Category: Community News

Community News

CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE

Dover Athletic Chairman Jim Parmenter provides us with an exciting update on what’s been happening behind-the-scenes at the club.

For some weeks now I have been developing a new community strategy for the Club and can now update our Supporters and the wider community of our plans which have been formulated in conjunction with our main sponsor Megger, who have been fantastically supportive of our plans, and you will hear more about their involvement and support in due course.

3G PITCH PROJECT

I have been in positive discussions with the Kent County FA and Dover District Council about a project to convert our old training pitch behind the River End Stand to a 3G pitch exclusively for community use.

We have already started to discuss the matter with the youth football community and the feedback has been very positive indeed.

The time has now come to consult the wider community and our neighbours on the project.

So any person or organisation who has an interest in using the facility and would like to add their support to the project please contact me at [email protected]

Equally, if any of our neighbours have any questions or concerns I would be happy to meet with them at the stadium and explain the project.

To be clear, the facility will be designed for small-sided games up to 9 a side with an option for two 5-a-side pitches on the same area.

Our emphasis will be on Community engagement particularly mini-Soccer, Youth football, Futsal and walking football.

We will be continuing with our excellent Saturday morning “Happy Feet” project.

Our emphasis will be to reach out also to members of the Community with disabilities and diverse ethnic backgrounds as well as developing women’s and girls’ football.

So please, if you have an interest in the project or any concerns do not hesitate to contact me.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION OFFICER

Thanks to the support of our friends at Megger we are able to bring a colleague into the team to drive our community activities.

We will be embarking on a diverse programme within the Community (sporting and non-sporting) and whilst football will form an important part of our community activities, they will by no means be exclusively football related.

More details will be published soon.

So in the meantime, I would like to send my best wishes to everyone and I will continue to keep you all updated.

FA CUP TIE IS ON!

Our Academy will now play their postponed FA Youth Cup First Round proper tie against Langley FC at Crabble tonight at 7.45pm.

The original game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch last Thursday.

With a win tonight, Manager Mike Sandmann’s young team will become the first team to reach the Second Round for the first time in the 12-year history of the Academy.

In the four games they have played in the competition so far, the Academy have beaten Hollands & Blair (9-1), Margate (5-0), Ebbsfleet United (5-1), and Walton & Hersham (6-2).

Admission for the game is £10 and £5 for concessions with cash only being accepted.

NEW DATE FOR CUP TIE

Our Academy will now play their postponed FA Youth Cup First Round proper tie against Langley FC at Crabble next Tuesday, November 8th at 7.45pm.

The original game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Thursday.

Should Manager Mike Sandmann’s team win, they will head to Suffolk to play Lowestoft Town in the Second Round.

Lowestoft beat Concord Rangers 4-3 on penalties on Wednesday after it finished 1-1 after extra time.

The young Whites will also become the first team to reach the Second Round for the first time in the 12-year history of the Academy.

In the four games they have played in the competition so far, the Academy have beaten Hollands & Blair (9-1), Margate (5-0), Ebbsfleet United (5-1), and Walton & Hersham (6-2).

Admission for the game is £10 and £5 for concessions with cash only being accepted.

NO HAPPY FEET THIS WEEK

Unfortunately due to the wet weather, the regular Happy Feet junior coaching sessions have been called off because of the ground being unplayable.

Sunday’s Walking Football has also been cancelled.

You can contact the Community Team HERE

GAME OFF!

Tonight’s Academy’s FA Youth Cup First Round proper tie against Langley FC at Crabble has fallen victim to the weather and, following a referee’s inspection, has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

PLACE IN HISTORY BECKONS

FA Youth Cup history is within our Academy’s grasp.

Manager Mike Sandmann’s squad of talented young players take on Langley in the First Round proper at Crabble on Thursday (7.45pm) and should they win, they will become the first team to reach the Second Round for the first time in the 12-year history of the Academy.

The campaign so far has been a story of guts, passion, and hunger to succeed in the four games they have played.

First-team squad member Kieron Agbebi (pictured) and his teammates started their journey with a 9-1 win against Hollands & Blair at Crabble before backing up that performance with wins against Margate (5-0) and Ebbsfleet United (5-1).

They then won 6-2 at Walton & Hersham to secure their place in the First Round.

Admission is £10 and £5 for concessions.

So please come along and support the youngsters – they love having you there.

GET YOUR PARTY TICKETS NOW!

Grab your work colleagues, your friends, or your family, and join us for a Christmas Party in the Centre Spot.

