Princes Park (Dartford)

Princes Park is a football stadium in Dartford, Kent, England. It is the home of Dartford F.C. and London City Lionesses. The stadium’s postcode is DA1 1RT, the closest possible representation of the word “Dart”. DA1 1FC was unobtainable, as the letter C is not allocated for use at the end of British postcodes. The stadium is owned by Dartford Borough Council.

General information

Arena capacity: 4,100 spectators

Address: Darenth Rd, Dartford DA1 1RT, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51°26′13.82″N 0°13′50.88″E

Year of construction: 2006

Construction cost: £7 million

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 100 x 65 m

Seating plan of Princes Park

Having been opened in 2006, you would be forgiven for assuming that this is just another identikit bland stadium, similar to many others that have recently been built around the country. But in the case of Princes Park you would be wrong, it is anything but ordinary. This is mostly due to its green credentials, being probably the most environmentally friendly football ground so far constructed in the UK.

These credentials include amongst other things, collecting rain water for use within the stadium, producing its own electricity from solar panels, having timber beams to support the roof (which incidentally has a covering of green vegetation to provide insulation and help the stadium blend into its surroundings) and having the pitch sunken below the surrounding ground level to reduce noise and light pollution. And then of course there is the ‘Wooden or Oak Man’.

Whereas stadiums costing ten times as much have little to write home about apart from the price of the entrance ticket, then Dartford have instilled character in theirs, with this towering wooden sculpture. He stands inside the stadium with his arms stretched up aloft and appears from a distance to be holding up the roof. Certainly something which is unique.

On one side is the Main Stand. This stand is all seated and comprises just four rows, seating in total 645 spectators. It has the team dugouts at its front and a glassed area at the rear, which contains amongst other things the clubhouse bar. Like the rest of the stadium, the roof is situated quite high above the spectator area and has a slight oval angle to it. The other three sides of the stadium are small terraced areas, being around seven rows high.

Opposite the Main Stand the Wooden Man sculpture stands on the terrace, keeping a watchful eye over proceedings. All four corners of the stadium are enclosed, although these areas are not used for spectators. The stadium is completed with a set of four floodlight pylons.

Visiting Supporters

If segregation is in force then away fans are housed in the Car Park End. This covered terrace has a capacity of 700 supporters. In addition 38 seats are made available on one side of the Main Stand by the Car Park End. With no supporting pillars to contend with, then sightlines of the pitch are good. Although the ground is totally enclosed, it feels quite open as there is quite a large gap between the back of the stands and the stadium roof. Although this may allow more light and air into the stadium, so it does for wind and rain.

Princes Park is a pleasant, well designed and comfortable ground. The club house is accessible from inside the ground (if segregation is not in force) and has a spacious bar area with plenty of seating. All the facilities are quite adequate including an area for wheelchairs, and their assistants if necessary, in all four corners of the ground. The stewarding is pleasant, friendly and low key.

Where to buy tickets?

The amount you’ll pay for your ticket will depend on where you want to sit, although the difference is nominal. How old you are will also determine how much you pay to attend a match.

Tickets are available online via the club’s official website, over the phone or by calling into the ticket office in person.

How to get there?

Princes Park is located in Dartford. You can check the detailed directions below.

From A2 (London):

1. At the Dartford Heath roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A2018/Shepherd’s Ln Go through 1 roundabout – 0.8 mi.
2. Turn right at B2174/Princes Rd Continue to follow Princes Rd – 1.4 mi.
3. Turn right at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft.
4. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft.

From A2 (Kent):

1. Take the exit toward M25/Dartford/A225 (it’s the second junction) – 0.2 mi.
2. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit toward London(SE)/London(C)/Bexleyheath/A2/M25(N)/M11/M1/Dartford/A225 – 1.0 mi.
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A296/Princes Rd heading to Dartford/Crayford/A225 Go through 1 roundabout – 0.6 mi.
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft.
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200 ft.

From M25:

Anticlockwise

1. Leave the M25 at junction 2 for Canterbury/M2/Dartford/A225 – 0.2 mi.
2. At the junction take the third exit for Dartford (A225) – 1.0 mi.
3. At the roundabout take the second exit for Dartford (Princes Road) – 0.6 mi.
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft.
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft.

Clockwise

1. Clockwise: At junction 1b, exit toward Dartford/A225 – 0.2 mi.
2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit toward Dartford/A225 – 0.1 mi.
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A296/Princes Rd heading to Dartford/Crayford/A225 Go through 1 roundabout – 0.6 mi.
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd – 384 ft.
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft.

By Rail

Dartford is the nearest station to Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park.

To Dartford: Exit station straight ahead towards the Orchard Theatre/Shopping Centre.

Do NOT cross the bridge but take the steps/ramp down to the Bus stops, then take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Gravesend and alight at the Princes Park stop.

Buses run every 10 mins during the day, with a slightly longer interval in the evenings.

To Ebbsfleet International: Exit the station and take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Dartford and alight at the Princes Park stop.

Buses run every 10 mins during the day, with a slightly longer interval in the evenings.

By Bus

The Fastrack B route provides a direct service to the ground, ask for the Princes Park stop. Buses run every 10 mins during the day, with a slightly longer interval in the evenings.

On Foot

It is a 10-15 minute walk from Dartford town centre largely alongside the Fastrack busway.

