Category: First Team News

WORTHING GAME OFF

Our scheduled National League South fixture against Worthing at Crabble on Saturday was called off following a pitch inspection by the match referee.

The decision was made despite the best efforts of the club to get the game played as so much else was planned for the day, including meeting European darts champion Ross Smith in the Centre Spot.

The food prepared for today’s VIP hospitality guests has been distrubuted to charity.

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER V WORTHING

Andy Hessenthaler’s squad will be aiming to bounce back quickly from the disappointment of Tuesday’s defeat at Cheshunt when they host Worthing at Crabble on Saturday (3pm).

Whites lost 2-0 in Hertfordshire while the Sussex visitors arrive in Kent on the back of a 6-0 home defeat against table-topping Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

You can watch Worthing manager Adam Hinshelwood preview the game HERE

You can read the Worthing preview HERE

LAST TIME WE MET IN A LEAGUE GAME   –  AUGUST 6th 2022

Worthing 1-1 Dover Athletic

The two clubs last met on the opening day of this season.

Jake Robinson and Dover captain Lee Martin both scored debut goals as honours finished even.

Robinson gave the hosts a fifth-minute lead before Martin replied eight minutes before half-time.

Dover Athletic: R. Sandford, A. Paxman, M. Brundle, T. Sterling, M. Judd, L. Martin (N. Carney 86′), L. Wanadio, J. Higgs,
A. Krasniqi, C. Kandi (R. Grant 90+2), A. Pavey (L. Baptiste 75′).

Subs not used: H. Byford, J. Goodman

Attendance: 1506

DOVER TEAM NEWS 

Defender Jake Goodman (hamstring) is again missing while Reece Grant is ill.

Young striker Noah Carney is back running after his knee injury, but not ready for action yet.

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

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

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH FIXTURES

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

THE CENTRE SPOT

Please note that due to a pre-booked Christmas function, the Centre Spot will close at 5.30 pm on Saturday.

ROSS SMITH VISIT

European darts champion and Dover Athletic fan Ross Smith will be at Crabble tomorrow.

You can get all the details about how and where to meet him HERE

COME AND MEET DARTS CHAMP

You will have the chance to meet and greet newly European crowned champion Ross Smith at Crabble tomorrow.

Ross will be attending the National League South game against Worthing to cheer on his beloved Whites.

He will be in the Centre Spot from 1pm and he’ll be bringing the Cazoo European Championship trophy with him.

There will also be raffles for a signed competition shirt and a set of autographed darts, generously donated by Ross.

To mark his visit, our matchday programme for the game includes a double-page photo of Ross with his trophy, which will be perfect to use for autographs.

POST-MATCH REACTION | MIKE SANDMANN | CHESHUNT 2-0 DOVER

Coach Mike Sandmann gives his thoughts after the defeat at Theobalds Lane on Tuesday.

Sandmann and player/assistant manager Mitch Brundle took charge of the team with manager Andy Hessenthaler not making the trip as he has Covid.

The loss sees Dover remain 12th on the table ahead of Saturday’s game against Worthing at Crabble (3pm).

THANK YOU FROM STEFAN

Stefan Milton is the proud owner of a new electric wheelchair thanks to the generosity of Dover Athletic fans and the local community.

The media team volunteer, who does the video editing of match highlights, has Metatropic dysplasia and is wheelchair-bound.

His chair broke last month and he set up an online fundraiser in a bid to purchase a replacement with a target of £650 to do it – that target was smashed within a day of going live on the club website and social media platforms.

The final amount raised was £940 which enabled Stefan to get an even better model.

Stefan, a National League Volunteer of the Month back in 2019, said he was overwhelmed by the support he had received.

“I would like to thank everyone who donated and shared my fundraiser, we raised well over the target which allowed me to purchase a wheelchair that is better for my needs than the one I was originally aiming to buy!

“I was massively overwhelmed by how quickly we raised the funds and it’s a great feeling to know my work is appreciated by the Dover fans, after all, I really do the highlights for your benefit and it’s a great feeling to know you care,

“Once again thank you to everyone and I look forward to many more seasons with the club.”

 

MATCH PREVIEW: CHESHUNT V DOVER

Andy Hessenthaler’s squad is back in National League South action for the second time in four days when it makes the trip around the M25 to Hertfordshire on Tuesday.

Both sides earned a point last Saturday with Cheshunt drawing 0-0 at Weymouth while Whites drew 1-1 against St Albans City at Crabble.

DOVER TEAM NEWS 

Defender Jake Goodman (hamstring) misses his second consecutive game, but fellow defender Will Moses is back in the matchday squad after recovering from an illness that saw him become a late withdrawal from Saturday’s starting line-up.

Young striker Noah Carney (knee) remains on the sidelines but is back running now.

DOVER COLOURS

For fans heading to the game wanting to wear the same shirts as the players, we will be wearing our navy kit.

COVERAGE 

The game kicks off at 7.45pm 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.

Please note that there will be no BBC Radio coverage of the game.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets purchased on the turnstile will be £14 for adults, £10 for concessions, £6 for U17s, while U12s are free.

