Due to our current management situation, we will be represented by our Academy side in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup at Maidstone United on Tuesday night.
None of our senior squad will feature in the tie at the Gallagher Stadium.
The game kicks-off at 7.45pm.
Our Academy will start their FA Youth Cup campaign with a second round qualifying tie against Lewes at Crabble next Tuesday (October 2nd).
There are a total of 76 ties at this stage of the competition, featuring clubs who successfully progressed from the preliminary and first round qualifying stages and 23 clubs who were exempt until this stage.
The game kicks-off at 7pm and admission is £6 with children under 11 free.
‘The future of Dover Athletic is bright’, according to Youth Secretary and Club Welfare Officer John Barrett after Whites’ Under 18’s, 16’s and 13’s all won their respective divisions in the Kent Youth Leagues.
‘A couple of seasons ago, myself and Roger Knight set out to raise the standards of our youth teams with a three-year plan’, revealed an elated John. ‘So to achieve what we have this campaign puts us a year ahead of schedule.’
‘We decided to develop our coaches and we now have three staff just finishing their UEFA B badges and two who are starting the same qualification shortly.’
‘We now hope our success will see more youngsters wanting to represent Dover youth sides and though we realise it’s a big jump to where the first team currently is and where it wants to be in the near future, we believe we have created a decent stepping stone for these lads.’
To see how all Athletic’s youth sides finished, visit www.kentyouthleague.co.uk.
Coach Mike Sandmann’s Academy completed a stunning treble this season.
The talented youngsters won the National Youth Alliance, Kent Academies League and the Kent Academies Cup.
To add to this fantastic achievement, Sandmann’s players only lost one game in their respective league campaigns.
He said: “I am extremely proud of what the Academy has achieved this season but it was only what their hard work and willingness to learn and improve deserves.
“As well as winning competitions, we have players going to America, professional clubs are showing interest in them and players have progressed into first teams, which is the real success.
“The development from the group of players has been incredible, but once again the players have enabled this to happen.
“We have a good group of young players coming through the Academy system year on year and I hope we can get more into our first team and continue their progression.
“The first team’s success over recent years has made the gap between Academy Football and first team even bigger but I believe we can continue to work hard in the Academy to bridge that and produce more first team players for Dover Athletic.”
Dover Academy’s Matty Robinson is heading to America.
The 17 year-old has accepted a four-year, full scholarship to Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina.
Robinson, who played for Chris Kinnear’s side in the Kent Senior Cup defeat to Folkestone at Crabble in December, will start his scholarship in September.
Not surprisingly, coach Mike Sandmann said everyone at the Academy and Abbey School is extremely proud of Robinson’s move.
He said: “Matty has been offered a fantastic opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Academy graduate Joshua Donnelly, who is still in America finishing his degree whilst playing football full time.
“To get a full scholarship offer is fantastic, but is huge credit to him and he is a role model for anyone coming into the Academy.
“He has had to overcome a lot of hurdles during his time and the character he has shown to overcome this to achieve is unbelievable.
“Matty, who can play as a No.10 or as a forward, has fantastic ability in which has been developed during his two-years with us and has scored some fantastic goals.
“We are all extremely proud of what Matty has done already and will go on to achieve and know he will be a success out in America.”
The Dover Athletic Academy initial trial for the 2018/19 intake will be held at The Abbey School in London Road, Faversham on Wednesday 14th February at 11am.
What do you need to know about the trial:
If you are interested in attending the trials please email [email protected] or call the school on 01795 532633
Dover Academy continued their unbeaten start to the National Youth Alliance League season with a crushing 10-0 win against visiting Eastbourne Borough at Abbey School.
Josh Spencer, Marshall Wratten (pictured above) and Matty Robinson all scored twice as coach Mike Sandmann’s young side wrapped up their fourth consecutive league triumph in style.
An own goal put Dover ahead before Spencer’s double and one from Robinson and Jack Cussen made it 5-0.
Dover keeper Lewis Mitchell then pulled off a great save just before half-time to deny Eastbourne reducing the deficit.
Man-of-the-match Wratten struck twice after the break with Kieran Smith, Robinson and Jordan Bartlett all getting on the scoresheet.
Match report by Jack Smith
Matty Robinson scored twice as coach Mike Sandmann’s Academy side won the National Youth Alliance League at Ebbsfleet 3-2.
The victory keeps the talented young side unbeaten in their league campaign.
Robinson fired his side into an early lead before the hosts struck twice to be ahead at half-time.
Substitute James Belcher equalised after slotting home after his initial effort had been parried by the goalkeeper.
Dover sealed the win after Ryan Kingsford’s pass set Robinson clear to fire home the winner.
Joshua Spencer was Dover’s man-of-the-match.
Coach Mike Sandmann’s Academy side remained unbeaten in the National Youth Alliance League after beating Hastings 4-2 at Crabble on Wednesday.
A double from Josh Spencer and one each from Ryan Kingsford and Matty Robinson secured the win, a second consecutive league win for the young Whites.
Man-of-the-match Spencer scored from close range to give his side a 1-0 lead at half-time before the visitors leveled just after the restart.
Robinson restored Dover’s lead before Spencer added a third and Kingsford made it four.
Hastings reduced the deficit from the penalty spot but it was too little, too late to prevent Sandmann’s side from registering another win.
Dover: Harry Earls, Jack smith, Josh Spencer, Tom Bond, Jordan Bartlett, Lyndon Dixon, Shusanta Rai, Marshall Wratten, Matty Robinson, Jack Cussen, Ryan Kingsford.
Subs: Lewis Mitchell, Jake Creed, Kyron Connolly, Jamie Chamberlin, Felix Medquita, Harrison Avery.
Report by Josh Spencer
Coach Mike Sandmann’s Academy registered their first National Youth Alliance League win of the season after beating Maidstone 3-2 in the Kent derby at Crabble on Wednesday.
Jack Cussen, Ryan Kingsford and Jack Smith scored the goals to secure the win against the defending champions.
Dover opened the scoring after Kingsford slotted home Jordan Bartlett’s free-kick.
They doubled the lead through Cussen following some impressive build-up play between Shusanta Rai, Smith and Marshall Wratten.
Man-of-the-match Smith added the third after half-time before the visitors struck twice to reduce the deficit.
But Sandmann’s side held on to earn three points and remain unbeaten this season after drawing against Bromley in the first game.
Report by Shusanta Rai
