Category: Club News

UP NEXT – BRAINTREE TOWN

The Whites head to Essex to take on Braintree.

Mitch Brundle takes his Dover side to Essex this weekend in a bid to stop a run of five consecutive defeats after only losing once in the previous eight matches prior to the 3-0 loss at home to Cheshunt.

The Whites romped to a 3-1 victory over the Iron in October and hold a pretty decent record over the hosts, winning four of the last five meetings, including a 6-1 drubbing courtesy of four Ricky Miller goals back in 2016.

Braintree are chasing a play off birth and despite their shock defeat to Taunton last time out, will be formidable opponents. Tyrone Sterling and Myles Judd could miss out through suspension but skipper Lee Martin and Jordan Higgs will return from their two match bans. Speaking to Kent Online Sport the Gaffer said ‘Martin and Higgs strengthen our midfield and you’re going to lose players but, hopefully, people stand up. Once you bring players into the first-team, including from the Academy, it’s only right that you use them. Some of the boys step up, like Freddie Oliver has done. Sometimes, you find little gems underneath your noses that you didn’t know about.’

The boss had his eyes firmly set on the fixture in hand amidst calls of a return of Alfie Pavey to haunt the Whites but unfortunately the forward misses out through suspension. ‘People might not know but me and Pavey have been friends for a very long time. He’s a fantastic player. When you play to his strengths, his goalscoring record speaks for itself. He would have wanted to play against his old team. Personally, I’m not going back there as a player, I’m going back as a manager. I loved it there, it’s where I broke through, really, but we’ll try to earn three points.’

Ticket Information:

Seat/Ground – Adults £15

Seat/Ground – Concessions £10

Ground Only – U18 £5

Getting to the Dunmow Group Stadium:

Leave the M25 at junction 27 and head north on the M11. Leave the M11 at junction 8 and head east on the A120. Follow the A120 for 16 miles until you reach Galleys Corner roundabout. Take the first exit into Cressing Road. Entry to the ground is approximately three-quarters of a mile on your left (Clockhouse Way) and is sign posted.

We hope to see as many of you there as possible. COYW.

COMMUNITY CHEST – WE ARE HIRING

The Whites are on the lookout for a Community Engagement and Inclusion Officer.

Fancy joining the team here at Dover Athletic?

The Role

To be responsible for developing and managing relationships between Dover Athletic Football Club, Our Community partners “The Megger Group” and external stakeholders including Dover District Council Community Service Team.

To devise and lead, along with stakeholders and funders, diverse and meaningful programmes to enable and engage the community, with Dover Athletic Football Club as the hub. Programmes will not be exclusively football based and will reach out to all sections of society.

To provide focus and purpose for Dover Athletic Community Trust in its fund raising and community programmes and to take the lead role in delivery of these programmes as directed by the Trustees.

The Person

Technical Professional Knowledge

Qualifications

Experience in Community engagement, stakeholder management, external communication, or other relevant experience.

A working knowledge of best practice in community engagement. A good understanding of the social and economic issues affecting communities across the Dover District.

Car driver with current driving licence
Educated to GCSE level at Grade C/4 or above in 5 subjects, including Maths and English.
Relevant technical or subject specific qualification (desirable)

A vehicle will be provided for the successful applicant Salary bracket £22,500 – £25,000

A full job description and person profile available upon application

Apply to; Mr J Parmenter, Dover Athletic Football Club, The Megger Community Stadium, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB or

[email protected]

NO AGENCIES

PICTURE PERFECT

The Whites are looking for a photographer for 2023/204. 

Are you a trained photographer who loves sporting events or maybe just someone who enjoys it as a hobby? Then we want to hear from you. We are looking for a photographer to join us next season who can attend home matches and provide us with pictures for the website, socials and match day programme.

Get closer to the action as ever before with pitchside access, getting some of the best views in the house. This would be a voluntary role, working alongside the media team. For more information contact the club on [email protected] or [email protected]

RED RUINS WHITES – MANAGERS REACTION

The Gaffer reflects on the Whites latest outing.

