Let’s jump back to the 2002/03 season in the Dr. Martebs League Premier Division when The Whites did the double over local rivals Folkestone. Read both match reports below:

Monday 26 August 2002 – Folkestone Invicta 1 – 2 Dover Athletic Tait (Pen 71) – Dent (5, 7) | Att: 1446

DOVER ATHLETIC: Hyde, Browne, Norman, Readings, Arnott, Chapman, Day (James 81), Spiller, Glover (Godden 68), Dent, Carruthers Substitutes Not Used: Humphries, Davies, Williams

A bumper crowd of over 1400 witnessed a strange game of football at Folkestone’s Cheriton Road ground on Bank Holiday Monday. Bouyed by the return of ex-Folkestone favourite Nicky Dent, wearing a Dover shirt for the first time in nearly ten years, the Whites made a stunning start to the match and ran a shell-shocked Invicta side ragged in the first half but ended up holding on for a narrow 2-1 victory.

Dent, one of several players involved who had played for both clubs, clearly had a point to prove, and he wasted no time getting started. Some supporters were still taking up their positions when Dent struck for the second time, in the seventh minute, to put the Whites two goals ahead. The 34-year-old first struck in the fifth minute, with his head from close range after Simon Glover had failed to convert the chance at the first attempt. Then just two minutes later he found himself one-on-one with Folkestone keeper Dave Wietecha, and although the highly-rated Invicta shot-stopper got a hand to the ball it wasn’t enough to keep it out.

Dover continued to dominate in the opening half hour and spurned numerous chances to kill the game as a contest. A fine Matt Carruthers effort went just wide in the 23rd minute and Simon Glover could have had a couple.

It wasn’t until the 30th minute that Paul Hyde was forced to make a save, and 2-0 at the interval was flattering to the home side.

The second half was a more even affair and although there were a couple of early chances for Dover, they struggled to put the game beyond Folkestone.

The home side were given a lifeline in the 71st minute when a Lee Spiller challenge from behind conceded a penalty just inside the area. Ex-Deal forward Adam Tait confidently converted the spot-kick and suddenly it was a different game. Folkestone pushed forward more in pursuit of an equaliser and Dover defended deeply.

Athletic resisted the pressure and held on for the points that their first half performance deserved but it was a lot closer than it should have been.

Thursday 26 December 2002 – Dover Athletic 2 – 1 Folkestone Invicta Spiller (37), Dent (80) – Chandler (65) | Att: 1601

DOVER ATHLETIC: Hyde, Browne, Norman, Patterson, D.Readings, Carruthers (James 85), Day, Spiller, Tyne, Dent, Glover Substitutes Not Used: Davies, Cloke, Smissen, K.Readings

Dover’s most local of local rivals made the short trip to Crabble on Boxing Day but ultimately went home empty handed despite a spirited display that kept Dover on their toes right until the final whistle.

With four key players unavailable and unhelpful playing conditions, manager Clive Walker will be more than happy with a third 2-1 victory over Invicta this season. Illness ruled out Kenny Dyer and injuries to Andy Arnott, Danny Chapman and long-term casualy Nicky Humphrey forced Walker to field an attacking 3-4-3 formation with Tyne, Glover and former Folkestone hero Nicky Dent forming a three-pronged attack.

Like Welling on Saturday, Folkestone were left cursing the form of Dover assistant manager Paul Hyde in goal as he denied Ayling, Dryden and Tait. At the other end ex-Dover stopper Maurice Munden, fittingly given a warm welcome by the home crowd, was unable to keep out Lee Spiller’s deflected shot, from Tony Browne’s cross, as it looped into the top corner in the 37th minute.

Despite being 1-0 down at half time and having won only twice season, Folkestone continued to play their football and were rewarded when Mark Chandler converted Dryden’s incisive through-ball. Miller then could have given the visitors the lead but sliced his shot well wide.

Folkestone looked good value for a point but Dover’s hard work was rewarded 10 minutes from time when they forced a winner. Glover’s looping chip was kept out of the top corner by the fingertips of Munden only to fall to Tyne who drove it back at the goal from a narrow angle and it was bundled over the line from just inches out by a combination of Dent and Folkestone defender John Guest.