Enjoy a glass of chilled bubbly on arrival followed by a three-course dinner, then dance the night away at our disco for just £28.95 per person.

But you need to act quickly as we only have limited availability left on two of the five original dates, December 2nd, and 3rd, and both nights are filling up fast!

Doors open at 7pm on each night with dinner served from 7.30pm.

To book, call 01304 822 373 or email [email protected]

Please note that a deposit of £10 per person is required at the time of booking.

So don’t miss out on snapping up our last available dates and book today!

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER V CONCORD RANGERS

Dover will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to six games in the National League South when they host Concord Rangers at Crabble on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Andy Hessenthaler’s side came from behind to earn a point against visiting Farnborough on Saturday thanks to Alfie Pavey’s penalty.

The Beach Boys arrive in Kent after losing 3-0 at Hampton & Richmond on Saturday in what was new manager Rob Small’s first game in charge.

In the squad for the Essex side are three players who have played for Dover in their careers including former Crabble favourite, Ricky Modeste.

The Grenadian international made close to 200 appearances for Dover in two spells before leaving at the end of the 2019/20 season.

Forward Ben Williamson played 25 games for Whites before leaving for Concord last January while Danny Green made three apperances while on loan from Dagenham & Redbridge back in 2012.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

You can read the Concord preview HERE

LAST TIME WE MET – OCTOBER 20th 2018

Inih Effiong scored a stunning late winner to secure Dover a 1-0 win at Concord Rangers and earn his side a place in the FA Cup first round.

The big striker (pictured below celebrating his goal with the travelling Dover fans) curled home a brilliant 25-yard free-kick with just three minutes left to hand Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler his first win since returning to the Crabble hot seat.

Concord almost equalised in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the fourth qualifying round tie when now Dover defender Tyrone Sterling saw his header come back off the bar.

Concord: Beasant, Popo, Shaw, Clark, Minshull, Sterling, Green, Blackman (Pollock 88mins), Wall, Midson, Topley (S Knott 83mins). Subs not used: Froud, Harris, Sullivan, Smith, Glover.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Lokko, Essam, Brundle, Allen (Okosieme 90mins), Effiong, Nortey (Sho-Silva 78mins), Gomis (Daniel 61mins), Lewis, Debayo. Subs not used: Adebowale, Massanka, Schmoll.

Attendance: 446.

OTHER HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETINGS

19/04/2014: Concord Rangers 1-2 Dover Athletic

24/08/2013: Dover Athletic 0-1 Concord Rangers

DOVER TEAM NEWS

Captain Lee Martin is back in the squad after missing the Farnborough game due to a one-game ban after collecting his fifth booking of the campaign during the 3-0 win against Slough.

Mitch Brundle (knee) will again be missing while George Nikaj remains out on loan at Ashford United.

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 7.45 pm 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

PROGRAMME

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

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

TUESDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH FIXTURES

Braintree Town v Welling United
Chippenham Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
Dulwich Hamlet v Worthing
Eastbourne Borough v Hampton & Richmond
Ebbsfleet United v St Albans City
Hungerford Town v Cheshunt
Oxford City v Taunton Town
Slough Town v Dartford
Tonbridge Angels v Chelmsford City
Weymouth v Farnborough

CURRY NIGHT TOMORROW

Bookings are still being taken for our curry night in the VIP Platinum Suite for tomorrow’s National League South game against Concord Rangers at Crabble.

This package costs £15 (plus the price of a matchday ticket for any non-season ticket holders) and on the menu will be chicken curry with rice and naan bread.

A vegetarian curry will also be available.

The experience includes:

A one-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

Arrival at the ground should be at 6pm and food will be served at 6.15pm.

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 book and watch the match from the best seats in the house, call the office on 01304 822373, email [email protected] or pop into our main reception during office hours.

Payment is required at the time of booking.

ENJOY OUR MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY

We have a range of matchday hospitality packages, available to purchase on a match-by-match basis for all our home matches at Crabble.

You can watch the game, or entertain clients, in style. with the VIP Platinum Suite package.

It provides a great opportunity for you to enjoy our matchday hospitality and provides 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.

VIP Platinum Suite Matchday Experience tickets for our National League South game against Farnborough at Crabble on Saturday are now on sale.

On the menu this week is:

Tomato soup with Ciabatta roll and butter
Roast Chicken breasts with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, peas, and gravy
Lemon tart with raspberries and cream

Arrival at the ground should be at 1pm and food will be served at 1.30pm.