Dover Athletic are delighted to announce the signings of former Whitehawk duo Joe Tennent and Luca Cocoracchio. 

The pair formed a solid partnership last season, alongside Mitch Walker, finishing with the joint-fourth best defensive record in the division! 

Prior to Whitehawk, Tennent made thirty two appearances for Three Bridges in 22/23, after returning to the club for a second spell. He moved back to Jubilee Field after starting the campaign with VCD Athletic, where he played ten times. At the end of the 23/24 campaign he was named as Whitehawk Managers’ Player of the Season.

Luca, a product of the Brighton and Hove academy and former Worthing man, joined Whitehawk in January 2023 and was part of their promotion winning side. 

Boss Jake Leberl has said

We are delighted to have signed them both. The two lads had very good seasons last year both individually and as a defensive unit. Luca and Joe have great experience at this level and most importantly are both top guys who wanted to come and believe in our rebuild project.

Jake Leberl

There is still time to purchase your season ticket with our early bird discount, you can order your 2024/25 season ticket from reception at Crabble, online at our club shop, or download an application form by clicking here.

Developments for our new pizza and beer outlet at the Megger Community Stadium are well under way and we are delighted to announce its name – Pizza the Action!

The new outlet will be in place of the current Town End Tea Hut and we can’t wait to get it up and running.

Thank you to everyone that entered the competition to help decide the name. We had a few entries for ‘Pizza the Action’ and randomly selected a name – Congratulations to Melanie Thorpe who has won a block-of-5 ticket and a free pizza at all of those five games attended. Those that also suggested the name have won 1x Free Entry to a game of their choice and a pizza at that game. Winners have been contacted via email.

We look forward to updating you with a name and further progress soon!

Archie Hatcher, Dover Athletic Academy graduate was part of the core academy side that achieved the 22/23 League Title, FA Youth Cup Round 3 and the Kent Schools Academy’s Cup.

Hatcher signed his first contract with the senior team earlier in the 23/24 campaign after a couple of substitute appearances, before making his first start in the FA Cup at home to Hastings United. With a Man of the Match winning performance, he then started in the league away to top of the table Bath City, where Hatcher scored our Goal of the Season with a superb strike from outside of the box and subsequently won Player of the Month for October.

Hatcher made 18 appearances across the season scoring 3 goals and has since gained interest from league clubs, including a trail spell at Blackburn Rovers. His contract has been extended into the 24/25 season.

Academy Boss and First Team Assistant Mike Sandmann has said:

Archie will only continue to improve and we look forward to seeing him continue to develop with us in the new season.

Mike Sandmann

Hatcher wants to give you all the following message:

Hi Dover Fans. Thank you for your unbelievable support last season, it really makes a difference to us on and off the pitch. Having finished my first season in senior football, I have learnt so much and can’t wait to improve my game. On a personal note, scoring on my league debut away to Bath was such an amazing feeling and can’t wait to hopefully score many more goals next season and get us back to where we belong. Looking forward to seeing you all back at the Crabble for the new season. Hatcher

Archie Hatcher

Dover Athletic are thrilled to announce the return of goalkeeper Mitch Walker. Walker, who signed for Whites from Brighton & Hove Albion in May 2012 made 279 appearances throughout his 7 season stay at Crabble and was an ever-present in our Vanamara National League campaigns. The former England C man made his final Dover appearance in our 3-0 home win over Sutton United in April 2019 and now he’s back for more. 

Boss Jake Leberl has said:

“Mitch was a pleasure to work with for all those years. His professionalism, work rate and attitude has always been first class on and off the pitch, we are all delighted he’s agreed to come back”

Jake Leberl

Mitch Walker has said:

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing what this season has in store for us. It’s exciting what’s going  on here and I’m looking forward to the season ahead. It’s an absolute pleasure to be back home. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Get behind me, get behind the team and get behind the club and we can push forward this season… I think it’s going to be an exciting one.”

Mitch Walker

There is still time to purchase your season ticket with our early bird discount, you can order your 2024/25 season ticket from reception at Crabble, online at our club shop, or download an application form by clicking here.

Henry Young is another product of the Dover Athletic academy. Recently graduating from The Abbey School, he captained the academy side to 22/23 League Title, FA Youth Cup Round 3 and the
Kent Schools Academy’s Cup.

Youngy signed his first contract with the senior team earlier in the 23/24 campaign, shortly after his 18th birthday. The young midfielder has since established himself as a first team player throughout the season making 30 appearances scoring 1 goal. His contact has been extended into the 24/25 season.

Academy Boss and First Team Assistant Mike Sandmann has said

Youngy is a great lad who will only continue to improve, this past seasons experiences will be invaluable for his development.