Tonight’s Match Sponsor is London-based private household recruitment company Exclusive Household Staff (EHS), founded by Dover-born John Pettman who has been a lifelong Dover Athletic fan spanning more than 30 years. John also owns the Exclusive Butler School (EBS) which provides Butler Training globally to the world’s elite.

Over the past few seasons John has provided either a professional EHS Butler or an EBS Trainee Butler at each home game to host the VIP lounge and look after visiting owners and Directors.

Having supported the club for three decades, his favourite players over the years have been (Sir) David Leworthy, Ricky Reina, and Ricky Miller for their attacking threat, as well as fond memories of Jason Bartlett, Lee Shearer, Brian Horne, and Olly Shultz for their defensive prowess!

A massive thanks to John and the team at EHS!

Don’t miss your chance to join us for the day as main match sponsor and have the full matchday experience.

There’s still time to get involved with plenty of thrilling games to come this season. For further enquiries and bookings please email [email protected] or phone the office on 01304 822373.

Matchday Packages

It’s the first Kent derby of the season against our closest rivals.

Dover Athletic

After a tight opening half-hour, Jake Leberl’s men took charge with an 8-0 foray against Potters Bar Town. It was the perfect way to start the season and will have given the boys confidence going into a huge home clash on Tuesday night against our local rivals Folkestone.

Henry Young (knee) and Kieron Agbebi remain unavailable with injury. We anticipate that Alfie Matthews international clearance will have come back ready for Tuesday night.

From the Manager

“We are going into the first home game of the season, a new era. Like I keep saying, I want the people that have stayed away to give these boys a chance. Come and have a look. The fans at Potters Bar were fantastic. But people have got to be patient, as we go there’s going to be bumps in the road. You know the famous old saying ‘never too high, never too low’. We’re enjoying Saturday’s win and really look forward to focusing on the big derby game on Tuesday night.”

Match Sponsor

Tuesday’s Match Sponsor is London-based private household recruitment company Exclusive Household Staff (EHS), founded by Dover-born John Pettman who has been a lifelong Dover Athletic fan spanning more than 30 years. John also owns the Exclusive Butler School (EBS) which provides Butler Training globally to the world’s elite. Over the past few seasons John has provided either a professional EHS Butler or an EBS Trainee Butler at each home game to host the VIP lounge and look after visiting owners and Directors. Having supported the club for three decades, his favourite players over the years have been (Sir) David Leworthy, Ricky Reina, and Ricky Miller for their attacking threat, as well as fond memories of Jason Bartlett, Lee Shearer, Brian Horne, and Olly Shultz for their defensive prowess!

Kit

Dover Athletic will line up in our white home shirt with black shorts, with Mitch Walker in the pink keepers strip. Folkestone will play in away kit of Red and White.

The Opposition

Folkestone’s opening game saw a 1-1 draw against Carshalton. Both goals came in the first 15 minutes as Dominic Vose’s opener for Carshalton was cancelled out by Evans Kouassi after Jamie Mascoll’s effort came back off the crossbar.

Manager, Andy Drury joined Folkestone Invicta for the first time as a player in January 2022 for a 2-month spell before taking up a managerial post at Whitstable Town. He returned to Invicta as a player-coach under joint managers Micheal Everitt and Roland Edge in the summer of 2023 before taking over as manager in December.

Former Dover players in the Folkestone squad include experienced fullback Chris Sessegnon (brother of Steven and Ryan Sessegnon) who joined the Whites in 2012 before moving to Ebsfleet the following season. Joel Odeniran, a Dover Academy graduate who featured once for the Whites in our Kent Senior Cup game against Beckenham Town last season. Defender Peter Ojemen who made 21 appearances in a white shirt last season. You may also recognise their left back Jamie Mascoll who trialed for us in preseason.

The Venue

We look forward to welcoming our friends over the hill to the Megger Community Stadium. More information on getting to the ground can be found here: https://doverathletic.com/visit-crabble/

Megger Community Stadium. Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 0JB.

Admission  

Adults: £15
Concessions: £14
U18: £9
U11: FREE with a paying adult

We now only accept card on the gate and operate a cashless ground.

It was a warm afternoon in Kings Langley as Dover thrashed Potters Bar Town 0-8 in the season opener, putting the Whites at the top of the table for the first match week! 

