Category: First Team News

WHITES ANNOUNCE PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE

We have confirmed details of our pre-season schedule, which begins on 11th July.

Highlights include visits to Crabble by Charlton Athletic and Gillingham.

Whites will start their pre-season campaign away at Deal Town on Tuesday July 11th.

We then welcome three Football League sides to Crabble, starting with League One side Gillingham FC on Saturday July 15th.

Tuesday July 18th sees Charlton Athletic come calling before and the final pre-season game sees Margate visit us on Saturday July 29th.

There are two ticket structures for this years home pre-season games, which are outlined below:

As always, under 11s are FREE.

Concessions are £5 for each game, while Adults will pay either £10 or £5 depending on the opposition.

And remember, season ticket holders will enter all friendlies at home for FREE.

If you’ve not yet picked up your 2017-18 season ticket, you can do so now at www.dafcdirect.com.

DOVER ATHLETIC PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE

Tuesday 11th July  –  Away to Deal Town 1930, Kick-off

Saturday 15th July – Home to Gillingham, Kick-off 1500
(Adults £10, Concessions £5, Under 11s Free with paying Adult.  Included with Season ticket )

Tuesday 18th July –  Home to Charlton Athletic, Kick-off 1945
(Adults £10, Concessions £5, Under 11s Free with paying Adult.  Included with Season ticket )

Saturday 22nd July – Away to Folkestone Invicta, Kick-off 1500

Tuesday 25th July – Home to Welling United, Kick-off 1945
(£5 FOR ALL, Under 11s Free with paying Adult.  Included with Season Ticket)

Saturday 29th July – Home to Margate, Kick-off 1400
(£5 FOR ALL, Under 11s Free with paying Adult. Included with Season Ticket)

WHITES SIGN ALLEN

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce the signing of striker Jamie Allen.

Allen joins Whites from Southport for an undisclosed figure on a two-year deal.

The 21-year-old was Southport’s leading scorer in the National League last season with 10 goals in 35 appearances.

He was also on target for Port in their 2-1 win against Dover at Crabble in March last year.

Allen joined Southport in the summer of 2015 from Fleetwood Town, where he had made five senior appearances, including scoring on his Football League debut at Northampton Town.

That strike was later voted as the club’s goal of the season in 2012/13.

While at Fleetwood, Allen also had loan spells with AFC Fylde and Stalybridge Celtic.

Welcome to Crabble Jamie!

WALKER STAYING AT CRABBLE

Goalkeeper Mitch Walker has agreed a new one-year deal to remain at the club.

The 25-year-old played 16 times in the National League last season as well as in the two FA Cup matches against Cambridge United.

The former England C man was one of the nine players from last season’s squad who had been offered new deals to stay at Crabble.

Assistant boss Jake Leberl is delighted Walker, who signed for Whites from Brighton & Hove Albion in May, 2012, is remaining at the club.

Leberl said: “Mitch has been a pleasure to work with since he arrived.

“His professionalism, work rate and attitude has always been first class and to top it off, he’s a top goalkeeper who is improving year on year.

“We are all delighted he’s agreed to stay.”

As for Walker himself, he’s looking to put his frustrations of last season behind him and focus on the future.

He said: “I have enjoyed all my previous seasons at Dover although last year was frustrating for me on a personal note as I did not play as much as of course I wanted.

“I want to play regularly in this league, and I had offers to go do so elsewhere, but after speaking to the management here, I will get that opportunity at Dover next season – my aim is to play every game.

“The club is heading in the right direction and the ambition here has not changed since the day I arrived.

“It’s something I want to be part of and I am looking forward to pushing on from where we finished last season.”

 

 

 

 

 

RETAINED LIST ANNOUNCED

Dover Athletic manager Chris Kinnear has announced his retained list as he looks to shape a squad for the 2017-18 National League season.

New terms have been offered to Sam MAGRI, Ricky MODESTE, Mitch WALKER, Richard ORLU, Tyrone STERLING, Jamie GRIMES, Aswad THOMAS, Ross LAFAYETTE and Bondz N’GALA.

Mitch PINNOCK has been retained by an option being exercised by the club while Chris BARNARD and George ESSUMAN are both already under contract.

