Category: First Team News

HESS GETS HIS NUMBER ONE

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Stuart Nelson.

Our new number one most recently played for League 2 Sutton United after a short spell with National League South side Dorking Wanderers.

‘Nels’ as he likes to be called, has made well over 500 appearances in his career including 223 for Gillingham during a five and half-year stay at Priestfield.

He joined the Gills from Notts County in 2012 and was a key man for Martin Allen’s League 2 title-winning side, playing every game.

In Nelson’s second season with Gillingham, he won the Player of the Season award.

After leaving Gills, Nelson signed for then League 2 Yeovil Town in 2018 and made 43 appearances for the Glovers during a two-year spell.

After starting his career with Cirencester Town, Nels joined Millwall in 2000 and had spells with Doncaster Rovers and Hucknall Town before joining Brentford in 2004, where he made 133 appearances for the Bees.

In 2007, he joined Leyton Orient for a year before leaving for Norwich City. One year in Norfolk was followed by a year with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen.

Nels then joined League 1 side Notts County, where he established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, making 90 appearances before he joined Gillingham.

He also made three appearances for Crawley Town in the 20/21 season after leaving Yeovil.

Welcome to Crabble, Nels!

If you would like to sponsor Nels’ home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

 

 

 

DON’T MISS OUT ON EARLY BIRD OFFER

The clock is running down for supporters to purchase their Early Bird Season Tickets for the 2022/23 campaign.

The June 30th deadline is rapidly approaching and that means the final opportunity to guarantee the best possible price for the next term – so  don’t miss out

To take advantage of this offer and save money, make sure you purchase yours quickly.

Prices are:

Season ticket prices 

Early Bird Offer (must be purchased before June 30th)

Adults £250

Over 60s £214

After June 30th

Adult £331

Over 60s £290

Pay on the gate

Adult £16
Over 60 £14
Under 18 £8

We are also able to confirm that under-18 season tickets are also now on sale for £50

Under-11s will continue to get in for free with a paying adult for all league games at Crabble.

All season tickets can be purchased by the following options:

  • You can buy online HERE
  • Call the club office on 01304 822373 (option 2) to pay by card
  • Head up to the club office at Crabble between 9am-5pm (Monday-Friday) or on matchdays

VACANCIES: SPORTS SCIENCE INTERNS

The club is offering an exciting opportunity for Sports Science Interns to work alongside our sports science and medical department for the 2022/23 season.

This volunteer placement opportunity will offer a chance to gain experience within a first-team environment as well developing knowledge in football.

Roles & Responsibilities

  • Assisting with the delivery of gym and field-based sessions
  • Providing GPS reports for the team and individual analysis
  • Monitoring training load
  • Assist with rehabilitation sessions and programming
  • Assist with individual and team performance testing
  • Matchday and training support

Experience

  • Working towards an undergraduate degree in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or related field (E)
  • Understanding of gym and field-based strategies (E)
  • Experience within a multi-disciplinary team (D)
  • Experience in using IT software (E)
  • To be reliable, committed, organised, and enthusiastic (E)
  • Experience of working in a sporting environment (D)

How to Apply

Please email your CV and cover letter to Harry Towner at harrytowner1@outlook.com

 

PAVEY ARRIVES PERMANENTLY

We are delighted to announce that striker Alfie Pavey has made the move to Crabble a permanent one after leaving National League South champions Maidstone United.

The 26-year-old made 18 appearances for Andy Hessenthaler’s team while on loan from Maidstone last season after making his debut in the 1-1 draw against Yeovil Town at Huish Park in November.

He scored six goals in his time with us, with his final one coming in the 6-5 defeat at Wrexham.

The frontman is no stranger to Dover supporters after he scored 12 goals in 38 appearances for us in his previous spell at Crabble after arriving from Havant & Waterlooville in November 2018.

He left Dover to sign for Barnet for an undisclosed fee in September 2019 before joining Maidstone in June 2021.

After spending his youth career with Maidstone, where he scored 300 goals in three years for the Stones’ academy and youth sides, Pavey earned a move to Championship side Millwall.

In his three years with the Lions, Pavey, had loan spells with Barnet, Bromley, Aldershot, Hampton and Richmond, and Dartford.

Following a brief spell with Welling United, Pavey returned to Dartford, scoring 28 goals in 38 matches and winning the National League South Player of the Season award.

