Category: First Team News

JUDD IS BACK AT CRABBLE

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce the signing of defender Myles Judd, subject to FA approval.

The 23-year-old former Leyton Orient right-back returns to Crabble after making 15 National League appearances for Andy Hessenthaler’s side last season after arriving on a non-contract basis in January.

He made his debut for us in the National League game at Wealdstone on January 15th.

Judd, who will wear the number two shirt for us, made 66 appearances in all competitions for the O’s and was also a member of the O’s team that won promotion from the National League in the 2018-19 season.

Judd came through the junior ranks at the East London Club and signed his professional deal with them in 2015.

At the end of the 2016/17 season, he won the LFE Apprentice of the Year for League Two, he played an integral part for his side that season, making 20 appearances in Sky Bet League Two.

Welcome back to Crabble, Myles !!

If you would like to sponsor Myles’ home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email [email protected] for details.

HURRY TO BOOK A CURRY

Bookings are now being taken for our curry night in the VIP Platinum Suite for next Wednesday’s (July 20th) pre-season game against Brighton & Hove Albion 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.

MATCH PREVIEW: DEAL TOWN VS DOVER

Andy Hessenthaler’s squad is on the road for the first time in their pre-season campaign when they make the short trip to the Charles Ground to play hosts Deal Town at 7.45pm on Tuesday.

Whites started the season with a 2-0 win against Gillingham at Crabble on Saturday thanks to goals from debutant Jordan Higgs and Arjanit Krasniqi.

The Hoops have played three games in their pre-season schedule, losing against visiting Charlton Athletic (2-6), before back-to-back wins against a young Gills XI (3-0) and away at Lydd Town (4-3) last Saturday

Admission Details

Adults – £5

Concessions – £3

Under 18s – Free

Gates, as well as the bar, will be open from 6.30pm.

Last Meeting 

20th July 2021 – Deal Town 0 – 3 Dover Athletic

Whites’ Upcoming Pre-Season Fixtures

  • 12th July: Deal Town vs Dover Athletic 
  • 16th July: Margate vs Dover Athletic 
  • 20th July: Dover Athletic vs Brighton & Hove Albion
  • 23rd July: Larkfield & New Hythe FC vs Dover Athletic
  • 27th July: Ramsgate vs Dover Athletic 
  • 30th July: Folkestone Invicta vs Dover Athletic

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 2-0 pre-season win against former club Gillingham at Crabble.

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Andy Hessenthaler spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 2-0 win against Gillingham in the pre-season opener at Crabble on Saturday.

Debutant Jordan Higgs put Whites ahead two minutes before half-time.

Gills replacement keeper Jake Turner saved Higgs’ first effort before the midfielder headed the rebound home.

Turner had earlier come on to replace our former Charlton Athletic loanee, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, after the Australian dislocated his shoulder.

A superb free-kick from Arjanit Krasniqi in the 50th minute completed the impressive win.

Dover first half: Nelson, Moses, Sterling, Paxman, Higgs, Wilkinson, Baptiste, Byford, Pavey, Carney, Wanadio.

Dover second half: Nelson, Judd, Moses (Agbebi 70mins), Paxman (Skirwayi 66mins), Green, Brundle, Martin, Trialist, Nikaj, Grant, Krasniqi.

Gillingham: Maynard-Brewer (Turner 20mins), Alexander (Wright 60mins), Tutonda (Akehurst 60mins), Baggott (Greenidge 46mins), Mensah (Carter 60mins), Williams (Jefferies 46mins), O’Keefe (Wise 60mins), Reeves (Kashket 46mins), Green (McDonald 60mins), Lee (MacArthur 60mins), Walker (Gbode 60mins). Sub not used: Moore.

Attendance: 917

 

 

 

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER VS GILLINGHAM

We start our pre-season campaign this afternoon when we welcome League 2 Gillingham to Crabble.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler has been busy rebuilding his squad over the summer following our relegation to the National League South last season.

The game will give fans their first opportunity to see new signings Jordan Higgs, Alfie Paxman, Luke Wanadio, Reece Grant, Alfie Pavey, Tyrone Sterling,  Arjanit Krasniqi, and Mitch Brundle, together with the former Gillingham duo of Stuart Nelson and Lee Martin, in action.

