Archives: News

Jake Leberl Interview: Part 1

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/LLKDgbPmMGA

In this interview with Justin Allen, Jake discusses the end of preseason and the start of the competitive season. He reflects on the challenges of rebuilding the team.

Jake emphasises the importance of community involvement and a positive atmosphere, fan support and commercial backing for the club’s success. Jake stresses his commitment to contributing positively to the club he loves, hoping to build a strong and united team and community.

In Part 2 Jake talks through all of this summers signings and what they bring to the squad.

Up Next – Potters Bar Town

Whites begin their 24/25 campaign against Potters Bar Town

Dover Athletic

Jake Leberl will be hoping to seamlessly merge a positive preseason with the real deal as we begin our Isthmian Premier Division campagin with an away trip to Potters Bar Town. The Whites struck seven past Lancing FC in our final outing of preseason and the team will want to replicate their efforts in front of goal against the Hertfordshire side.

The squad will be feeling fresh and ready going into the game with only Henry Young (knee) and Kieron Agbebi (foot) currently injured and unavailable.

From the Manager

“We’ve had an extremely busy off season doing our very best to build a balanced stable squad for everyone to be proud off full. A squad full of ambition, pace, passion, commitment, quality, and desire. A group of lads that want to give their all for the cause and I ask you to get behind these boys at every opportunity.

Preseason has been a breath of fresh air with generally positive performances and results. We have learnt lessons along the way and will look to grow and improve as a group as the season goes on. The real test starts now against Potters Bar.”

Kit

Dover Athletic will line up in our yellow and green away kit on Saturday with Mitch Walker in the blue keepers strip. Potters Bar Town will be in their maroon home kit and their goalkeeper in orange.

The Opposition

The Scholars were beaten 2-1 by St Albans City in their last game, losing the final of the 2024 Herts Charity Cup. They had led after a penalty of the stroke of half-time, scored by Ore Bello, before goals in the 77 minute and 90+3 ended their hopes of preseason silverware. Potters Bar finished 15th in the Isthmian Premier last season with 51 points.

Manager, Max Mitchell, joined the club initially as Lee Protheroe’s assistant. He was promoted to manager following Protheroe’s resignation in April 2023. Mitchell’s managerial career also includes roles at Walthamstow, Hertford, and St Margaretsbury.

The only former Dover player in the Potters Bar squad is forward Oreofe Bello, who joined us at the start of the 23/24 campaign. He made 5 appearances for Dover in the National League South before making the move to Potters Bar. You may remember his assist for Luke Baptiste’s last minute winner away to Slough Town.

The Venue

The Scholars are currently installing an artificial surface at the Lantern Stadium and works are expected to last until close to the new year. They therefore have had to move to a new venue at Gaywood Park in the Orbital Fasteners Stadium – the home of Kings Langley FC.

Getting to the Ground

Driving: Take exit 20 of the M25 and follow signs for the A4251. At the roundabout take the first exit and drive through Kings Langley High Street. After about one mile the ground will be on your right.

Parking: If travelling by car, please note that there is very limited parking available at the stadium. Parking is readily available in the village centre and by the surrounding areas around the ground. We recommend using Langley Hill Car Park (WD4 9HD) or The Nap Car Park (WD4 8ET). These are free car parks located in the village, just a 10 minute walk from The Orbital Fasteners Stadium.

Train: The nearest station to the ground is Apsley, on the West Coast Mainline. Trains from London Euston and Watford Junction run every 30 minutes. The ground is a 25 minute walk from the station. Exit the station and turn right walking along London Road through to Hempstead Road, where the ground will be on your left.

The Orbital Fasteners Stadium. Hempstead Road. Kings Langley. Hertfordshire. WD4 8BS

Admission  

Adults: £13
Concessions: £10 * **
U16: £1

* Concessions includes students and over 65’s
** ID with proof of age may be required.

24/25 Squad Numbers Confirmed

We can now confirm our official squad numbers for the 2024/45 season.

The players will also have their names on the playing shirts.

Squad numbers in full:

1 Mitch WALKER (GK)

2 Roman CHARLES-COOK 

3 Fuad SESAY

4 Jeremiah GYEBI

5 Joe TENNENT

6 Luca COCORACCHIO 

7 Luke BAPTISTE 

8 Alfie MATTHEWS

9 Eniye AMGBADUBA

10 George NIKAJ 

11 Lindell STEWART

12 Matty HOLNESS

14 Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR

15 Tamas AMGBADUBA

16 Harrison PONT 

17 Archie HATCHER

18 Henry YOUNG 

19 Jayden SILCOTT-BROWN

20 Jaiden DRAKES-THOMAS

21 Kieron AGBEBI

23 George WILKINSON

Welcome Alfie Matthews

We are delighted to announce the signing of forward Alfie Matthews.

The 23 year old began his youth career at Arsenal, joining their academy at the age of eight and spending over a decade there. During his time at Arsenal, he trained with the first team and made notable progress through the youth ranks​. He was capped for England at U16 level, where he scored on his debut. He later joined Crystal Palace U23s. Matthews has most recently played for NLS sides Hemel Hempstead, Braintree and Welling.

Alfie has made 69 National League South appearances scoring 10 goals, he has also featured in U18 Premier League and Premier League 2.

Welcome to Crabble, Alfie!

(Subject to clearance)

Welcome Fuad Sesay

We are delighted to announce the signing of defender Fuad Sesay. The left-back started his career with Sheffield Wednesday, where he made a significant impact in the U18 and U21 teams. Fuad rejoins us after being part of last season’s squad having made 3 appearances in our National League South campaign.

Welcome back to Crabble, Fuad!

