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Sport

Dartford manager Steve King and striker Ade Azeez win National League South awards for August and September

By: Matthew Panting mpanting@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 14:00, 11 October 2021

Updated: 14:03, 11 October 2021

Table-topping Dartford won both monthly awards in National League South.

Boss Steve King was named manager-of-the-month for August and September, while leading scorer Ade Azzez took the player honours after a blistering start to the campaign.

Dartford boss Steve King and assistant Craig Belgrave watch on from the sidelines. Picture: Andy Jones (42745554)

Dartford are unbeaten in all competitions so far this campaign, with Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels the only team to take points off them in the league.

They've also defeated Hythe and Maidstone to book their place in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round, where they travel to AFC Sudbury this weekend.

King praised the efforts of his backroom team, including his long-standing assistant Craig Belgrave and goalkeeping coach Larry Raji as well as physios Rhiannon Green and Dave Phillips and kit manager Gabby Ravenscroft.

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"It’s a team effort, I always say I can’t do it without my staff," said King, with Darts five points clear at the top of National League South.

"It’s Larry, Craig, Rhiannon, Dave, Gabby, the whole staff. It’s a team, it’s not the Steve King show. For me, they all deserve as much credit as me.

"Larry works with the keepers and helps us keep clean sheets, Craig works with the forwards and they're all scoring goals. It’s a massive team effort for me."

Azeez took his tally to 11 goals in 10 games after netting the winner against Hungerford on Saturday.

It's the best scoring form of his career, and King believes a happy player off the field is reflected by his end product on it.

"Ade totally deserves it," beamed King. "He is happy and calm in a good place as an individual.

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"It’s the best scoring return of his career, he has never scored this amount of goals and never been in double figures inside two months. I don’t want to put pressure on him but he’s got his own targets (as well).

"He doesn’t just give you goals, he gives you work, effort, he is strong and everything you want from a centre-forward, especially at our level."

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