*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC are handing out an early Christmas gift to supporters – by making entry for the Tooting and Mitcham match on December 16 free.

*BF*Whites face six home Ryman Premier matches in the space of a month from November 29’s game with Tonbridge through to the big derby with Maidstone on December 27.

And chairman Jim Parmenter today said the club want to reward fans for their superb loyalty this season – where they have flocked to Crabble in their droves despite the tough international economic problems they are now having to face.

He said: “These are tough times for many fans and their families – yet our superb supporters have backed us all the way by turning up to watch Dover Athletic every week.

“As a thank you, we’re going to make the Tooting game free for all supporters. I like to call it an early Christmas present to our supporters and, of course, in these tough times it’ll save people a bit of money with all the home games we face in a short time.”

Loyal season ticket holders will not miss out on the gesture either. All fans who have a season ticket will have the entrance price deducted from the cost of their renewal price next season – so long as they produce this season’s ticket when purchasing a new one.

The free entry also applies to all Tooting and Mitcham supporters.