The Whites fell to a 1-0 defeat on Non League Day, away to St Albans City following an early red card that all but killed the game as a contest in the opening 20 minutes. Tyrone Sterling was deemed the last man when he clipped Chay Cooper who was bearing down on goal and in the 17th minute, already a goal behind, we had it all to do for the next 70 odd minutes. The loss was later compounded by the second booking to Myles Judd as the Whites chased the game.

It was a battling performance from the ten men who fought bravely against a play off chasing St Albans team. It wasn’t the result we wanted but it was a more spirited effort than the defeat last week to Hampton & Richmond.

‘It took for someone to get sent off for us to really kick into gear,’ said Brundle after the match. ‘It’s the fine margins at the moment that don’t seem to be going our way. For 70 minutes I have to give credit to the lads for digging in and even though they had a few chances, we had a couple of our own but these little things are not going our way. You can’t let yourself go away from what you are. We haven’t turned into a bad team over four games but maybe a little bit of luck isn’t going our way but we can change that. We will make sure we have another strong week of training.

These are a very good side, let’s not take that away from them. I was here on Tuesday to watch them against Cheshunt. They were far better today than then and Nelson has made some fantastic saves. We were a little wasteful in the final third which we know has been a theme all season but we just need to grind out a couple of results and look to build on that.’

With Sterling and Judd facing suspensions for the upcoming fixtures, there is a chance for others to stake a claim in the team, most notably Andi Janjeva who replaced Jake Goodman at half-time. Goodman’s injury will be assessed but the early signs are that it could be a couple of games but the Gaffer is sure that Janjeva can step in if required.

‘He done well when he came on, he did the basics and what we asked of him to do. We also have two players back from suspension in Lee Martin and Jordan Higgs. Two big players for us who have been missed in the last two games. They make a massive difference to this team, a bigger difference than they probably don’t get the credit for. That is the heart of where most games are won and lost at this level. We have lacked that little bit over the last two games and the people who have come in have failed to take their chance.

We will look back at the video of the game and decide if we are to appeal against any of the red cards. Most of the people here and even their manager was agreeing but these are the things just not going our way. It’s a tough place to play with eleven this season so to play with ten when we are down to the bare bones, fair play to them. We said at half-time if we could keep them out and get a set piece, we had a chance and the one at the end, Baptiste header, he just got blocked off.

Listen, it’s not all doom and gloom in the camp, there’s a lot of games and points still left on the table. And by the way, the crowd. Absolutely phenomenal. They travelled in their numbers today and I know managers say this all the time but I really mean it, they have been excellent and I can’t thank them enough. Hopefully the tide turns and they can carry on getting behind us like they did when we went six unbeaten. I know they are frustrated but so is everyone and we can only get through this if we are together as a team.’

 

 

UP NEXT – ST ALBANS CITY

The Whites travel to St Albans looking to get back to winning ways.

We head to the Mozzarella Fellas Stadium, Clarence Park, for our next Vanarama National South outing. The lads will be looking to turn around our fortunes following a hat-trick of defeats. This weekend also sees the return of Non League Day, which promises to bring an added buzz around the place with the pre attendance figures already quoted as having beaten the previous record attendance between the two clubs which stands at just over 800.

St Albans City socials had been advertising a good ticket deal for the match and interest was very high in the reduced tickets.

Entry to the Mozzarella Fellas Stadium at Clarence Park for the 2022/2023 season is subject to the following admission prices:

Match tickets

Ticket type Price
Adult £16.50
Concession * £11
Her Game Too *** £11
Next-Gen (18-21) £8
Junior (U18s) £6
Junior (U12s) ** FREE
Family ticket *** £18/£30

Under 12 tickets are only free of charge when purchased with an over 18 ticket – otherwise under 18 prices will apply.

Club members may purchase match tickets with a 10% discount (except for the proper rounds of the FA Cup).

Matchday tickets, hospitality options, season tickets, and club memberships can be obtained from our online ticketing site. Tickets can be pre-purchased or purchased from the turnstiles (card payments only).

