined the Stones in the Summer of 1995, playing in the Isthmian Division Three without a home. Bartlett was put under pressure last term but still managed to almost gatecrash the playoffs. An experienced manager with three promotions and an F.A Trophy semi-final appearance whilst with the Middlesex club, Bartlett’s chances of guiding Wealdstone to the National League have increased now finishing seventh is good enough to reach the playoffs.
The Summer
Experienced heads have been retained with the likes of Eddie Oshodi, Elliott Benyon and Ricky Wellard signing for another year. Former Dartford full back, Josh Hill made a switch from Chelmsford City, Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick moved from Hampton and Richmond Borough and Jerome Okimo from Braintree Town. Looking towards the league’s below, Bartlett has also signed Benji Crilley from Chesham United and Abobaker Eisa from Uxbridge. Returning to action after time out from the game will be defender Liam Harwood.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 12 / Wealdstone wins: 13 / Draws: 12
Previous Meetings
| 28.01.2017 | Wealdstone | 0 | Dartford | 4 |
| 06.08.2016 | Dartford | 2 | Wealdstone | 2 |
| 26.01.2016 | Dartford | 1 | Wealdstone | 2 |
| 03.10.2015 | Wealdstone | 2 | Dartford | 1 |
| 21.02.2012 | Wealdstone | 1 | Dartford | 0 |
| 14.02.2012 | Dartford | 2 | Wealdstone | 2 |
Next Meetings
Saturday 4 November 2017 at Princes Park
Saturday 17 February 2018 at Vale Stadium
Welling United
Founded: 1963 / Ground: Park View Road
Relegated to the National South just over a year ago, the Wings were probably expecting to perform better last season considering they gained three years National League experience. The goal scoring form of Adam Coombes who netted 20 times was missed in the latter stages of the campaign. Stability is a word the Wings would welcome after managers have been and gone over the last year.
Last Season
National South: 16th
F.A Cup: 4th Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 3rd Round
County Cup: Runners Up
League Top Scorer: Adam Coombes (20 goals)
Average Attendance: 536 (11th in league / 68th in non-league)
The Manager – Jamie Coyle
A former full back with Dartford, Coyle has been part of successful teams including the Darts title winning campaigns in 2008 and 2010 making 140 appearances under Tony Burman scoring 19 times. He also experienced promotion with Maidstone United and played for Welling United six years ago. Coyle started out coaching whilst with the Darts working with the academy and now he’ll be eager to impress in his first managerial role.
The Summer
Welling United will have a familiar look about them to Dartford fans. Coyle has kept in contact with his former club and signed Alfie Pavey and brought back Tom Bradbrook to the world of football, after his brief retirement. Chairman, Mark Goldberg will be overseeing his son’s progress as Bradley Goldberg joins from Bromley. Returning to Park View Road will be Joe Healey and Jack Parkinson both previously with Dover Athletic. Conor Dymond also joins from Bromley whilst Jack Parter and Ian Gayle come in from Tonbridge Angels. After a spell in Ireland with Cork City, Cristian Nanetti signed to join the Wings squad.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 17 / Welling United wins: 7 / Draws: 10
Previous Meetings
| 28.02.2017 | Welling United | 0 | Dartford | 0 |
| 22.11.2016 | Welling United | 2 | Dartford | 2 |
| 06.09.2016 | Dartford | 2 | Welling United | 1 |
| 19.10.2015 | Dartford | 3 | Welling United | 1 |
| 11.11.2014 | Dartford | 2 | Welling United | 1 |
| 30.09.2014 | Welling United | 2 | Dartford | 2 |
Next Meetings
Tuesday 26 December 2017 at Park View Road
Monday 1 January 2018 at Princes Park
Weston-super-Mare
Founded: 1887 / Ground: Woodspring Stadium
If there is one team guaranteed to be in the National South, it’s Weston-super-Mare. The only side to have taken part in every National South campaign since its creation in 2004. Apart from being reprieved on two occasions they have rarely threatened to leave the second tier of non-league. Last term they finished strongly rattling in the goals, but still finished in the bottom half.
