Category: Community News

Community News

HESS LEAVES CRABBLE

Dover Athletic Football Club can today confirm the departure of manager Andy Hessenthaler, who leaves the club by mutual consent after his contract was cancelled, with immediate effect.

Hessenthaler returned to Crabble for a second time 15 games into the 2018/19 campaign following the departure of Chris Kinnear.

Mitch Brundle and Mike Sandmann will take joint interim charge of the team for the next few games, starting at Hungerford Town on Saturday, whilst we consider a more permanent structure for the future.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “Andy has given terrific service to the Club and assisted me in navigating some very difficult times.

“I wish to place on record our gratitude for his efforts, understanding, and hard work during his time at the Club.

“He is a man of integrity and decency, and I am sure he will be successful in his next role.

“We remain good friends and Hess will be welcome at Crabble at any time.”

Everyone at the club wishes Andy all the very best for the future.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Chairman, Directors, management, players, and staff of Dover Athletic Football Club would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

So whether you are a fan, a business that supports us, or a volunteer, we want to say that we really couldn’t do it without each and every one of you, so thank you one and all.

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER V DULWICH HAMLET

Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s squad starts the second half of its National League South campaign against Dulwich Hamlet at Crabble on New Year’s Day (3pm).

The Boxing Day clash between the two sides ended 1-1 at Champion Hill.

The hosts took the lead through Joe Felix in the 19th minute before Jordan Higgs scored our equaliser against his former club eight minutes before half-time.

DOVER TEAM NEWS

Forward Chike Kandi, who missed the Boxing Day game with a back injury, is fit again and included in the matchday squad.

Young defender Harrison Byford picked up a knee injury in training this week and misses out.

PROGRAMME

Printed matchday programmes will be available for sale around the ground and from the club shop.

DOVER COLOURS

We will be wearing our all-navy away kit for the game as we proudly support Shelter’s #NoHomeKit campaign for a second consecutive year.

LAST TIME WE MET IN A LEAGUE GAME AT CRABBLE – SEPTEMBER 8th, 2007

Dover Athletic 2-2 Dulwich Hamlet

Dover surrendered a two-goal lead in the 2-2 draw with the visitors in the Ryman League Division 1 South match.

Mark Lovell scored both goals for a Dover team which included our current manager Andy Hessenthaler.

Dover Athletic: Dean Ruddy, Matt Fish, James Rogers, Matt Bourne, John Keister, Craig Wilkins, Jon Wallis, Andy Hessenthaler, James Dryden (Byron Walker), Francine Collin, Mark Lovell (Matt Carruthers).

Subs not used: Graeme Andrews, Sam Gore, Gavin Wright.

Attendance: 941

TICKET INFORMATION

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

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £16

Over 60 – £14

Under 18 – £8

Under 11s continue to be free with paying adult

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 3pm and if you are unable to make it, we will be providing live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

BBC Radio Kent will also be covering the game with Matt Gerrard on commentary duties HERE

SUNDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH FIXTURES

Farnborough v Hungerford Town
Slough Town v Oxford City
Braintree Town v Chelmsford City
Chippenham Town v Bath City
Concord Rangers v Cheshunt
Dartford v Ebbsfleet United
Eastbourne Borough v Havant & Waterlooville
Hampton & Richmond v Worthing
St Albans City v Hemel Hempstead Town
Welling United v Tonbridge Angels

BE A NEW YEAR’S DAY VIP

Start the New Year in style by enjoying our VIP Platinum Suite matchday experience for our National League South game against Dulwich Hamlet at Crabble on January 1st

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our matchday 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 matchday 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 :

Minestrone soup with Ciabatta roll and butter
Chicken, mushroom & leek pie, mashed potato, peas, carrots, and gravy
Golden layered salted caramel cheesecake served with cream

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

CLUB SUPPORTS #NoHomeKit CAMPAIGN

In the space of one 90-minute game, 25 households will become homeless in England – many of them will be families with children.

Home stadium. Home colours. Home game. The football community knows the importance of home – and we here at Dover Athletic are proud to be playing our part. We’re fighting for a future where everyone has the right to a safe home, particularly at this time of year.

