Category: Club News

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE GAFFER

To the fans,

As we approach the start of an exciting new season, I wanted to take a moment to address you, and share my utmost passion for this club and my unwavering commitment to its success.

Our pre-season has been rocky to say the least but I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by my players.

Together, we have begun to lay the foundation for what I hope will be a memorable journey ahead.

I am thrilled to welcome our new signings and am grateful for the opportunity to have built my own team. Their talent, skill, and commitment have already made a significant impact during our preparations.

They all bring a fresh dynamic to the squad, and I am confident that they will prove to be valuable assets throughout the season. Our dressing room is certainly united.

While the pundits may predict a challenging season for us, I firmly believe that we are capable of exceeding expectations.

Our club has a rich history, and in what will be its 40th anniversary season, it is that very spirit that will drive us forward. We have set ambitious goals for the season, and with the support and passion of the fans, we will relentlessly pursue success both on and off the pitch.

I call upon each and every one of you to be the 12th man, to stand united with us, and to create an atmosphere in the stands.Your support can inspire the team to perform at their best and push the boundaries of what you might think is possible.

Together, we will face challenges head-on, celebrate our triumphs, and grow stronger as a community.

As we gear up for our first game against tough opposition in Torquay this Saturday, join us in filling Crabble with chants of support, as we start on the journey of the 23/24 season.

Thank you all for being the lifeblood of this club, we would be nothing without you.

Onwards and upwards!

Yours faithfully,
Mitch Brundle
Manager, Dover Athletic Football Club

A WEEK OF INCOMINGS

We take a look back at this weeks incomings at the club.

As well as the arrival of our new number one in Billy Terrell from Bournemouth, we cast an eye over a host of other signings.

Brundle Add’s an additional four to his squad

Mitch Brundle has made more additions to his playing squad in preparation for the beginning of the National League South season starting on Saturday against Torquay United with Charlie Naylor, Olu Durojaiye, Oreofe Bello and Roman Charles-Cook.

Charlie Naylor joins the Whites after spending 4 years in America. He played for the West Virginia Wesleyan College playing 38 games and scoring 4 times. The 6ft 2 defender you may recognise from pre-season friendlies often playing with the number 15.

Olu Durojaiye started last season playing 2 games for Peterborough Sports in the National League North before moving to Haringey Borough where he played 31 times scoring 4 goals. The 30 year old midfielder has also played for the likes of Maidstone United, Dartford and Welling.

Exciting forward Oreofe Bello joins from Isthmian League outfit Carshalton United. You may recognise him from pre-season where the striker often wore the number 14 and scored a hat-trick against Ayelsford!

Finally, attacking wing-back Roman Charles-Cook joins from League 2 side Sutton United’s academy after having two loan spells last season at Cray Wanderers and Harrow Borough. Roman also made his international debut with Grenada last June too.

Squad numbers are still to be decided but will be revealed shortly.

Welcome to Dover lads!

Article written by Bradley Kesby – Media Team and River End.

FLAVIN DEPARTS CRABBLE

Lee Flavin steps down from his role as assistant manager 

We’d like to put on record our sincere thanks to former assistant manager Lee Flavin for his hard work throughout our preseason campaign – including his help with recruitment via his platform Non League Chance. His diligent work with our young players did not go unnoticed. We wish him every success in his future endeavours

WELCOME, LEE FLAVIN

Our new assistant manager looks forward to the new campaign.

We welcome Lee Flavin to the club as part of Mitch Brundle’s back room staff in the role of assistant manager. It’s a role that Flavin has held previously as well as a managers role with Sutton Common FC. Lee also holds a wealth of non league footballing knowledge with his company Non League Chance running for over a decade. Non League Chance is a showcase company to help football players at all levels improve and grasp opportunities to progress in sport, most notably football.

‘First of all I’d like to say hello to the fans and hope you all enjoyed your summer & our Pre Season Schedule so far,’ said Flavin. ‘We hope your all itching to get the first 3 points on the board just as much as us & having a good start to the campaign, We are nearly there and hopefully I get a chance to share a drink with some of you shortly.

I don’t think we can get a bigger league opener then hosting title favourites Torquay United on the first day of the season !

The first team has had a complete rebuild in terms of staff and players over the summer and at this level it’s really hard to adapt quickly to changes as big as these but the Gaffer has been very active in identifying his targets, getting them over the line and now the squad is starting to take shape. Last season was a tough experience for the fans, I hope this season will be a lot better and you see a lot of our managers traits/brand of football in the team we send out on the 5th.