Don’t miss your chance to sponsor Sesay this season. Home £100, Away £90, Home and Away £180. You’ll be named in our Matchday Magazine for duration of the season and named on doverathletic.com for the season. You’ll have the chance to meet Fuad and receive his shirt at the end of the season. All sponsors are entered into a prize draw to win 2 X Premier Club day passes for the last game of the season. To purchase, please contact the office by phone on 01304822373, or alternatively pop into reception on a matchday.

Jaiden Drakes-Thomas signs for 24/25

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce that midfielder Jaiden Drakes-Thomas has agreed terms to remain at the Megger Community Stadium for the 2024/25 season.

Before joining Dover Athletic in March last season, Jaiden Drakes-Thomas was part of the Colchester United U21 squad and had previously featured for Sevenoaks Town.

Don’t miss your chance to sponsor Jaiden this season. Home £100, Away £90, Home and Away £180. You’ll be named in our Matchday Magazine for duration of the season and named on doverathletic.com for the season. You’ll have the chance to meet Jaiden and receive his shirt at the end of the season. All sponsors are entered into a prize draw to win 2 X Premier Club day passes for the last game of the season. To purchase, please contact the office by phone on 01304822373, or alternatively pop into reception on a matchday.

Season Preview with Fred Deveson

The new season for Dover Athletic is already upon us, and with one preseason game left to go against Lancing FC, there’s no better time to look at what’s ahead in this new season for the Whites.

Dover will be looking to try and bounce back this season, after last season’s relegation from the National League South. Joining the Whites in step 3 are Dartford, who will be eager to correct their wrongs last season and jump straight back into the National League South. The two fixtures between Dover and Dartford will be tasty ones indeed, particularly if there are certain league places up for grabs at the end of the season, with the two facing off in the third to last match of the season. 

Ties against the likes Hastings United, Hashtag United, promotion chasing Billericay and, of course, local rivals Folkestone Invicta gives the fans plenty to look forward too. The local derby against Folkestone is less than two weeks away, with the two coming head to head against each other on Tuesday 13th August, and again on the 5th November, which is also controversially on a Tuesday night. 

There are also plenty of new faces around the club, with new signings coming in to try and push Jake Leberl’s Whites to a much better season than last. Mitch Walker returning will also inject a positive atmosphere in and around the club, on and off the pitch, and his history at the club and experience is no doubt going to be vital for the team in this upcoming season.

Joining him from Whitehawk are the defensive duo of Joe Tennent and Luca Cocoracchio, who will add solidity to the defence, alongside Gyebi. 

There’s also some familiar faces who have signed for another season, with Baptiste, Nikaj and Wilkinson all confirmed to be staying on for the season, alongside others like Young, Holness, Hatcher and Roman Charles-Cook. These names will give continuity in the team and, having been at the club for some time now, they will bring with them huge amounts of passion and will undoubtably be playing for the badge. 

Dover head to Potters Bar for the first game of the season, which kicks off at 3pm on August 10th, which is just next week. The Whites will be looking to make a good start to the season at a tricky place, with the hopes of picking up all 3 points on the road. 

I hope it will be an incredible season for Dover, but first, the final preseason game against Lancing FC takes place at Crabble this Saturday with kick off at 3pm. Can the Whites end a positive preseason with a win?

George Wilkinson Interview

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/xdq83Dz8XCE

George Wilkinson discusses his decision to stay with Dover Athletic. Emphasizing the importance of gaining more playtime and improving his game, with hopes of scoring more goals and assists in the coming season.

Wilkinson, a local talent who came up through the club’s youth system, shares memories of playing in the National League and reflects on the team’s difficult times, including relegation and the impact of COVID-19.

He speaks fondly of his first season in men’s football, the positive changes under the current manager and the team’s efforts to improve and recruit new talent.

George Wilkinson signs for 24/25

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce that midfielder George Wilkinson has agreed terms to remain at the Megger Community Stadium for the 2024/25 season.

George, a Dover Athletic Academy graduate, signed his first senior deal with the club in January 2022. The then 18-year-old made his first start for Andy Hessenthaler’s side in the 2-1 National League defeat at Wealdstone that January. He went on the make a further 22 appearances in the National League, scoring once – that spectacular effort at Wrexham. Wilkinson has gone on to make 50 National League South appearances, finding the net three times.

Boss Jake Leberl has said:

We are delighted that George has agreed to stay for another season. I thought he did very well last season and I look forward to working with him again. I know George will work hard to reach his full potential and fulfill his own personal goals whilst helping us move forward as a team. He’s a local lad and academy graduate and a key part of bringing the feel good factor back to this club. 

Jake Leberl

Don’t miss your chance to sponsor Wilkinson this season. Home £100, Away £90, Home and Away £180. You’ll be named in our Matchday Magazine for duration of the season and named on doverathletic.com for the season. You’ll have the chance to meet George and receive his shirt at the end of the season. All sponsors are entered into a prize draw to win 2 X Premier Club day passes for the last game of the season. To purchase, please contact the office by phone on 01304822373, or alternatively pop into reception on a matchday.

Folkestone Invicta – VIP Style

Fancy watching the Whites take on Folkestone in style? Of course you do.

The boys will be looking to put on a show and where else would you rather watch it than here with us.

Watch the game from the best seats in the house and let our match day hospitality provide the ultimate way to spend your time with us.

The package includes:

  • Butler hosted lounge with large TVs and a projector showing the game
  • 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 match day team sheet

The very special experience costs £15 per person and is available for individual and group bookings, or as a gift voucher.

Please note that this price does NOT include entry for non-season ticket holders who do attend, and they will still need to pay at the turnstile on the day.

On the menu for the game will be :

Main:

Cottage Pie, Peas and Gravy

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 buy your VIP ticket please email [email protected] or call the office on 01304 822373