That’s why we are supporting homelessness charity, Shelter’s, #NoHomeKit campaign, for a second consecutive year.

The initiative sees clubs across the country taking part by swapping their home kit for their away one to raise awareness for the cause.

That means we will wear our navy kit in the National League South game against Dulwich Hamlet at Crabble on Sunday, January 1st and we encourage supporters to do the same if they are able to.

Shelter supports people and families who are suffering from the cost of living crisis, and its knock-on effects, with demand for housing being as high as it’s ever been.

Last year’s campaign was a huge success, with hundreds of clubs up and down the country taking part, raising over £500,000 for it.

Supporters can find out more and donate to Shelter’s campaign HERE

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL

Dover Athletic Football Club Chairman Jim Parmenter, the Directors, management, players, and staff would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Most importantly, we thank you, our fans, for your continued support – it is very much appreciated by us all.

We must also say a special thank you to our volunteers, who give their time so willingly, and our sponsors and commercial partners for their ongoing support.

So please enjoy a fantastic Christmas and cherish the time spent with family and friends.

FIXTURE UPDATES

We can now confirm the re-arranged dates of the three postponed National League South games against Taunton Town, Tonbridge Angels. and Worthing.

We will host Taunton Town at Crabble on January 10th at 7.45pm.

Our game at Tonbridge Angels will now take place at Longmead on January 24th at 7.45pm.

Worthing will visit Crabble on January 31st at 7.45pm.

POST-MATCH REACTION | MIKE SANDMANN | BRIGHTON 2-1 ACADEMY

Our Academy bowed out of the FA Youth Cup with their heads held high after losing to their Premier League counterparts in the Third Round tie at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing on Wednesday.

The hosts led 2-0 at half-time before second-half substitute Tim Marapara reduced the deficit in the 64th minute after pouncing on a poor back pass.

Manager Mike Sandmann was full of praise for his young charges after the game.

He said: “It goes without saying how proud myself and all the staff are of the players after that performance, one that saw us push a Premier League team all the way to the end.

“We knew Brighton was going to dominate the ball and we set ourselves up to frustrate and counter-attack when turning over possession – I thought we frustrated them for large parts of the game with most of it played in front of us.

“We got ourselves in some good areas and caused them problems early on In the game despite having a lot less of the ball.

“We were disappointed with the goals we conceded after allowing their player to turn 25 yards out and the header, which we should have defended better against regardless of the opposition we play against.

“At half-time, we spoke about the importance of staying in the game while getting ourselves higher up the pitch and waiting for our chance to take more risks.

“I felt we continued to frustrate but in a higher area and I’m pleased with the goal we scored as we had to be patient and wait for the opportunity for them to make a mistake which Tim punished them for.

“When it was 2-1 the whole atmosphere changed and it become a proper game and Brighton felt it.

“You could see that with their goalkeeper getting booked for time wasting and the management team kicking the ball away.

“Tim had another chance deflected wide which could have made it even more uncomfortable for them.

“Saying that I couldn’t be prouder of them all and the players will certainly learn a lot from the game

“We asked the players to leave everything out on the pitch and they certainly did that.

“It’s been a great journey for the Academy and on behalf of everyone we would like to thank you for the support and kind messages we have received – I can assure you that it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed.”

ACADEMY READY FOR CUP TIE

Academy manager Mike Sandmann wants one thing from his side’s FA Youth Cup Third Round tie with Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.

Sandmann is urging his talented young players leave the pitch at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing with absolutely no regrets.

He said: “Brighton will be the favourites and they will be expecting to win – we know that, so we have got to believe, give everything, and don’t stop running until the final whistle and I know this group will do that.

“All I ask is that the players go back into that dressing room at full-time having left nothing behind and having no regrets. It’s all anyone can ask.

“Whatever the outcome tonight, I will still be extremely proud of each and every one of them and I am sure I won’t be the only one.

“I said right at the start of this campaign that any competition we’re in we want to do well in and to reach this stage and be the only non-league Academy left in it is an incredible achievement.

“There is absolutely no doubt that they have all done the shirt proud.”

The game, which kicks off at 7pm, will be live-streamed by the hosts with the details and link available on the @OfficialBHAFC Twitter page later today.