It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Dover Athletic – and this year, the club is giving the town the ultimate present: free entry to their match against Eastbourne on Saturday December 20

“Come and have a bit of a party at Dover and enjoy the game,” says chairman Jim Parmenter.

Let’s be honest, times are tough. Every time you turn on the telly, there’s a new tax, price hike, or headline about the cost of living. Dover isn’t exactly rolling in cash, and Parmenter knows it.

That’s why he’s throwing open the gates and inviting everyone for a jolly knees-up, complete with disco, fancy dress, mulled wine, and even Santa in his grotto. There’s something for everyone. Kids get freebies, grown-ups get mulled wine, and anyone with a questionable taste in fashion can win prizes for fancy dress.

The party starts at noon, and the club’s even opening extra catering outlets. If you’re hungry for football and sausage rolls, this is your chance. But it’s not just about mince pies and merriment. The Whites are in cracking form, riding high in the table.

“I’m getting a nosebleed,” Jim jokes, not from the mulled wine, but from the dizzying heights Dover finds themselves after last season’s promotion.

Despite injuries and budget challenges, the team is punching well and the community’s feel-good factor is “very good.”

Check out his interview with Justin Allen on DAFCtv now.