Mike Sandmann

Youngy wants to give you all the following message:

Hi Dover Fans, just wanted to say thankyou for all your support during last season. It kept us pushing till the very end and it didn’t go unnoticed. On a personal level it was a great season for me gaining lots of experience at a top level in the men’s game. Getting my first league goal against Chelmsford at the back end of the season felt amazing and I look forward to scoring more next season and improving my game all round. Going into the Isthmian Premier League next year i think it’ll be a great opportunity to start a fresh and really prove what we’re about. See you soon, Youngy.

Henry Young

The Whites 2024/25 pre-season schedule…

Pre-season kicks off with a flurry of away games as we head to Sevenoaks and Margate, before hosting Ramsgate at Crabble, then on the road again to Whitstable.

We then welcome Welling, Tonbridge Angels and Ashford to the Megger Community Stadium before the start of the 24/25 campaign.

The schedule:
Saturday 6 July, 3pm – Sevenoaks FC (A)
Tuesday 9 July, 7.45pm – Margate FC (A)
Saturday 13 July, 12pm – Ramsgate FC (H)
Tuesday 16 July, 7.45pm – Whitstable Town (A)
Saturday 20 July, 3pm – Welling United (H)
Saturday 27 July, 3pm – Tonbridge Angels (H)
Saturday 3 August, 3pm – Ashford United (H)

Home pre-season games will be priced at £8 for adults, £6 for concessions, U11s FREE with a paying adult, free entry for 24/25 Season Ticket Holders. There is still time to purchase your season ticket with our early bird discount, you can order your 2024/25 season ticket from reception at Crabble, online at our club shop, or download an application form by clicking here.

https://www.dafcdirect.com

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce that defender Matty Holness has signed his first contract and will remain at the Megger Community Stadium for the 2024/25 season.

Matty is a product of the Dover Athletic Academy and made his first team debut against Yeovil on the final day of the 23/24 campaign. Matty spent most of the season on loan at Erith & Belvedere FC and was man of the match in our Kent Senior Cup game against Beckenham.

Academy Boss and First Team Assistant Mike Sandmann has said:

Matty has progressed extremely well during his time at the Academy. He is a front foot defender, quick and aggressive and will only continue to improve. I am really looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the coming season

Mike Sandmann

Matty is the second player to put pen to paper at Dover for next season, signing a one year deal.

Manager Jake Leberl has said:

Matty trained brilliantly with us all of last season and really stood out, he has very good attributes with a great mentality and I am looking forward to seeing him develop & progress

Jake Leberl

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce that forward George Nikaj has agreed terms to remain at the Megger Community Stadium for the 2024/25 season.

George is a product of the Dover Athletic Academy and made his first team debut during the 21/22 season in the National League. George has since made 51 National League South appearances in the last two campaigns and was named Away Player of the Season 23/24.

George is the first player to put pen to paper at Dover for next season, and the first piece of the puzzle for Jake and Mike’s side as they build for the new season.

Jake has said “We are delighted to have retained George, who has signed a one year contract on his 21st birthday. George has had offers from teams in higher divisions but he has chosen to stay loyal to the club and sees it as the best place for his development and to achieve his own ambitions. I look forward to seeing what he can deliver in the upcoming campaign”

We are delighted to announce plans for a new pizza and beer outlet that will open at the Megger Community Stadium next season, and we would like you, the supporters, to decide the name!

The new outlet will be in place of the current Town End Tea Hut, and we anticipate beers being allowed on the terraces (subject to a change in our licensing). We are running a competition for supporters to send us ideas to name the new outlet, with the prize for the winner being a block-of-5 ticket and a free pizza at all of those five games attended.

Please use the form below to submit your suggestion and we look forward to updating you with a name and further progress soon!

Form: https://forms.gle/kspgaGQVnwtwafPy5

Dover Athletic can confirm our retained list following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season:  

The following players have options taken up by the club: 

Archie Hatcher 

Henry Young 

The following players have been offered new contracts & received retained letters under the Bosman Ruling:

George Wilkinson 

Luke Baptiste 

George Nikaj 

Roman Charles-Cook 

The following players are in talks with the club, and we will update supporters throughout the close season as to the outcome of these negotiations: 

John Oyenuga 

Freddie Oliver 

Jacob Mensah 

Jaiden Drakes-Thomas 

Bailey Akehurst 

Nick Dembele 

Matty Holness 

The following player was offered a contract but have rejected to explore options elsewhere:  

Charlie Naylor 

The following players have been invited back for preseason:  

Dontai Stewart

Kai Neil-Gray 

Kai Garrett 

The following loan players have returned to their parent club and we are grateful for the excellent service they gave in their time at DAFC. We also extend our thanks to parent clubs Watford and Reading: 

Scott Holding 

Matthew Rowley 

And finally, the following contracts expire this summer and they have not been offered renewed playing terms: 

Iffy Allen 

We are grateful to all departing players for their contributions this season.