GAME OFF | Tonight’s Kent Senior Cup match away to Beckenham Town FC has been postponed due to a frozen pitch at Eden Park Avenue.

We will inform supporters as soon as a new date has been arranged.

Watford Academy defender Scott Holding has today extended his loan at Dover Athletic until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old – who signed for the Hornets’ Under-21s in May 2022 has been a positive influence on our defence since his arrival and was our player of the month in December.

Having been on Manchester United’s books in his youth, Holding continued his development in Stockport County’s academy and made his first-team debut for the Hatters in January 2022.

He has previously experienced loan spells with Northern Premier League Premier Division outfits Ashton United and Stalybridge Celtic.

Glad to have you on board, Scott!

The club can today update on the latest player ins and outs.

Firstly, both defender Fuad Sessay and midfielder Johl Powell have left the club through mutual consent. We’d like to thank them both for their contributions this season and wish them well for the future.

David Aziaya has returned to his parent club Bromley following the end of his loan spell. We are thankful for David’s efforts in goal for the last month and wish him all the very best. 

Luke Pearce has also returned to his parent club following the end of his loan. 

We’d like to welcome new keeper Daniel Jinadu on an initial two month loan from Maidenhead. 

The young keeper has featured at youth level for both Chelsea and West Ham before moving to Barnsley where he would spend two seasons in Yorkshire. Jinadu would then play for both Margate and Dartford before moving to Maidenhead. 

Whites sign Oliver from Ramsgate. 

The club are pleased to welcome back young midfielder Freddie Oliver.

A graduate of the Dover Athletic Academy, Freddie Oliver was brought into the first team squad in 2022/23.

Oliver made his debut in the 1-0 win away against Taunton Town in the February of 2023. Oliver was then named in the Kent Sport Online Team of the Week following his robust performance.

Freddie has spent the start of this season at Ramsgate, with a short loan at Lordswood FC.

Academy Boss and First Team Coach Mike Sandmann said:

We are pleased to welcome back Freddie to Dover Athletic who graduated through our Academy. 

Freddie is a player who I know extremely well and myself and Jake are looking forward to working with him again. I know supporters will be pleased to welcome him back to the Club. 

Mike Sandmann

Freddie himself has said:

Buzzing to be back playing at Dover again and looking forward to the rest of the season. COYW!

Freddie Oliver

Freddie will wear the number 8 shirt. 

Fancy watching the Whites take on Truro City 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 :

• Potato & Leek Soup with a bread roll
• Chicken Breast in a white wine, cream & garlic sauce served with Baby potatoes, carrots & peas
• Salted Caramel blondie cheesecake to finish

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 gavin.hughes@doverathletic.com or call the office on 01304 822373

We’re hiring a Full Time Administration and Finance Controller.

The Role:
Based at The Megger Community Stadium in Dover.

Working as part of a small but dedicated team, you will be responsible for managing the day-to-day finance and administration functions of the Football Club, Including Payroll, basic accounts, VAT returns, using Sage and Bank reconciliations.

You will be the day-to-day interface with the public and the communication hub for other areas of the Club.

The role is interesting and varied which will include some typing and form preparation.
You will be responsible for managing matchday receipts and cash floats with the relevant reconciliations.

Match day working including approximately five Tuesday evenings per Season and home Saturday Afternoon fixtures plus some Bank holidays will be required when applicable.

The Person:
Dedicated and highly organised you will need to demonstrate your ability to work to tight
deadlines, organise a busy office and accurately produce basic accounts using Sage.

Experience with payroll is a distinct advantage.
You will be a person of the highest integrity and will need to demonstrate previous cash handling experience with references.

You will be computer literate and experienced with the Sage systems as well as online banking.

A good communicator you will need to be the Clubs day-to-day interface with the public as well as Matchday Volunteers and colleagues.
A willingness to learn new skills will be essential.

Experience of a football environment could be an advantage but is not essential.

For a full job description or to apply please email your full CV to:
Jim.parmenter@doverathletic.com

NO AGENCIES

It’s a busy Christmas for The Whites as coming up Dover face Weymouth away from home, and then games against Aveley home and away follow in quick succession.

Weymouth, Dover’s hosts for this Saturday, sit just above the relegation zone in 20th spot, having failed to win in their last 3 games. The two sides faced off in the FA trophy earlier in the season in an absolute cracker, with the game ending 4-4 and Weymouth taking the victory via a penalty shootout.

Weymouth then lost in their third round fixture away to Hendon. Their last league victory came against Truro City on the 21st November, which means this game is here for the taking.

Dover are, however, 11 points behind their next opponents and need this win in order to kick start their survival chances once again. Jake Leberl’s side put out an impressive display in their last match at Crabble, getting a respectable draw against a good Bath side, so hopes are high.

Aveley will prove to be a much tougher fixture for Dover, as they sit in a playoff place in their first season in the National League South. The Whites will have to be on top of their game if they’re to get all 3 points in a tough fixture.

Aveley will be visiting Dover first, and the hosts will be encouraged by the poor away form of the Boxing Day visitors, as the away side for that fixture have won just once in their last 5 away games.

Aveley have seen slightly more success at home, but are currently winless in 3 at their home ground, and have failed to take all 3 points in their last 5 league games.

Match preview by Fred Deveson

Weymouth vs Dover Athletic – Saturday 23 December

Adult £16
Concession
(Over 65, Armed Forces, Dorset Carers Card, Students – in full time education PROOF required) £12
Youth ( 13 – 17 ) £6
Junior ( 7 – 12 ) £4
Under 7* 0
Tickets can be pre purchased online here – https://sales.weymouthfootballclub.co.uk/index.php

Dover Athletic vs Aveley – Tuesday 26 December

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 also offering a five game ticket. These can only be used by one individual per match and not in groups.

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

Aveley vs Dover Athletic – Saturday 30 December

Adults – £15
Concessions – £10
11 to 16- £5
U8 – Free

John McNicoll has recently departed from his role with the club.

We’d like to thank John for all his hard work as both Media Officer and Kitman as he leaves Crabble. John, who joined us at the start of 2023 has supported the club from near and far including a stint coaching the youth teams during the last decade. We wish John all the best in the future!

In John’s departure, we would like to welcome George Cory as our new Media Officer.

George, who has supported The Whites for as long as he can remember, has taken the step up from Media Volunteer to one of our core members of staff. George will take care of the social media side of things as well as keeping the website updated with all the relevant information as well as helping to create our matchday programme.

‘I’m really pleased to have progressed from a volunteer to a member of the DAFC team and looking forward to continuing my work on the clubs media – I’m really grateful to be involved with the club that means so much to me. COYW!’

For any media enquiries contact George directly on George.Cory@DoverAthletic.com

Welcome to Crabble, George.

The club can confirm the departure of midfielder Josh Anifowose who has joined Hampton & Richmond Borough. We’re disappointed that Josh is leaving us but thank him for all his efforts so far this season and wish him the best in his career.

We can also announce that Sinn’Kaye Christie has left the club and is no longer on dual-registration with Ramsgate. We’d like to thank Sinn’Kaye for his efforts during his short time with us

Watford Academy defender Scott Holding has completed a short-term loan move to Dover Athletic.

The 20-year-old – who signed for the Hornets’ Under-21s in May 2022 – will remain with the National League South side until January 9, 2024.

Having been on Manchester United’s books in his youth, Holding continued his development in Stockport County’s academy and made his first-team debut for the Hatters in January 2022.

He has previously experienced loan spells with Northern Premier League Premier Division outfits Ashton United and Stalybridge Celtic.

Welcome, Scott!