The club would like to thank all the players released for their efforts during their time with us and wish them well for the future.

Further news will be on this website once available.

 

CAPTAIN’S REACTION

Captain and Man-of-the-Match Loui Fazakerley joins goal-scorer Ross Lafayette to give their reaction to the Kent Reliance Senior Cup final win against Welling United.

 

WHITES WIN CUP

Ross Lafayette and Aswad Thomas scored the goals as Dover beat Welling United 2-0 to win the Kent Reliance Senior Cup final at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Monday.

It was the first time Dover have won the cup since 1991 and they did it without conceding a goal along the way.

To complete a memorable day for Dover captain Loui Fazakerley, who was playing against his former club, he was named Man-of-the-Match.

Dover started brightly against the National League South side and Moses Emmanuel, one of the three changes boss Chris Kinnear made to his starting side following Saturday’s win at Barrow AFC, was soon in action.

He had the first effort of the day with his shot easily gathered by goalkeeper Chris Lewington before Mitch Pinnock’s 25-yarder flew just over the Welling bar.

Dover goalkeeper Mitch Walker was called into action not long after, diving low to his left to turn Ali Fuseni’s shot away for a corner.

Back at the other end, Thomas saw his header from Sam Magri’s cross easily caught by Lewington.

Walker then saved from his Wings namesake Darren and Tom Richards before Sam Hatton’s drive whistled inches wide of the Dover goal.

Lewington needed to be alert after Emmanuel charged down Danny Waldron’s clearance and the keeper won the foot race with the Dover frontman to the loose ball.

Welling had the first chance of the second half with Alex Cathline turning well in Dover’s box before seeing his shot saved at close range by Walker moments after the restart.

The deadlock was broken in the 54th minute and it stunning style by Lafayette.

His curling 25-yarder gave Lewington no chance as it flew into the top corner of the goal in front of the Dover fans.

Welling saw efforts from Hatton and Ricky Hayles fly well wide before Walker safely caught former Dover striker Harry Crawford’s shot.

Walker saved from Walker again before substitute Peter Skapetis’ overhead kick went close just after the Australian striker came on for his Dover debut.

Magri saw his header from Joe Healy’s corner saved by Lewington as Whites pressed for a second.

Thomas delivered it with three minutes to go when he headed home Healy’s cross.

Earlier, Kinnear had to make three enforced changes.

Jamie Grimes and Ricky Miller missed out through injury while Connor Essam’s loan deal from Eastleigh had ended.

They were replaced by Fazakerly, Pinnock and Emmanuel.

Dover: Walker, Orlu , N’Gala , Fazakerley, Magri, Healy, Pinnock (Skapetis mins), Hurst, Thomas, Lafayette (Stevenson 80 mins), Emmanuel (Jackson 90 mins).

Subs not used: Kinnear jnr, Barnard.

Welling United: Lewington, Richards, Johnson (Joesph-Dubois 71mins), Fish (Slabber 82mins), Waldron, Hayles, Fuseini, Hatton, Cathline, Crawford, Walker.

Subs not used: Leacock, Francis, Agu.

Attendance: 939

WHITES UP FOR CUP

Dover will be aiming to end the season with some silverware when they take on Welling United in Monday’s Kent Reliance Senior Cup final at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium,

Boss Chris Kinnear’s men defeated Herne Bay (1-0), VCD Athletic (4-0) and Folkestone Invicta (3-0) on their route to the decider.

National League South opponents Welling have beaten Chatham (6-1), Dartford (4-1 on penalties after it finished 2-2), Margate (2-1) and Charlton (2-0 on penalties after it finished 1-1).

Speaking after Saturday’s 3-2 win at Barrow AFC, Kinnear revealed he is planning on fielding a strong side for the final match of their 2016/17 campaign.

He said: “We want to win this game. 

“Three years ago we reached the final, but played the youngsters as we had the play-off final a few days after, so we now have the chance to field a strong team and we will.”

For fans wanting to wear the same colour shirts as the Kinnear’s side, his players will be wearing their traditional white shirts.

Ricky Modeste (leg) and Tyrone Sterling (hamstring) are unlikely to feature due to injury.

The game kicks-off at 3pm.