The game started evenly, with Potters Bar arguably having the best chance of the first 20 minutes, as they got in behind and forced Walker into a fantastic stop to his left. The hosts also had other chances in the first half to go a goal up but did not convert. Dover looked nervous for the first 25 minutes and were struggling a bit to find their feet. 

However, the first goal did eventually come and it went the way of Dover. A lovely clipped ball from Stewart was nodded home at the back post by George Nikaj, who carried on his scoring run from preseason into this opening game. 

Nikaj then set up the second not long after, assisting Baptiste with a nice ball across the box for the Dover man to jab home for goal number two. 

The scoring for the first half was nowhere near finished, as another lovely ball came in from the left which landed at the feet of Soares Junior, who rifled his effort into the top left corner to make it 0-3 to the Whites. 

One more goal was to follow for Dover, with Nikaj pouncing on a short back pass from the centre half. Our number 10 rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home his second and Dover’s fourth before half time. The game was fully in the control of Jake Leberl’s men. 

The second half started just how the first ended, with Dover dominating the play. Chances were coming for the away side, mainly from wide positions with Sesay and Stewart being the most dangerous on the left with their excellent deliveries.

It wasn’t until the 65th minute that Dover added a fifth. A good effort by substitute Drakes-Thomas was parried straight into the path of Nikaj, who tapped in his hattrick with ease. Soon after, Sesay delivered a fantastic cross into the box which was headed out only as far as Pont, who smashed in number 6 for the Whites. 

Dover weren’t finished there either. Goal number 7 came from a well delivered corner and it was Tennent who found himself free in the box to head home for his first goal for the club. 

Drakes-Thomas was the last of the scorers in Hertfordshire, his goal coming in the 89th minute and what a goal it was. Some nice footwork in the box allowed him some extra space and he finished past the goalkeeper on his weaker right foot to seal a memorable victory for Dover. 

It was a record equalling win for the Whites in the season opener, but a tough derby against local rivals Folkestone Invicta awaits us all on Tuesday night, with Jake Leberl’s men looking to make it two wins from two to start the season off. 

Match Report by Fred Deveson

Potters Bar Town 0

Dover Athletic 8
George NIKAJ (33′)
Luke BAPTISTE (42′)
Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR (45′)
George NIKAJ (47′)
George NIKAJ (65′)
Harrison PONT (68′)
Joe TENNENT
 (80′) Jaiden DRAKES-THOMAS (89′)

Lineups:

Potters Bar Town: 1 Seb Stacey, 2 Prosper Keto, 3 Layne Eadie, 4 Jamie Dicks, 5 Isaac Currie, 6 Ronnie Henry, 7 Samrai Gebrai, 8 Joe Re, 9 Steve Cawley, 10 Max Jessop, 11 Ore Bello. SUBS: 12 Daniel Aldana, 14 Calvin Ekpiteta, 15 Ryan Hayes, 16 Hamid Salam, 20 Finn Rushton

Dover Athletic: 1 Mitch WALKER, 2 Roman CHARLES-COOK, 3 Fuad SESAY, 5 Joe TENNENT, 6 Luca COCORACCHIO, 7 Luke BAPTISTE, 10 George NIKAJ, 11 Lindell STEWART, 14 Ruben SOARES-JUNIOR, 16 Harrison PONT, 23 George WILKINSON. SUBS: 4 Jeremiah GYEBI, 9 Eniye AMGBADUBA, 15 Tamas AMGBADUBA, 19 Jayden SILCOTT-BROWN, 20 Jaiden DRAKES-THOMAS

Isthmian League – Premier Division
Attendance: 204
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: The Orbital Fasteners Stadium

We are delighted to offer fans the opportunity to purchase a replica of this seasons pink ‘home’ keeper shirt.

As worn by Mitch Walker, the keeper shirt will be short sleeve. In order to pre-order, we will need shirts to be prepaid before 5pm on Friday 6th September. Turn around time will be 6-8 weeks, but should be here just in time for Christmas!

Price: £46.50 – kids shirts will also be available.

For more information and to order please email [email protected], phone the office on 01304 822373 or pop in to the office on a match day.

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/qnJumXQw31U

In the second part of this interview with Justin Allen, Jake discusses the recent squad rebuild, talks through each of the players signed, and highlights his aims for a positive season.

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.

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)