He then joined promoted Havant & Waterlooville and scored four times in 19 appearances before making the move to Crabble.

Welcome back, Alfie !!

If you would like to sponsor Alfie’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

CARNEY EARNS CONTRACT

Dover Athletic is delighted to announce that Academy striker Noah Carney has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The 18-year-old England Schoolboys International made nine National League appearances for manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side last season.

He also scored 15 goals in 10 games for Mike Sandmann’s Academy team.

Carney joins fellow Academy players Harrison Byford, George Nikaj, Luke Baptiste, and George Wilkinson in the senior squad.

Congratulations Noah and all the very best for the upcoming season.

If you would like to sponsor Noah’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

 

PAXMAN IS A WHITE

We are delighted to announce attacking full-back Alfie Paxman has joined us after leaving Folkestone Invicta.

The 24-year-old, a former Dover Athletic Academy graduate, made 60 appearances for Neil Cugley’s side last season, scoring 11 goals.

Two of his goals came in the 3-3 draw in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at National League Eastleigh.

In his final season with Folkestone, Paxman won both the Supporters’ and Player’s Player of the Season awards as well as the Young Player of the Season award.

He also won seven Man of the Match awards during the course of the season.

Paxman, Andy Hessenthaler’s third summer signing, joined Folkestone from Ramsgate in May 2018 after scoring 23 times in the 2017-18 season.

During his time with Mike Sandmann at the Dover Academy, Paxman made one National League appearance for Chris Kinnear’s team, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 defeat against Forest Green Rovers at Crabble in April 2016.

Welcome back to Crabble, Alfie!

If you would like to sponsor Alfie’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

 

 

 

 

 

MIDFIELDER SIGNS ON

We are delighted to reveal that midfielder Jordan Higgs has become manager Andy Hessenthaler’s second summer signing.

The 25-year-old made 31 appearances in National League South for Dulwich Hamlet last season after joining them from Bromley.

Higgs, a Bromley Academy graduate, made over 150 first-team appearances for The Ravens, including starting in the 2018 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium.

Welcome to Crabble, Jordan!

If you would like to sponsor Jordan’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

 

GOODMAN IS BACK!

Dover Athletic Football Club is delighted to announce that defender Jake Goodman has re-joined the club.

The 28-year-old centre-back is manager Andy Hessenthaler’s first signing of the summer.

Goodman, who will once again wear the number six shirt, made 40 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring four goals in the National League after arriving last summer from Ebbsfleet United.

He also captained the side on eight occasions and finished the season by being voted the 2021/22 Supporters’ Player of the Season.

Welcome back to the club, Jake!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY BIRD OFFER

A 2022/23 Season Ticket will mean you’re always there and gives you the best access to your club at the best price!

So don’t delay – get yours today while the Early Bird Offer is still valid.

Prices are:

Season ticket prices 

Early Bird Offer (must be purchased before June 30th)

Adults £250

Over 60s £214

After June 30th

Adult £331

Over 60s £290

Pay on the gate

Adult £16
Over 60 £14
Under 18 £8

We are also able to confirm that under-18 season tickets are also now on sale for £50

Under-11s will continue to get in for free with a paying adult for all league games at Crabble.

All season tickets can be purchased by the following options:

  • You can buy online HERE
  • Call the club office on 01304 822373 (option 2) to pay by card
  • Head up to the club office at Crabble between 9am-5pm (Monday-Friday) or on matchdays

 

RETAINED LIST 2022/23

We can now confirm our retained and released lists following the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign.

The following players remain under contract:

Ryan Hanson, Luke Baptiste, Will Moses, George Wilkinson.

The following players are out of contract and have left the club:

Reda Johnson, Koby Arthur, TJ Bramble, Marshall Wratten, Josh Bexon, James Caton, Travis Gregory, Seth Twumasi.

The club would like to thank all departing players for their efforts during their time with us and we wish them every success in the future.

The following out-of-contract players have been offered new deals: 

Jake Goodman, Danny Collinge.

The following loan players have returned to their parent clubs, with our sincere thanks for their services to the club during their stay:

Henry Woods (Gillingham)

Harry Ransom (Crawley Town)

Adam Parkes (Watford)

Michael Gyasi (King’s Lynn Town)

Manager Andy Hessenthaler has also offered TJ Bramble and Myles Judd the opportunity to attend pre-season to prove their fitness.