  • Seniors aged 65 and over
  • Unemployed (JSA recipients)
  • Personal Indépendence Payments recipients
  • NHS and Blue Light Services staff members
  • Serving Members of the Armed Forces
  • Students in full-time education (aged over 21 years old)
  • Season Ticket Holders of Watford, Luton Town, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, and West Ham United

** Must attend with another ticket holder aged 16 or over
*** A pre-purchased family ticket will include 1 x Adult plus 1 x Youth (Under 18) for £18 or 2 x Adults plus 2 x Youth (Under 18s) for £30.

**** Her Game Too initiative – special admission price for season ticket holders of any women’s football club

Ways to buy a match ticket
Online via our FanZone website subject to availability.

In-person at Clarence Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 10 am and 1 pm (card payments only)

All supporters are asked to respect our neighbours and park with consideration. A large car park is available at St Albans City Station and costs are modest for evening or Saturday parking.

COMMUNITY CHEST – WE ARE HIRING

The Whites are on the lookout for a Community Engagement and Inclusion Officer.

Fancy joining the team here at Dover Athletic?

The Role

To be responsible for developing and managing relationships between Dover Athletic Football Club, Our Community partners “The Megger Group” and external stakeholders including Dover District Council Community Service Team.

To devise and lead, along with stakeholders and funders, diverse and meaningful programmes to enable and engage the community, with Dover Athletic Football Club as the hub. Programmes will not be exclusively football based and will reach out to all sections of society.

To provide focus and purpose for Dover Athletic Community Trust in its fund raising and community programmes and to take the lead role in delivery of these programmes as directed by the Trustees.

The Person

Technical Professional Knowledge

Qualifications

Experience in Community engagement, stakeholder management, external communication, or other relevant experience.

A working knowledge of best practice in community engagement. A good understanding of the social and economic issues affecting communities across the Dover District.

Car driver with current driving licence
Educated to GCSE level at Grade C/4 or above in 5 subjects, including Maths and English.
Relevant technical or subject specific qualification (desirable)

A vehicle will be provided for the successful applicant Salary bracket £22,500 – £25,000

A full job description and person profile available upon application

Apply to; Mr J Parmenter, Dover Athletic Football Club, The Megger Community Stadium, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB or

[email protected]

NO AGENCIES

NEW BALLS PLEASE

Would you like the chance for your team to be ball boys or girls for the Whites?

In our last outing against Hampton & Richmond Borough we had the boys from Thamesview U10’s as our matchday ball boys. Unfortunately the Whites went down to a 3-0 defeat but the youngsters had a great time despite the result. It was an experience that they really enjoyed which included a team photo on the pitch, inside the dressing room and were even able to meet some of the players.

This isn’t new territory for the club and we would like to extend the opportunity to any clubs/organisations that wish to come and participate in being our match day ball boys or girls. We have three matches left at Crabble this season but are happy to add you to a waiting list for next if you prefer.

For anyone interested in getting involved, please dont hesitate to contact either myself or the club direct to register your interest.

[email protected] or call the club office on 01304 822373. Alternatively you can use [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you. COYW!

NON LEAGUE DAY 2023 – GET INVOLVED

The Whites head to St Albans this Saturday for Non League Day.

This weekend sees the return of Non League Day, the annual celebration of all things Non League and we hope that you can come and celebrate with us. This Saturday the Whites head to St Albans, looking to get back to winning ways, so why not come and cheer on the lads in what is now a pivotal time in our season. With the international break halting top level football, this is a great chance to come and support your local team.

So what is Non League day? 

Non-League Day was set up by James Doe in 2010 as a social media experiment, after being inspired by a pre-season trip to Devon to watch Queens Park Rangers play at Tavistock. It has now grown to become an annual part of the football calendar, backed by Premier League and Football League clubs, MPs, celebrities, media organisations, charities and most importantly the non-league clubs themselves and the fans who turn up on the day.

Always scheduled to coincide with an international break, Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer-led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.

Many non-league clubs are almost exclusively volunteer run, with money taken at the turnstiles often funding thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community. The level of skill on offer at non-league grounds might not be the same as that at the Etihad Stadium or Stamford Bridge, for example, but there are other sides to the experience, from which the smaller club will always win hands down.

