Match Preview by Fred Deveson

This weekend Dover are back at Crabble as they host Farnborough in what will be their last attempt at survival. 

It’s a special weekend this weekend as it is non-league day on Saturday, the day of the game. A raffle for every attendee with big prizes, girls football, meet the players and much more will be available this weekend. 

More information can be found here: https://doverathletic.com/news/non-league-day-2024/

The Whites will be looking to capitalise on their recent improvements. They will be hoping they 

can go one better this weekend and grab a win against mid table Farnborough. 

The goal scoring of the hosts for the weekend has been poor of late, but it’s not due to a lack of chances created. Final third decisions and a lack of a cutting edge are the main reason why Dover is struggling to put the ball in the net lately. 

Should Dover lose this game, the consequences in terms of relegation are almost fatal. A loss next weekend and a win for Truro will all but relegate the Whites.

Farnborough are in a rich vein of form, having won the last 4 games and are in tenth place, making a late surge for the playoff places. 

The visitors have only lost once in their last 9, a defeat to champions elect Yeovil Town and have won 2 of their last 3 away games.

Farnborough have absolutely found their scoring boots lately, having scored 8 goals in the last 3 games making it a very tough fixture for the Whites.

It is sure to be a fantastic day at Dover Athletic, with plenty on offer both on and off the pitch. 

Before the game manager Jake Leberl has said:

“I do feel that our performances of late have been much improved with the previous two games we’ve performed for the full game rather than half a game which was becoming a trait and something we needed to do a lot better on. But again we only have 2 points to show for our endeavours due to naivety & several missed opportunities in our play.“

Dover Athletic vs Farnborough. Saturday 23 March 2024, 3pm.

Ticket Information:

Admission for this match is by turnstile only. We accept both card and cash on the gate.

Adults – £17

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Megger Community Stadium for Non-League Day on Saturday 23 March against Farnborough.

The day kicks off at 9am with our 5-10 year olds Happy Feet sessions on the Community Pitch, children of all abilities welcome!

At 10:15am our 11-16 year old Happy Feet sessions will be running in conjunction with the first of our Girl’s Football Sessions. For girls aged 11-16 this initial session will be ‘turn up and play’, there is no need to register. This will be the first step in realizing a competitive girl’s side under the Dover Athletic name from next season.

The gates at Crabble will open at normal time with the National League North clash, King’s Lynn Town v Tamworth, live in the Centre Spot.

Everyone that comes through the turnstiles will receive a raffle ticket with the draw taking place at half time. There are big prizes to be won including:

• 2024/25 Season Tickets

• Food and Drink Vouchers

• Matchday Hospitality package for 2

• Mascot package for next season

• 2023/24 Away Shirt

• Club Shop Merchandise

• And more!

Every child attending the match will also receive their own DAFC goodie bag with plenty of treats and merchandise inside.

We will be welcoming 20 children who are part of 15th Dover St. Andrew’s Cubs group as our special guests. They will be given a tour of the ground, meet the players and will be the flag bearers at kick off.

There is still time to book on to our match day hospitality package which includes a butler hosted lounge and three course meal, whilst watching the game from the best seats in the house.

For the last decade the leading men’s health charity, Prostate Cancer UK, has worked side by side with Non-League Day, raising funds and awareness for and about the most common cancer in men. A limited-edition pennant will be presented to both clubs before kickoff and we will have donation buckets around the ground.

After the game, our players will be in the Centre Spot ready to meet and greet our young fans, sign autographs and have their pictures taken.

And how can we forget, Dover Athletic mascot Captain Crab will of course be making an appearance.

See you on Saturday!

Fancy watching the Whites take on Farnborough in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

• Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
• A three-course meal served at your table
• Reserved undercover premium padded seating
• Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus a dedicated paid bar before and after the match
• Complimentary match day team sheet

The very special experience costs £28 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Starter:

Minestrone Soup served with a Ciabatta Roll

Main:

Roast Beef, Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding served with Vegetables and Gravy

Dessert:

Truffle Torte with a Gold Shimmering Profiterole served with Cream

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your VIP ticket please email gavin.hughes@doverathletic.com or call the office on 01304 822373

We have had a few transfer updates this week, starting with the departure of forward Zidan Sutherland. Who left through mutual consent.

