Category: Club News

ACADEMY TEEN PRIMED

Dover Athletic Academy midfielder Kieron Agbebi has earned a call-up to Andy Hessenthaler’s squad.

The 16-year-old will wear the number 35 shirt and he goes straight into the matchday squad for today’s National League game against Yeovil Town at Crabble.

Agbebi made his senior debut in the Kent Senior Cup defeat at Dartford earlier this month and now joins fellow Academy team-mates Noah Carney, George Wilkinson, Harrison Byford, and Luke Baptiste, in the senior squad alongside Academy graduates Will Moses and Marshall Wratten.

Agbebi joined the Academy in July last year and Academy Manager Mike Sandmann said he had progressed incredibly well in his first year.

“He is developing his game and improving every week in terms of his game understanding.

“Kieron is extremely athletic and is working hard to build himself physically where he is consistently working hard in the gym.

“He has a great lad, hardworking and determined to improve and progress.

“I couldn’t be more pleased for him to get his opportunity and be involved with the first team at such a young age.”

MATCH PREVIEW – DOVER VS YEOVIL TOWN

Manager Andy Hessenthaler and his squad are back in action at Crabble today when they host Yeovil Town (3pm).

Maidstone loanee, forward Alfie Pavey, will be making his 50th appearance for us after initially arriving on a permanent basis from Havant & Waterlooville in November 2018.

He left Dover to sign for Barnet for an undisclosed fee in September 2019 before joining Maidstone in June 2021.

The game will also see us, as a mark of respect for our club photographer Simon Harris, who sadly passed away this week, hold a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off.

Our management, staff, and players will be wearing black armbands.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US?

You can read the Yeovil preview of the game HERE

You can watch The Glovers manager Darren Sarll’s pre-match interview HERE

LAST TIME WE MET

Honours finished even at Huish Park last November after the game ended 1-1.

TJ Bramble gave Andy Hessenthaler’s side the lead after just two minutes before Adi Yussuf equalised for the hosts with 13 minutes to go.

LEADING SCORER

Adi Yusuf and Charlie Wakefield have both scored six goals ahead of the trip to Crabble goals in the National League this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

12/03 Yeovil Town 0-2 Grimsby Town

08/03 Yeovil Town 0-3 Dagenham & Redbridge

05/03 Notts County 1-1 Yeovil Town

TEAM NEWS

Gillingham loanee, midfielder Henry Woods, will miss the game through illness.

Ryan Hanson, Marshall Wratten (hamstring), TJ Bramble (back), James Caton (hamstring), Noah Carney (foot), Alex Green (ankle), Seth Twumasi (knee), and Travis Gregory (knee) are all still on the sideines.

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, BBC Radio Kent will be providing commentary HERE

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for this game can be purchased at the turnstile only.

Both cash and card are accepted.

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s free with paying adult

PROGRAMME

You can download your digital matchday magazine for the game HERE

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Aldershot Town v King’s Lynn Town
Barnet v Woking
Boreham Wood v Grimsby Town
Bromley v Wrexham
Chesterfield v Maidenhead United
Dagenham & Redbridge v Notts County
FC Halifax Town v Torquay United
Solihull Moors v Eastleigh
Southend United v Altrincham
Stockport County v Wealdstone

RIP SIMON HARRIS

Dover Athletic Football Club is in mourning today after the sudden passing of our legendary club photographer Simon Harris.

An immensely popular figure over so very many years, Simon, who was 66, was a well-known face at the club, attending both home and away matches to capture all the first-team action.

Simon also spent time as Chairman of The Dover Athletic Supporters Trust and in 2010, he set an unbelievable milestone, by attending his 1000th consecutive Dover Athletic game.

No job was too big or too small for Simon and come rain or shine he ensured he made the day for hundreds of children over the years by taking photos of the matchday mascots on the pitch at Crabble.

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Simon’s wife Tina, his son Kevin and wife Rachel, his daughter Laura, his family, and all his many friends at this very sad and difficult time.

As a mark of respect, there will be a minute’s silence ahead of kick-off in Saturday’s National League match against Yeovil Town at Crabble and our management, staff, and players will be wearing black armbands.

Rest in peace, Simon, and thank you for your incredible dedication and commitment over so many, many years.

YEOVIL HOSPITALITY ON SALE

Tickets are now on sale for the VIP Platinum Suite for our National League game against Yeovil Town this Saturday.

They will only be on sale until noon on Friday, March 18th.

To see the match from the best seats in the house and to enjoy a very special experience costs £28 per person.

