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Alan Dowson: The Non-League Promotion Specialist

For clubs outside of the Premier league, each season starts with one ultimate goal, to be promoted to the league above. In non-league football there are few with greater pedigree in this than current Dartford FC boss, Alan Dowson. Dowson holds the enviable record of being promoted with each and every club he’s managed throughout his 19-year coaching career. Meaning he has earned a reputation as a non-league promotion specialist.

 A tough tackling centre half in his playing days, Dowson turned out for the likes of Millwall and Fulham before eventually beginning his career in coaching via a player-manager role at Walton and Hersham FC. It was here that Dowson claimed his first promotion as a manager which would ultimately set him on his way to becoming one of the most sought-after bosses in the non-league game.

 Dowson spent 11 years at Walton and Hersham as a player and then a manager and it’s a spell that he looks back on with great fondness. “Obviously being given my first opportunity to coach a side is something that was absolutely massive for me and to do it with a club that I’d spent such a long time at as a player meant it was a very important time in my career.” During his time at the The Swans, Dowson led the Surrey based outfit to promotion from the Isthmian league, in his first season at the helm. Although he didn’t remain at the club for long, resigning in January of 2007 to join Kingstonian. It was here that Dowson enjoyed his longest stint as manager of a club, remaining at The K’s for 7 years. The club achieved promotion in Dowson’s second full season in charge after being crowned champions of the Isthmian Division One South. Dowson comments that his promotion winning campaigns at Kingstonian and Walton and Hersham gave him ‘a great deal of belief’ that he could achieve similar success higher up the non-league ladder. Kingstonian became stable in the Isthmian premier and narrowly missed out on further success with playoff defeats at the semi-final and final stage during the four seasons Dowson took charge of in the division.

Having resigned at the end of the 2013-2014 season Dowson was offered the opportunity to take over at 7th tier Hampton and Richmond Borough. Dowson explained his reasoning for taking the job stating “It was a club we felt had obvious potential to move upwards and when the job came up it was a pretty straightforward decision to be honest.” The potential that Dowson and his staff saw was realised as The Beavers romped to the title in Dowson’s third season losing only seven games and scoring 105 goals in the process, with now QPR winger Jamal Lowe starring throughout. Not content with stabilisation during his first stint in the National league south, Dowson guided Hampton and Richmond to consecutive playoff finishes losing to Ebbsfleet at the semi final stage and then to Braintree on penalties in the following years promotion final. Dowson notes his time at The Beavers as being “absolutely vital in his career” as it enhanced his reputation to the level that he was suited by the likes of Woking and Dartford.

Having been poached by Woking following The Cards relegation from The National League, Dowson oversaw an immediate return to the top tier of non-league football after a 1-0 playoff final victory over Welling United. An FA cup run in the same season saw Woking earn a tie with then premier league side Watford which they lost by only two goals to nil. A first season back in the National league saw Woking finish in 10th place. However two consecutive seasons operating in the lower half of mid-table saw Dowson sacked for the first and only time in his managerial career. Dowson however, looks back on his time at The Cards with a lot of pride. “Getting promotion at the first attempt and then being able to stabilise back in the national league was something that I feel me and my staff are very proud of and had it not been for disruptions due to the pandemic, I certainly feel we could’ve taken the club further.”

Since his dismissal from Woking, Alan Dowson has taken up the challenge of leading Dartford FC back to the National league. The Darts have been in and around the promotion places since their relegation in the 13-14 season however have consistently fallen short, often ending with heartbreak in the playoffs. At time of writing Dartford sit handsomely in 2nd place and despite the league title being out of reach, The Darts are well placed for a good run in the playoffs. Upon arriving at Dartford, Dowson linked up with football legend, Martin Tyler, as well as former Woking winger Christian Jolley who he then hired as his assistant manager. It is Jolley’s first time as an assistant coach but it is a challenge he is relishing. “It’s been great, especially working alongside the gaffer who I know really well. It’s a fantastic club here at Dartford and the atmosphere in the squad is excellent.” Jolley was part of the Woking side that Alan Dowson lead to promotion in 2019 meaning he is well aware of Dowson’s promotion magic. “Being able to work alongside a manager who is so consistent at gaining promotion gives so much confidence to not only the squad but the staff working alongside him.”

Dowson’s promotion expertise could be exactly what Dartford need to end their run of playoff heartbreak and gain promotion back to the The National League. Only time will tell whether Alan Dowson continues his 100% promotion record at The Darts but with the CV that Dowson holds you sense it is a matter of when not if Dartford are playing National league football again. Regardless of the outcome this season at Dartford, with four promotions at his four previous clubs it is obvious why Dowson has got a reputation of being a promotion specialist.

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