Dartford player-manager Ben Greenhalgh says their first pre-season friendly against Charlton Athletic shows new signings the size of the Isthmian Premier club

Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh thinks their first pre-season friendly should show Dartford’s new signings the size of the club they have joined.

The Darts will begin preparations for the new Isthmian Premier season when they welcome Charlton to Princes Park tomorrow before the visit of National League South Ebbsfleet on Tuesday evening.

It has become a regular warm-up fixture for the teams in recent years and is one that playmaker Greenhalgh is looking forward to.

He said: “I think these games really matter for football clubs, just because of the relationship there has always been between Dartford and Charlton.

"I remember being part of this friendly when I was with the club before.

“It’s brilliant for a club like Dartford to be able to bring in a Championship club like Charlton. They will bring everyone down with them, although there is no guarantee they will play.

“They will have some senior players and some youth-team players involved.

"It’s not a case of seeing where we match-up against a side like Charlton. But for our new players, I think it’s a massive bonus.

"It shows we are a proper football club - you come into a new club and your first game is against a Championship club.”

As part of preparations for the Darts’ opening friendly, they held an open training session last weekend.

“I couldn’t give you an exact number but I would say 50 to 100 fans were there,” estimated 34-year-old Greenhalgh.

“Even some turned up just to say ‘Hello’, which was nice. It was a great day in terms of the weather for the fans - but not so much for the players!

“We’re still at a stage where we’re introducing the players to each other.

“We have gelled quickly. But we’re trying to build relationships in the team and, at the same time, we’re