our history

Fleetdown F.C was initially formed in 1971 with a junior side of U11’s leaving Fleetdown Primary School. They trained on the school’s field and joined the IJF League. Due to a lack of funds the team decided on Tangerine as their colour of choice as no other side played in that colour and therefore no away kit would be required. The team was heavily reliant on goodwill and fundraising and the Fleet Estate Residence Association financed the first kit at the cost of £50.

The IJF league proved quite difficult with both humbling results and travel logistics so the club joined the Bexley League. By the Late 1970’s the club had expanded and had junior sides from U11’s through to U17’s and had introduced a Senior Team playing in the Dartford League. 

As the club grew they found themselves playing home games across numerous sites including Waller Park, Bourne Road, Stone Lodge and Crayford Corner amongst others. Training was shared amongst local school fields, halls and recreational grounds.

In the early 80’s the town of Dartford was twinned with the German Town of Hanau which enabled football tours both ways with an established junior football team. The club continued to grow and added more senior and junior teams to their ranks. The teams started producing results and were beginning to win trophies and becoming a recognised competitive football Club.

In the late 80’s and early 90’s the club embarked on an ambitious project to find a home. After being let down at the Stone Lodge site the club were promised a 20 year lease at the landfill site on Heath Lane. In order to fund the building of changing rooms and a clubhouse, the club began a long campaign of fund raising and investment with the most notable being the ‘Buy A Brick’ campaign. One of the first buildings constructed was the tea hut which still stands today.