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

The experience includes:

Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and projector showing the game
A three-course meal, served at your table
Saturday’s menu is:
- Vegtable soup and bread roll
- Steak pie, baby potatoes, carrots, peas and gravy
- Salted caramel blondie cheesecake and cream
Reserved undercover premium padded seating
Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water, plus dedicated paid bar before and after the match
Complimentary matchday team sheet

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 passes please email [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373

We very much look forward to welcoming you to the suite soon.

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Eighteen-year-old defender Will Moses made his first start of the season in the 2-1 National League defeat against FC Halifax Town at The Shay on Saturday.

After the game, the former Dover Athletic Academy captain spoke to BBC Radio Kent.

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Andy Hessenthaler spoke to BBC Radio Kent after the 2-1 National League defeat against FC Halifax Town at The Shay on Saturday.

Alfie Pavey gave Whites a 10th-minute lead with the fifth goal of his loan spell with us before Billy Waters equalised for the hosts five minutes before half-time.

Substitute Matty Warburton secured the three points for the Shaymen in the 69th minute when he slotted home Waters’ cross.

MATCH PREVIEW – FC HALIFAX TOWN VS DOVER

Manager Andy Hessenthaler and his squad are back in action away from home on Saturday when they travel to West Yorkshire to play promotion-chasing FC Halifax Town at The Shay (3pm).

The hosts are currently fourth on the National League table, four points behind third-placed Wrexham, after a four-game unbeaten run.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US?

You can read the hosts preview HERE

You can read FC Halifax Town manager Pete Wild’s thoughts ahead of the game HERE

LAST TIME WE MET

November’s meeting between the sides at Crabble saw the visitors win 3-1.

Billy Waters opened the scoring for FC Halifax Town in the eighth minute before Ben Williamson equalised in the 75th minute.

Halifax responded with Kieran Green heading home from a corner moments later before Waters sealed the win two minutes from time.

LEADING SCORER

Billy Waters is leading the way with 13 goals in the National League this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

05/03 Weymouth 0-2 FC Halifax Town

26/02 FC Halifax Town 1-0 Barnet

22/02 Notts County 1-1 FC Halifax Town

TEAM NEWS

Marshall Wratten (hamstring), TJ Bramble (back), James Caton (hamstring), and Noah Carney (foot) will all miss the trip after picking up injuries this week.

Bramble and Caton picked up theirs in the defeat at Barnet last Saturday, while Wratten and Carney suffered theirs in the Kent Senior Cup game at Dartford on Tuesday night.

Captain Ryan Hanson, Alex Green (ankle), Seth Twumasi (knee), and Travis Gregory (knee) all remain on the sidelines.

Player/coach Reda Johnson and Arjanit Krasniqi are both fit again and are included in the matchday squad.

DOVER COLOURS

For fans heading to The Shay wanting to wear the same shirts as the players, we will be wearing our red shirts.

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, BBC Radio Kent will be providing commentary HERE

Please note that there will be no coverage of the game on Twitter @DAFCLiveText

TICKET INFORMATION

You can get all the information you need HERE

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Altrincham v Eastleigh

Boreham Wood v Chesterfield

King’s Lynn Town v Torquay United

Wealdstone v Weymouth

Woking v Maidenhead United

Yeovil Town v Grimsby Town

Q&A EVENING WITH CHAIRMAN AND MANAGER

Dover Athletic Chairman Jim Parmenter and manager Andy Hessenthaler will host an open meeting for all supporters in the Centre Spot at Crabble on March 22nd.

So, if you want the answers to your questions, then please make sure you attend the event.

Doors open at 6.30pm with the meeting starting at 7pm.

VIDEO: MATCH REACTION

Dover Athletic Academy manager Mike Sandmann gives his reaction after his young team, which included two-16 year-olds, lost 2-1 at promotion-chasing National League South Dartford in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup.

Dartford, the cup holders, led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Weymouth loanee Jordan Greenidge’s 20th-minute strike.

Greenidge added a second 15 minutes from time before 18-year-old midfielder Luke Baptiste reduced the deficit for Whites.

DARTFORD: Dan Wilks, Kory Roberts, Jayden Sweeney, Tyrique Hyde, Connor Essam, Tom Bonner ©, Danny Leonard, Kieran Murtagh, Jordan Greenidge, Che Krabbendam, Ade Azeez.

SUBS: Jack Jebb, David Ijaha, Kalvin Kalala, George Porter, Gabriel Duo.

DOVER ATHLETIC: Josh Bexon, Harrison Byford, Marshall Wratten, Flynn Toon, Will Moses ©, Will Currie, Kieran Agebebi, Harry Sikirwayi, Djair Parfitt-Williams, Luke Baptiste, Noah Carney.

SUBS: Cameron Chamberlin, Sam Hignett, George Nikaj, Daniel Lott, Freddie Oliver.