The 2020/21 National League season is set to kick-off behind closed doors next weekend.

In an email to Dover Athletic Chairman Jim Parmenter, the National League outlined its intentions.

It read: ”Until the Government announced its review of the safe return of spectators, the League was fully geared up to commence the season with clubs applying new socially-distanced stadium capacities and putting in place Covid-secure measures to ensure crowd safety.

“This week, three of our Clubs successfully held test events with up to 1,000 fans, and we hope that the diligent preparations made by all clubs to enable the return of fans may still be implemented in due course when permitted to do so.

“The League must now abide by the Government’s decision to exclude fans, and therefore, matches will be played “behind closed doors”, i.e. without supporters admitted, in accordance with Government policy and Stage 3 of the elite sport protocols until further notice.

“Looking forward, the Board’s objectives are to ensure that all clubs can commence their fixtures programme, and all clubs are able to meet their obligations over the course of the season.  Moving forward with only a subset of clubs involved would not be acceptable.

“Hence, the League’s appeal to Government with the assistance of The Football Association for each club to receive compensation for lost net gate revenue each month for the period that clubs are prevented from admitting supporters.

“The Board is aware that whilst some clubs may want to commence the season without external support, the vast majority of clubs require financial help to be able to sustain their participation over the coming months without crowds.

“The League is aiming to receive confirmation of the Government’s support in advance of the season commencing next weekend.  Should this not occur, the Board will review and reconsider its stance, and as ever, the Board will ensure the position and views of member clubs are central to any decision made.”

Our National League campaign is due to start against Notts County at Crabble on Saturday, October 3 at 3pm.

The game will be live streamed by DAFCtv and you can buy your match pass for it HERE

Fans who have already purchased a season ticket can watch the live streaming for free.

To help the club, season ticket holders have two options.

1. Take up the option of watching live streaming for free and use your ticket if the fans are allowed to attend games again. Once committed to this option, no refunds will be available.
2. Season ticket holders can claim a full refund.

The Chairman said: “We may be back playing football next week, but we need the support of our fans more than ever while they are not permitted in ground.”

We will be in touch with all season ticket holders directly.

 

Chairman Jim Parmenter gives an update after the Government announced this morning that they have paused their plans to bring crowds back to ‘elite’ football from October 1 after a rise in Covid-19 cases.

Whites are due to start their National League campaign against Notts County at Crabble on Saturday, October 3.

A surprised and disappointed Chairman said: “While the government have communicated with the nation, there has been no direct engagement with football clubs by them, the FA or National League – we still do not know what the plans are.

“The board have been working hard to ensure the club stays viable, although this is another setback to our efforts and inevitably this will involve further consultation with our staff.

“Supporters can be assured that we are doing everything we can to ensure the survival of the club and we are taking every possible step to ensure we are ready for when fans are able to come back to the ground.

“At present , we do not know what the plans for the League season are, but we believe that the most likely outcome is a delay to the start of the fixtures.

“Unless funding is provided by the government, football behind closed doors is not sustainable at our level.

“We will oppose any attempt to start the season behind closed doors.”

As previously communicated, season ticket payments are fully protected and full refunds will be given, so fans do not need to worry.

The same goes for shirt purchases, which will be delivered as planned and available within the next couple of weeks, subject to our kit supplier not being effected by lockdown closure or delays.

See Jim Parmenter on BBC NEWS at 10 (22/09/2020)

We’ve announced four new signings this week and now we have some more great news for supporters.

First up, our Early Bird season ticket offers have been extended until September 5th.

Tickets are priced as follows:

Adults £315.00

Over 60s £255.00

We are also able to confirm that under-18 season tickets are also now on sale and that under-11s will also go free with a paying adult for all league games at Crabble.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “We recognise that putting U-18 and U-11 tickets sales on hold, while we awaited further clarity on capacity limit plans, was some concerning to some of our supporters.

“However, we are now confident that capacity limits will be sufficiently high enough to allow sales to continue as normal.

“We would like to thank supporters for their patience.”

You can buy them online from the club shop here

At present, plans communicated to to the club could see capacity caps of 15% at Crabble – that percentage means a limit of 861 spectators with no away fans allowed in.

 As a consequence, we have had to review season ticket arrangement for this season and the following things are being put in place:

THERE WILL BE NO TICKET SALES OR PAY ON THE TURNSTILES ON THE DAY

While we await confirmation of the exact cap figure, there will be no under-18 season tickets on sale.

To ensure that the club is able to remain solvent, that means making very difficult decisions to make the  most of limited ticket sales.

Under 11s for free is also under review and plans in this area will be communicated closer to the start of the season.

However, if under 11s are included in the cap figure it is likely, and with deep regret, that the club would have to remove this ticket for the 2020/21 season, or until the cap is lifted.

The Chairman said: ”Everyone will appreciate the difficult times ahead and we ask our loyal supporters to understand and give us as much support as they can.

“The Board will do everything we can to keep the Club solvent and be as competitive as possible on the pitch working closely with Hess (Manager Andy Hessenthaler) and his management team.

“I would like to stress that the situation is dynamic and the Club is keeping everything under regular review and will react to bring things back inline with normal as soon as restrictions allow.”

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce that ALL entry and season ticket prices will be frozen for the 2020-2021 season.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said the decision was made, despite the club facing a very uncertain financial future as regards to what football will look like going forwards.

He said: ”Everyone is doing it tough in these unprecedented times and we recognise that many of our supporters and their families are struggling financially during the pandemic and we as a club are no different.

“We have had no income since March, but bills still need to be paid – it’s tough for clubs to survive.

“That said, we decided to maintain the current price structure rather than increase it, but we need the support of our fans and the wider community more than ever before to make it work.

“I would hope therefore, that our supporters are happy with this decision.”

Season tickets will go on sale next week and all the information about how to get yours will be released on this website in the near future.

In other news, the Chairman revealed one of the cost-cutting measures the club had taken will see the team training three mornings a week in the future.

He said: ”It’s simply not financially viable to train like we did last season, so you have make changes and we have.

”As for when I think the season will start, well, I cannot see it happening at our level until fans are allowed back into grounds.

“We just cannot afford to play behind closed doors.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Whites’ fans planning on travelling to Notts County on Saturday 18th January, you can save yourself money by purchasing a ticket in advance!

Simply click HERE and follow the instructions to book yourself in for our first-ever visit to Meadow Lane.

The cost of buying a ticket on the day of the National League match will cost £2 more than in advance online.

Dover fans will be in allocated seats in block Y2 of the Jimmy Sirrel stand.

Tickets for our Emirates FA Cup second round tie at Peterborough United on December 1st are now on sale at Crabble.

You can purchase your ticket, as well as a token for free coach travel personally provided by our chairman Jim Parmenter, from reception during the week or during our home match against Maidenhead on Tuesday 26th November.

The prices are:

In Advance

Adults: £15
Seniors 65+: £10
U22s: £10
U18s: £3

Match day prices
Adults: £20
Seniors 65+: £15
U22s: £15
U18s: £5

Please note we will only accept cash only for tickets.