The vast majority of games still kick off at 3pm, ticket prices are realistic, you can often stand (and drink!) anywhere in the ground and will always be guaranteed a warm welcome by people who run their clubs for a love of the game. Whether you’re a Premier League or Championship fan without a game, a League One or League Two supporter who can’t make an away trip, or just someone who is curious about what their local club has to offer, there is sure to be something to interest everyone.

St Albans have reduced the price of the ticket to £10 for this fixture if brought in advance but hurry as these are selling like hot cakes with a bumper crowd expected at the Mozzarella Fellas Stadium.

Tickets for this match can be purchased via the St Albans City website or paid on the gate. We have a supporters coach running for this fixture, details of this will be posted on the website towards the end of the week.

COYW.

ST ALBANS CITY TRAVEL

Fancy heading to St Albans this weekend?

The St Albans coach is running and there are still seats available. If you wish to travel you can call/text 07934300335 or email [email protected].

RULES FOR THE COACH TRAVEL

All vehicles are NON SMOKING
No alcohol will be permitted on our vehicles at any time. (This means not just drinking alcohol but also taking it on the coach) Any damage caused will be charged to the Supporters Club

If any Coach Traveller identifies a problem when boarding, please inform the person Overseeing the Coach.
Any abnormal or excessive cleaning will result in a fine payable by the Supporters Club
No excessively rowdy behaviour will be tolerated.
The Coach Company runs a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY if any of the above restrictions are breached and any individual found to be flaunting the rules, they will be removed from the coach immediately, Irrespective of the location of the vehicle.
It is obviously in everyone’s interest and to encourage people who are understandably wary about using the coach that behaviour is kept within the bounds of common sense.

Pre Arranged Drop-Offs and Pick-Ups will be permitted on route with NO Detours.
Supporters Coaches are operated by the Dover Athletic Supporters’ Club and are in no way organised by, or the responsibility of Dover Athletic F.C.

 

NO HEART FOR HAMPTON

The boss gives his honest assessment on Saturday’s defeat to Hampton & Richmond Borough. 

The Whites looked out of sorts during their latest outing against Hampton & Richmond Borough with a 3-0 home defeat, their second in as many games. From keeping four consecutive clean sheets just a couple of weeks ago, Mitch Brundle’s side have now conceded nine goals in three matches.

Speaking to Kent Online Sport Brundle said ‘It was a gutless performance. It’s just not good enough and not accepted. We’ve gone from four successive clean sheets to conceding nine goals against three teams below us, fighting for their lives. We just didn’t have enough character. It was just a gutless performance. I’m upset for the fans, as well, because we were getting a little gathering back together with our consistency and working hard. But we didn’t work hard enough today – and I won’t accept that. Even when I first got the job, I said I’ll never have a team that doesn’t run around – and they didn’t today. They let themselves down. We were missing two key experienced players, which is not an excuse.

You’re just asking the other players to work hard, have that desire and commitment, track runners, and we started the second half a little bit better, changing shape. But we conceded sloppy goals. There was no desire and no pride in their own performance. They have to take that on themselves. Some players do take a little bit, the more consistent ones, but it’s not acceptable from everyone else. We’ll just go back to the drawing board and, hopefully, not have it again.’

Skipper Lee Martin and fellow midfielder Jordan Higgs were both missing from the game following an accumulation of cards that meant both players served a suspension which includes this weeks fixture against St Albans. Fans took to social media and many in the bar after the game we asking why the Gaffer had not included himself in the line-up with limited options in the heart of the midfield.

‘Yeah, maybe now, I maybe didn’t need to play myself at the start [of his time in charge]’, said the boss. ‘But it’s coming to the crunch time for that. Do I think I’m the answer? I don’t know. What I didn’t want to do – and what I think is right – is, if I play myself ahead of someone, basically, I’m telling them they can walk out the door. They’re not good enough. The six games unbeaten wasn’t down to any quality or the ball-side of the game. It was down to heart, desire and commitment. But we didn’t have that and we haven’t had that for the last three games. We can see that on the statistics and they can see it. This is just a tough game to take because it’s not really about quality.’

The Whites head to St Albans this weekend, looking to get back to winning ways.