By Car

If traveling by car, parking is free and we would suggest arriving 45 minutes before kick-off for most games to ensure getting a space. For bigger matches it is advisable to arrive earlier. Upon arrival, entry is through turnstiles at either end of the ground. Once inside you can find a club shop, tea bar / food bar selling a variety of burgers, sausage in a roll, pies etc, or access the bars up the stairs behind the dugouts. Bars are open to all fans before and after the game, with access to the outside balconies.

Occasionally the main function bar will be closed after half time due to functions in the evening. They are establishing a small family area outside the bars in the viewing area, overlooking the 3G pitches, with some games, puzzles, books and colouring things to help keep children occupied before kick-off. This is open to anyone with children but is not supervised.

Where to eat and drink?

There is a small bar at the ground called the Defluo Bar which is specifically for the use of away fans. The entrance to it is in the car park at the away end of the stadium. There are also two good sized bars at the stadium, which also have Sky television, however these are more for home supporters. The nearest pub to the ground is the Ivy Leaf on Darenth Road, which is about a five minute walk away (from the stadium entrance turn right along Darenth Road, cross over the main road at the traffic lights and the pub is further up Darenth Road on the right). Whilst further along the same road is the Malt Shovel, which also does food.

Otherwise Dartford Town Centre is around a 15 minute walk away, where there are plenty of pubs to be found. Ones of note are Wat Tyler on the High Street, the Paper Moon Wetherspoons outlet opposite and another Wetherspoons outlet called the Flying Boat on Spital Street.

Facilities

Princes Park has an all-weather training pitch available for community use, and the stadium’s clubhouse which contains bars, banqueting suites and meeting rooms.

Suites

There are two function suites available to hire at Princes Park Stadium, The Princes Suite & The Park Suite. The event team will be able to advise you which suite will be more suitable for your function.

Conference And Meeting Rooms

The two function suites are both very popular venues for conferencing & seminars. They are self-contained, private and well equipped for any event and both have an abundance of natural light.

Entertainment

Since 2011 Hi-Lite has been the only recommended entertainment and AV supplier at Princes Park Dartford.

If you are thinking of having a children’s party at Princes Park, we highly recommend Cheeky Charlies Soft Play for bouncy castle hire, soft play hire and lots more.

Sports

The site also houses a superb 9 Hole “pay & play“ Golf Course and a floodlit 3G all weather pitch that can be hired for matches and training.

Accessibility

When Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park was designed & built, Dartford FC and the Council ensured it included some key attributes to the stadium to make it as disabled friendly as possible.

The club is committed to ensuring a good view and choice of location of 3 areas around the stadium together with an ability to sit with friends/carers and fellow supporters under cover from the elements. They will also, where possible and where prior arrangement has been made, help disabled fans with ticket purchase and car parking. They will endeavour to help with any special arrangements that may be needed for entrance to the ground or access to any of the club’s facilities.

1. Disabled Facilities. The club provide entrances at either end of the ground as well as the main reception. Within the building there is 1 lift to take people up to the bar areas, they then have another lift which will take people down to stadium level for the game. Wheelchair users will pay the entrance cost appropriate to their age/status and if the attendance of a carer is required, the carer will be admitted free of charge.
2. Disabled Spaces. The club has nine spaces for wheelchair users together with an adjacent seat for a carer if required. The 3 areas are located in each of the Main Stand on ground level and the other area is underneath the scoreboard opposite the main stand. All areas are covered and segregation of the crowds would not affect the disabled seating positions.
3. Disabled Toilets. A disabled toilet is located at each of the stadium behind the goals. There is also one on the ground floor of the main reception area and on the upper floor, near the two public bars.
4. Disabled Pricing. The entrance cost for disabled fans is charged appropriate to the standard admission for their age/status. If a carer is required, then the carer will be admitted free of charge.
5. Visually/Hearing Impaired. No specific allocation but the club makes arrangements as necessary with helpers seated adjacent. For visually impaired supporters, BBC Radio Kent (96.7FM) reports on the game.
6. Catering and Programmes. The catering pods are situated behind each goal and access to these are all wheelchair friendly. Matchday programmes are available directly upon entry to the stadium.
7. Car Parking. Dartford FC have an ample number of car-parking spaces so prior arrangement should not be required. Badges do need to be displayed in the car window so people can check when it is busy. The car park is approximately 100 metres from the main reception area and the nearest turnstiles are about 50m away. The surface of the car park is a mix of tarmac and loose gravel.

Architectural Aspects

The stadium roof has a sedum roof blanket, a living roof that provides a natural air filtration system. Solar panels on the roof serve the community changing areas and public toilets hot water storage cylinders. The roof is supported by treated Glulam timber beams. Water recycling system which serves the toilets within the clubhouse. Rain water is collected in the two large ponds at the north end of the stadium grounds. Underfloor heating on both levels of the clubhouse. Low energy lighting. Increased fabric insulation to give the clubhouse better thermal retention and efficiency. Condensing boilers to provide a more energy efficient system. Also excavated earth was reused for landscaping the external courtyard areas around the stadium.

History

Construction work began on 14 November 2005. Designed by Alexander Sedgley architects, the stadium has been described as one of the most ecologically sound ever built. The stadium was opened on 11 November 2006 when Dartford FC, who had been without a home ground in the borough since 1992, beat Horsham YMCA 4–2 in an Isthmian League Division One South league fixture, in front of a capacity 4,097 crowd.