It wasn’t meant to end like this. After 10 years, spread across some of Dartford’s finest seasons in the club’s history, their inspirational captain Tom Bonner has announced his retirement.
More than six weeks earlier, Bonner was a forlorn figure at his second home, Princes Park. Dartford were beaten in the play-offs.
Again. Dartford were knocked out on penalties. Again. Bonner was the captain. Again. Every year Bonner was driven to get Dartford back to non-league’s top table.
He’d dined there in 2012/13 during his first spell at the club. “When I signed seven years ago back at Dartford, that was all I wanted to do,” explained the 35-year-old. “I had good success at Dartford and I just wanted to get them back to where I believe they “belong. “In the seven years, minus the Covid year, we’ve lost in the play-offs six times - the last three on penalties.