The Gills kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory at Folkestone Invicta last Saturday with goals from Jordan Greene and Olly Lee.

Neal Harris’ Gills squad also includes a former Dover loanee, Australian goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The 22-year-old Maynard-Brewer, who impressed whilst on loan from Charlton Athletic during the 2019-2020 season, joined Gills on a season-long loan from Charlton last month.

The game kicks off at 1pm and admission is as follows:

Adults:  £10

Concessions:  £5

Under 11s: Free with a paying adult

Season ticket holders:  Free

Whites’ Upcoming Pre-Season Fixtures

  • 9th July: Dover Athletic vs Gillingham
  • 12th July: Deal Town vs Dover Athletic 
  • 16th July: Margate vs Dover Athletic 
  • 20th July: Dover Athletic vs Brighton & Hove Albion
  • 23rd July: Larkfield & New Hythe FC vs Dover Athletic
  • 27th July: Ramsgate vs Dover Athletic 
  • 30th July: Folkestone Invicta vs Dover Athletic

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

We play host to League 2 opposition this Saturday when manager Andy Hessenthaler’s new-look squad starts its pre-season campaign against Gillingham at Crabble.

The game will give fans their first opportunity to see summer signings Jordan Higgs, Alfie Paxman, Luke Wanadio, Reece Grant, Alfie Pavey, Stuart Nelson, Tyrone Sterling,  Arjanit Krasniqi, Mitch Brundle, and Lee Martin, in action.

The squad started pre-season training last week.

Gills, managed by Hessenthaler’s good friend Neil Harris, have played two games already.

They won 2-0 at Folkestone Invicta last Saturday before a very young Gills side lost 3-0 at Deal Town on Tuesday night.

The game kicks off at 1pm and admission is as follows:

Adults:  £10

Concessions:  £5

Under 11s: Free with a paying adult

Season ticket holders:  Free

LEAGUE FIXTURES RELEASED

We will start our National League South campaign in Sussex when we take on Worthing on August 6th.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side will follow that up with consecutive home games against Hungerford Town and Tonbridge Angels.

Boxing Day sees Whites travel to Dulwich Hamlet before we host them in the reverse fixture on January 1st.

The final game of the regular season will be at home to Weymouth on Saturday, April 29th.

FORMER RED DEVIL IS NOW A WHITE

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce the signing of former Manchester United and Gillingham man, Lee Martin.

The hugely experienced attacking midfielder makes the move to Crabble after spending the past two seasons at Ebbsfleet United.

The 35-year-old started his career in the youth ranks at Wimbledon before he signed for Manchester United in December 2003 after the Red Devils paid an estimated £1m for him.

While he was at Old Trafford, Lee had loan spells at Royal Antwerp, Rangers, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield United, and Nottingham Forest.

Lee,  made his first Premier League start for Manchester United against Hull City in 2009, a match Sir Alex Ferguson’s men won 1-0, before then Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane paid £1.5m for him.

He made more than 100 appearances for Ipswich and also had a loan spell at Charlton Athletic during his time at Portman Road.

Lee has also played for Millwall, Northampton Town, and Gillingham, where he was captain for the 2017/18 campaign, and Exeter City.

He joined Ebbsfleet from Exeter in July 2020 after appearing more than 80 times in two seasons for the Grecians.

Welcome to Crabble, Lee!

If you would like to sponsor Lee’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email [email protected] for details.

 

HESS GETS HIS ASSISTANT

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Mitch Brundle as player/assistant to manager Andy Hessenthaler.

The 27-year-old midfielder returns to Crabble after leaving for Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer of 2019.

During his first spell with us, Mitch made 99 appearances and scored 13 goals across all competitions for the club after arriving from Gateshead in May 2017.

Mitch also captained the team and was named Supporters’ Player of the Season and Away Supporters’ Player of the Season at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Since leaving the Daggers, Mitch has played for Barnet and Farnborough.

Please join us in giving Mitch a warm welcome back to Crabble!

If you would like to sponsor Mitch’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email [email protected] for details.