I’d like to mention we have some top youngsters coming through the academy here at Dover having had a chance to work with some of them this pre season, so great work to the academy guys.

I’d like to thank all the staff who has been very welcoming and helpful in my time here so far and I look forward to seeing all the fans very soon in your numbers.

Lee Flavin
Assistant Manager

Welcome to Crabble, Lee.

TORQUAY UNITED – VIP STYLE

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

Mitch Brundle and the boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us. It’s the first home match of the season so why not treat yourself to see in the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

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 :

  • Potato & Leek soup with Ciabatta roll and butter
  • Chicken Breast with White Wine Garlic and Cream sauce, Baby Potato’s, and Veg
  • Apple Tartlet with Custard

Arrival at the ground should be at 1pm and food will be served at 1.30pm.

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 [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373

COMMUNITY DAY SUCCESS

We hold our first community day of the season.

With the season fast approaching, we held our first community day of the year. There were prizes to win in the children’s tombola as well as a meat raffle, bucket of booze and a chance to win a mascot for a match day. Hopefully some of you have woken up as winners this morning. The first team were then put through their paces with an open training session which consisted of a period of keep ball followed by a short match, with the yellows defeating the blues 2-0.

Captain crab was on hand to make sure that everything ran smoothly before the band Turmoil sung us out with a cracking selection of tunes. It was a fantastic day and one that will be repeated midway through the campaign.

We would like to thank all of you that volunteered, sponsored and gifted towards our day and well done to our community team on a day well done, despite the rain.

Raffle winners:

Shirt – Emma Cook

Meat – Kay Holness

Bucket of Booze x 2 – Paula Lewis & Val McLester

Match Day Mascot – Jamie Yelverton

There is still time to get your season ticket by clicking HERE.

We are also offering the chance to book mini season tickets for games in blocks of 5. Click HERE for more details.

We have a game at Deal Town on Tuesday night followed by our final match at home against Ashford United next Saturday before the season opener with Torquay United on the 5th August. It’s nearly time to get down to business and you don’t want to miss out.

COYW.

TICKETS PLEASE – MULTI GAME OFFER

Check out our 40th anniversary ticket deal.

With the opening day fixture against Torquay United fast approaching, we are giving you the chance to buy a multi game mini season ticket. For the cost of £75, you can purchase a five match ticket that can be used to watch any five games of your choice. This gives you a saving of £10 over the matches, knocking general admission down to £15 per match.

These tickets are available for both Adult and Concessions with the latter being £65 for the deal, still saving £10 over the five games.

  • Adult – £75 (£10 saving)
  • Concession – £65 (£10 saving)

Tickets must only be used by the purchaser and not shared out by multiple people for the same match. Lost tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets can be purchased at the office or over the phone and will be launched in time for the opening day fixture on August 5th. You can contact the office on 01304 822373

COYW

SESAY BY THE SEASIDE

Sesay signs for the Whites. 

Fuad Sesay becomes the latest signing for the Whites after impressing during pre-season. The young left back had been at Sheffield Wednesday last season where he had signed his first professional contract after impressing in both the U18’s and the U21’s. It’s another welcome addition to the defence following the signing last week of Michael Olarewaju.

Welcome to Crabble, Fuad.

COYW

DUNNE DEAL

Midfielder joins the Whites.

We are delighted to welcome experienced midfielder James Dunne to Crabble. Dunney was at Welling United last season where wore the captains arm band. Dunne started his career at Wimbledon’s youth academy, before moving to Arsenal in 2004. He was loaned to Nottingham Forest in 2008, where he made no first team appearances, He joined Exeter City in July 2009 after his release from Arsenal, and went on to make over 100 appearances for the club over three seasons. In May 2012, Dunne joined League One club Stevenage. He was loaned to Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone in 2014, where he won the Scottish Cup. He signed for Portsmouth in 2014 and joined Dagenham and Redbridge on loan in 2015. He signed for Cambridge United in 2016 and then Swindon in 2017. He moved onto Barnet and then Southend United before playing for Welling United in the 2022/23 campaign.

Welcome to Crabble, Dunney.

COYW

ALLEN ADDS TO THE SQUAD

Another new signing arrives at Crabble. 

Ifeanyi Allen joins the squad to add more pace and attacking guile to the team. The former Yeovil, Torquay, Ebbsfleet and Maidstone winger can play on either flank as well as through the middle.

Allen began his career at 14 with Fulham before moving onto Barnet where he signed a two year scholarship deal.

Welcome to Crabble, Iffy.

COYW.