We would like to thank Zidan for his excellent contributions this season and wish him all the very best for the future. Zidan has said:

“Thank you to the club and fans for the support that I received whilst I was at the club, I appreciate everything”

With one out we have bought one in, defender Dylan Pepe. Pepe has previous experience with Welling and most recently played for Krumovgrad in the Bulgarian first division.

The next update sees Daniel Jinadu departing the club at the completion of his loan deal.

Daniel has said: “Thanks for the warm welcome! Wishing you all the best for the rest of the season”

Again, we’d like to thank Daniel for his contributions in goal and wish him all the best for the future.

In his place we welcome Matthew Rowley from Reading. The young shot stopper has been in strong form for Beaconsfield Town this campaign, including winning Man of the Match in Saturday’s 2-1 away victory at Gosport Borough. His performances will see him head to Kent to take the step up Step 2 of the Non League pyramid with us. 

Fancy watching the Whites take on Havant in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

• Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
• A three-course meal served at your table
• Reserved undercover premium padded seating
• Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus a dedicated paid bar before and after the match
• Complimentary match day team sheet

The very special experience costs £28 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Starter

Prawn Cocktail

Main

Roast Beef, Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, Selection of Vegetables and Gravy.

Dessert

Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake served with Cream

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your VIP ticket please email gavin.hughes@doverathletic.com or call the office on 01304 822373

Dover Chairman Jim Parmenter has today confirmed that the most recent club accounts show a loss of circa £140,000.  

He said: “It’s not unusual for the club to make a loss and does so in most years, this loss has been supported financially by my family as we have done for the last 18 years.

However, we must continue strive to make the club self-sufficient as our generosity cannot be relied upon forever, at the moment we are in a self defeating spiral, we are not winning games so less supporters come to watch and therefore less money is available for the playing budget which makes it more difficult to put a team together to win games and so it goes on.

There is no magic formula, there is only one way to succeed going forward and that is for everyone to pull together and support their towns club.

Twenty five percent of the losses are down to increases in cost, utilities, stock costs etc the remainder is down to a drop in gate revenue and associated matchday revenue.

Therefore, please support your club, come to games, bring a friend and maybe come a little bit earlier and buy a pint or a burger, as you can see from the accounts all revenue and a lot more goes into running the club and the playing budget if we can raise our positivity, improve crowd numbers and income we can be very positive about the future. 

COME ON YOU WHITES”

Fancy watching the Whites take on Maidstone in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

• Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
• A three-course meal served at your table
• Reserved undercover premium padded seating
• Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus a dedicated paid bar before and after the match
• Complimentary match day team sheet

The very special experience costs £28 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Starter:

Leek and Potato Soup served with a Ciabatta Roll

Main:

Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Pie served with Mash Potato, Selection of Vegetables and Gravy

Dessert:

Belgium Chocolate and Raspberry Torte served with Cream

There are only 64 spaces available, so all tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dress code is smart casual.

To buy your VIP ticket please email gavin.hughes@doverathletic.com or call the office on 01304 822373

Dover Athletic can confirm that due to fielding an ineligible player in the Kent Senior Cup second round match on 6 February we have been dismissed from the competition and Beckenham Town have been reinstated.

Prior to the game the player in question informed our management team that he had never played in the Kent Senior Cup. He also disclosed that he had never signed for Welling which was evident as this was not present on his registration form.

After the game the player had no knowledge of playing in Kent Senior Cup and thought he had only played in a ‘friendly’ for Welling. The players agent was also unaware that the player had played in the competition.

At no point did the management team have any idea of his involvement for Welling or playing in KSC prior to the game. The management team had no reason to check as the last club on his registration form was Brentford who do not take part in the competition.

We are very disappointed and would like to apologise to our fans that this has happened.

The Whites National League South fixture against Truro City has been rescheduled for Tuesday 16 April.

This away trip will now take place at Taunton Town’s Wordsworth Drive.

The club are delighted to be starting Girls Football sessions!

The sessions will be starting on Saturday 23^rd March and will be hosted on the Community Pitch at Crabble. Sessions will run from 10:15-11:15am for girls aged 11-16 years old.

Sessions are being run by FA qualified coaches at a cost of £4 per session.

For more information email vikki.pawley@doverathletic.com