If you purchase your ticket online, you will get it at a reduced rate.

You can get all the details you need HERE

COACH TRAVEL

The Supporters Club is running a coach to the game and it’s not too late to book your seat on it.

Please contact Craig on 07934 300335 for all the details.

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH FIXTURES

Braintree Town v Oxford City
Dulwich Hamlet v Chelmsford City
Hemel Hempstead Town v Bath City
Slough Town v Concord Rangers
Tonbridge Angels v Eastbourne Borough
Welling United v Farnborough
Worthing v Ebbsfleet United

POST-MATCH REACTION | ANDY HESSENTHALER | DOVER 1-1 ST ALBANS CITY

Andy Hessenthaler spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the National League South draw at Crabble on Saturday.

Winger Luke Wanadio, who had been ill during the week and did well to last 64 minutes, put Whites ahead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute.

The visitors also equalised from the spot five minutes before half-time through leading scorer Shaun Jeffers.

Jeffers had the chance to double the lead with another penalty a minute later but he saw his effort superbly saved by Stuart Nelson.

Earlier, Dover had to make a late change to their starting line-up after Will Moses was taken ill during the warm-up.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Brundle, Higgs, Pavey (Grant 72’), Wanadio (Kandi 64’), Martin, Wilkinson, Sterling, Baptiste

Subs Not Used:  Krasniqi, Nikaj, Byford

Attendance: 538

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER V ST ALBANS CITY

Andy Hessenthaler’s squad returns to action at Crabble on Saturday following three consecutive away games.

White’s won 2-0 at Hampton & Richmond Borough last Saturday while the Hertfordshire visitors head to Kent on the back of a 3-0 win against Bath City.

The Saints will start the game, which kicks-off at 12.30 pm, in sixth place … six places and six points ahead of Whites.

.WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

You can read the St Albans City preview HERE

LAST TIME WE MET IN A LEAGUE GAME AT CRABBLE  –  APRIL 30th 2011

Dover Athletic 4-1 St Albans City

Dover’s last-ditch bid to steal a promotion play-off spot was foiled, despite a commanding win against relegated St Albans.

Other results failed to go in their favour and Martin Hayes’ side finished an eventful season in league and cup two points outside the playoffs.

Adam Birchall rounded off his impressive tally for the season at 45 goals in all competitions as he added a brace.

Nathan Ashton opened the scoring on 21 minutes following an impressive run by Harry Baker, who latched on to Barry Cogan’s ball over the top.

Birchall got in on the act three minutes later to double the lead, capitalising on some clumsy defending to finish cooly under the visiting goalkeeper Conor Gough.

Just before the break, Donovan Simmonds broke through the offside trap to make it 3-0 after 41 minutes.

In the second half, the visitors squeezed a goal back from a neatly taken Peter Smith free kick. But as expected, Birchall had the final say of a memorable season to net his 34th league goal on 64 minutes.

Dover Athletic: Ross Flitney, Matt Fish, Rob Gillman, Tom Wynter, Nathan Ashton, Harry Baker, Sam Cutler, Jon Wallis (Lewis Spence), Barry Cogan, Donovan Simmonds, Adam Birchall.

Subs not used: Elliott Charles, Olly Schulz, Sam Long, Lee Hook.

Attendance: 847

DOVER TEAM NEWS 

Defender Jake Goodman (hamstring) misses out after limping off in the second half of the win at Hampton & Richmond Borough last Saturday.

Fellow defender Will Moses is back in the matchday squad after missing last week’s game with a quad strain.

Young striker Noah Carney (knee) remains on the sidelines.

COVERAGE 

The game kicks off at 12.30 pm 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 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

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH FIXTURES

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

NATIONAL LEAGUE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF STREAMING PLATFORM

The National League has this evening issued the following statement regarding the streaming of games in all divisions.

The National League Board is pleased to be in a position to provide a streaming update following a Board meeting on Wednesday 30 November.

As you are aware, the National League Board recently announced its intention to pursue the implementation of a streaming platform in the second half of the current season.

A huge amount of work has been ongoing behind-the-scenes with the League now in a position to announce a soft launch of the streaming platform on Saturday 10 December with a full launch two weeks later.

The first phase of the launch will see streaming introduced for National Division clubs only while the League works with North and South clubs running pilot events in the second half of the season to ensure logistically it can be delivered for North and South Divisions for the 2023/24 season.

The National League would again like to reiterate its commitment to providing a quality streaming platform that benefits all 72 Member Clubs.

Thanks must go to BT Sport and title sponsors Vanarama for their continued support.

Further updates around pricing and sign-up activity will be announced shortly

POST-MATCH REACTION | MIKE SANDMANN | HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH 0-2 DOVER

Mike Sandmann was full of praise for the players after Dover bounced back from the disappointing FA Trophy defeat a week earlier with an impressive win in the National League South clash at the Beveree Stadium.

Jake Goodman headed Whites ahead inside two minutes before Luke Wanadio doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 38th minute.

The win leaves Andy Hessenthaler’s 12th on the table ahead of Saturday’s game against St Albans City at Crabble (12.30pm).