pre-season
guide 
Travel links:
Next season:
Isle of Man pre-season tournament
(July 21-27)
Cambridge Utd Nationwide League Div 3
(Aug 10)
No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.
Pre-season tournament:
Saturday 13th July
2002: Aldershot 1-0 Brentford, Kingstonian 3-2 Darlington
Sunday 14th July: Brentford 0-1 Darlington.
Kingstonian FC, The Kingsmeadow
Stadium, 422a Kingston Road, Norbiton nr Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
Darlo included a few trialists in their first open pre-season matches at
the Ryman Premier league club.
Former Hull City left back Gregor Rioch
was a first half try-out in the 1-0 win over Brentford,
although was ineffectual and was pulled off. Ex-Everton youngster Ryan Valentine
improved over the two games, while Adam Rundle was the Darlo star and Clark
Keltie got the goal. New signing Matt Clarke was pushed up front, where
he started his career, as Darlo boss Tommy Taylor experimented.
Saturday's 3-2 defeat to the hosts Kingstonian was a fairly poor showing, although you can perhaps judge little from a first match and after a coach journey that morning. Paul Campbell and Barry Conlon scored for the Quakers.
The bad news was that Gary Pearson will miss between three and six months
out injured. Also missing after picking up an injury in the behind-closed-doors
friendly against Halifax was Richard Hodgson.
There were the usual DAFTS stalwarts in attendance on a bright and sunny weekend!
Full report by DAFTS' Ted Blair on D@rlo Uncovered
Ticket prices: £5 adults (£3 concessions) or all four matches £16 (£10 concessions). If scores are level at 90 minutes, matches will be decided on penalties.
Click for Streetmap and location of ground
Anything worth adding to these guides for 2002-2003? Please e-mail us any suggestions
Surfing
around
Kingstonian have a goodofficial
site, as well as a fanzine Weaving
In And Out. While Aldershot
Town and the very informative Shotsweb
are the two for the other Ryman League club. The Bees have a decent looking
official site, while The
Ultimate Bees is an unofficial site, which is well maintained.
By car
M25 junction 10, then A3 to the New Malden/Worcester Park
turn-off
into Malden Road (A2043). Follow Malden Road to the mini-roundabout and
turn
left into Kingston Road. From here Kingsmeadow is signposted and is
situated
approximately 1 mile up the Kingston Road, on the left-hand side.
Trains and buses
Norbiton has trains every 15 minutes
from London Waterloo (Shepperton & Strawberry Hill lines). Leave station
via back entrance and take first left onto Norbiton Avenue. Walk to the
end of the road and a right into Kingston Road. Turn left and the ground
is five mins on the right. Kingston station is a longer walk, but there
are more pubs to choose from.
Trains (Sugg): Darlington 08.21-London King's Cross
10:48, then Underground to Vauxhall, walk to Vauxhall station (11.35)
arr Norbiton 12.15 or London Waterloo (12.03)
arr Norbiton 12:25 or Kingston 12.27; Duration: 4hr 41 mins.
Bus: The ground is between Kingston town centre and
New Malden on the 131 route.
Taxis
Top Cars
Tel: 020 8546 8888
Kingston & Wimbledon Taxi Centre
Tel: 020 8541 1777
Crown Cars
Tel: 020 8547 1212
Staying over
The George Hotel, Cartwright Gardens, central London, (0207 387 8777).
Also
The Wimbledon Guest House
2a Belvedere Drive, Wimbledon, (020 8241 4882)
Treble (en-suite) room £80 per night; single £30 per night. A few stops from Norbiton station.
In Kingston itself, Kingstonian Supporters' Club say
there is The Hotel Antoinette (020 8546 1044),
about five minutes from the town centre and about a 15 minute walk from
the ground. Also the smaller Hermes Hotel (020 8546 5322) is on the edge of the town centre.
It's very close to King's Cross/Euston and is handy for
main Tube lines, decent pubs, chippy and restaurants.
Triple room @ £91 per night. DAFTS recommended, for a central stop
If you'd like to be e-mailed
a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this
site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then
E-mail
DAFTS
Eat and drink
There's obviously the whole of London to choose from, although the pubs in Kingston are a good 20 minutes walk from the ground. There is a decent online pub guide with sketch map, as well as a local CAMRA page.
The Canbury Arms,49 Canbury Park Road, Kingston.
The Boaters Inn,Canbury Gardens, Lower Ham Road. Kingston FC Social Club Kingsmeadow The club
has a social club and bar which many Division Three clubs would die for.
Kingstonian Supporters' Club said fans of all sides are welcome. Open
all day.
Bishop Out Of Residence, riverside
walk, off Thames St
The Ram 34 High Street, Kingston
Up to four real ales and "real cider", as well as Courage. Close to Kingston station, under the
bridge on exit and first right. Click for map
Real ale pub with food, on the river, set in a park. Furthest from the stadium, but worth a walk. Click for street
map
Split-level Young's pub on two levels, with a Thames view.
Recommended by Kingstonian Supporters' Club as a good bet, especially
in the summer as the beer garden backs onto the Thames and the food there
is good. From the station cross the road and bear to your left, going
past Wetherspoons on your right and Options cinema on your
left. Carry on round past Burger King and McDonalds, right at
the mini roundabout and then follow the road round to your
left. Over a small bridge and the Ram is on your right on the
riverfront.DAFTS recommended
Thanks to Neil Johnson and Simon Murray
PRE-SEASON MATCHES:
JULY:
ISLE OF MAN TOURNAMENT:
30th: (A) Barrow 7.30pm
AUGUST:
10th: (H) Halifax 2-1 Durham
13th: (A) Kingstonian 2-3
14th: (A) Brentford 1-0 Kingstonian FC
16th: (A) Durham City
2-1
17th: (A) West Auckland 0-2 (Youth)
19th: (H) Newcastle Utd XI 1-0
20th: (A) Chester-le-Street T 3pm
21st: (A) Isle of Man Ramsey (IOM) 7.15pm
23rd: (A) Rochdale Ramsey (IOM) 7.15pm
26th: (A) Group B Play Off v Wrexham, Burnley or Luton, Ramsey
27th: (A) Final, Douglas
31st: (A) Whitby Town 7.45pm
2nd: (H) Huddersfield Town 7.30pm
3rd: (A) Tow Law Town 3pm