Last Season
National South: 15th
F.A Cup: 2nd Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 3rd Qualifying Round
County Cup: Runners Up
League Top Scorer: Dayle Grubb (19 goals)
Average Attendance: 435 (15th in league / 91st in non-league)
The Manager – Marc McGregor
Excited by his new role as Seagulls boss, Marc McGregor returns to the Woodspring Stadium having played for the club. He’s been player coach at Worcester City and represented Oxford United and Notts County on the pitch too. After a spell at Forest Green Rovers McGregor earned a move to Queens Park Rangers but injury cut his full-time career short. The new Weston-super-Mare boss managed to have playing spells with Tamworth and Hinckley United before going into coaching.
The Summer
Danny Greenslade will be playing in Weston-super-Mare shirt after joining from Bristol Rovers. The Seagulls will miss Bradley Ash who was on loan from Barnsley last season and has returned to his parent club. It took a while for the summer activity to come to fruition and when it did the Seagulls secured the services of Jarrad Welch, Ben Seymour, Jake Mawford and Tristan Plummer.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 7 / Weston-Super-Mare wins: 2 / Draws: 4
Previous Meetings
| 17.01.2017 | Dartford | 3 | Weston-Super-Mare | 2 |
| 26.11.2016 | Weston-Super-Mare | 2 | Dartford | 4 |
| 20.08.2016 | Weston-Super-Mare | 1 | Dartford | 2 |
| 05.03.2016 | Weston-Super-Mare | 2 | Dartford | 1 |
| 13.09.2015 | Dartford | 2 | Weston-Super-Mare | 1 |
| 12.11.2011 | Dartford | 1 | Weston-Super-Mare | 1 |
Next Meetings
Saturday 23 September 2017 at Woodspring Stadium
Saturday 7 April 2018 at Princes Park
Whitehawk
Founded: 1945 / Ground: Enclosed Ground
Tough times have hot the Sussex club highlighted by the managerial merry-go-round last season. The Hawks went through five managers and almost 50 players last term alone. For a club that made F.A Cup headlines just over a year ago, Whitehawk have fallen rapidly with a former club president imprisoned and rumours of cashflow issues. The 2014/15 playoff runners up hit their peak in that season almost making it four promotions in six campaigns, now progress has halted the Sussex club need to find stability.
Last Season
National South: 17th
F.A Cup: 1st Round
F.A Trophy: 2nd Round
County Cup: Quarter Final
League Top Scorer: Danny Mills (16 goals)
Average Attendance: 297 (21st in league / 139th in non-league)
The Manager – Jimmy Dack
A former midfielder who knows his way around the non-league scene, Jimmy Dack spent his playing days in Surry and Hampshire with Sutton United, Carshalton Athletic, Aldershot Town and Farnborough Town. Spells in Sussex with Crawley Town means he has already travelled most of the Southern counties. Dack was appointed in January after being Andy Woodman’s assistant and he will be hoping to last longer than the last four managers of the Hawks.
The Summer
The loss of top striker Danny Mills is a huge blow for Whitehawk, the 26 year old has joined Ebbsfleet United. Experienced midfielder Sergio Torres leaves for Eastbourne Borough and Michael West has gone to Chelmsford City along with Elliot Omozusi. Academy players have been given the opportunity with no less than seven under 18’s joining the senior squad, perhaps a sign of the budget cuts at the Enclosed Ground. Connor Tighe has signed from Brighton and Hove Albion, Alex Tokarczyk from Basingstoke Town and Ed Sanders from Gosport Borough. Boosting the squad number another four signed, defenders Tom Cadnam and Ed Wakley as well as forwards Papa Gueye and Bayan Fenwick joined the list of Hawks players.
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 3 /Whitehawk wins: 3 / Draws: 0
Previous Meetings
| 04.02.2017 | Dartford | 3 | Whitehawk | 1 |
| 10.08.2016 | Whitehawk | 1 | Dartford | 0 |
| 12.03.2016 | Dartford | 2 | Whitehawk | 4 |
| 19.12.2015 | Whitehawk | 0 | Dartford | 1 |
| 28.11.2015 | Dartford | 1 | Whitehawk | 2 |
| 04.09.1982 | Dartford | 5 | Whitehawk | 2 |
Next Meetings
Tuesday 5 September 2017 at Enclosed Ground
Saturday 27 January 2018 at Princes Park