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Dartford boss Tony Burman recalls FA Cup draw against Bournemouth and the chance to play Manchester United

Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton
Tony Burman Picture: Andy Payton

Dartford feature in the FA Cup second round this weekend for the first time in 30 years.

Manager Tony Burman is preparing his team for a trip to League 1 Bradford, having been part of the last Darts team to go this far in the competition.

Burman helped Dartford hold Bournemouth to a 1-1 draw at Watling Street back in 1984 when Steve Robinson's goal earned the Gola League side a replay.

"We played Bournemouth twice and we were a bit unlucky in the home game," Burman recalled.

"My main memory is being in the changing-room afterwards and (Bournemouth manager) Harry Redknapp was in there. The draw was made on the radio after the game and the winners of the replay were drawn away to Manchester United.

"That’s what could have been."

Steve Irving, now Dartford's vice-chairman, watched from the terraces that day.

He said: "The day culminated with us drawing the game and in those days, the draw was made for the next round straight after the game.

"We were in the bar and we knew what our number was. We heard Man United come out, we heard our number come out – and that’s all we heard. The place went wild."

Had the Darts made it through, Burman and his team-mates would have lined up against United stars Paul McGrath, Bryan Robson, Gordon Strachan and Mark Hughes.

As it was, they lost the replay 4-1 and United beat Bournemouth 3-0 in the third round - gaining revenge for their infamous defeat to the Cherries the previous season. They went on to win the FA Cup.

Read all the FA Cup build-up in the Dartford Messenger on Thursday.

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