New boss Andy Hessenthaler needs no introduction to Dover fans.

A combative midfielder on the pitch for the likes of Watford, Gillingham and Barnet, Hessenthaler had great success as Athletic’s player-boss between 2007 and 2010, winning back-to-back promotions to take Dover from the Ryman South division to the Conference South.

And after ending the 2009/10 season as runners-up in the second tier of non league, Hessenthaler returned to Gillingham as boss for two campaigns, steering the Gills to two consecutive eighth-place finishes in League Two.

A third stint at Gillingham followed two season later, this time as assistant boss, a similar role he held at Leyton Orient the following year, before being made manager at Brisbane Road in 2016.

Dismissed by the O’s later that same year, it wasn’t long before Hessenthaler was back in football, joining Eastleigh before the start of the 2017/18 season, initially as assistant manager, before taking over from Richard Hill as boss just eight months after joining the club.

Dover fans might well recognise the rest of the club’s new management team.

Darren Hare returns for for a second spell, this time as joint first-team coach, having served as number two during Hessenthaler’s reign as gaffer.

Hare, who is also Andy’s brother-in-law, was most recently in charge of Hastings United and also represented Dover as a player on two occasions.

Also joining as first-team coach is Nicky Southall.

Southall, who featured 31 times for Dover, played in the top four divisions of the English football pyramid, including 20 appearances in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers.

The Middlesbrough-born midfielder also spent the largest part of his playing career with Gillingham and was most recently assistant-manager at Maidstone United, helping oversee their rise from the Isthmiam Premier division to the National League.

Welcome back to Crabble Andy, Darren and Nicky!

 

Dover Athletic are delighted to confirm the appointment of Andy Hessenthaler as the Club’s new manager on a three-year deal.

The 53-year-old, who has spent the past two seasons with National League rivals Eastleigh, replaces Chris Kinnear who left the club last Friday.

The new boss needs no introduction to Dover fans, leading Whites to back-to-back promotions from the Ryman South to the Conference South during his spell as player/manager between 2007 and 2010.

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “We are delighted to be able to move so quickly to secure Andy’s services and we are now looking forward to working with him and his team.

“This is a brand new chapter for the football club and it starts right now.”

More big announcements will be made tomorrow so WATCH THIS SPACE !!

 

 

 

 

 

Our Emirates FA Cup campaign starts with a trip to National League South side Concord Rangers in the fourth qualifying round.

The game will take place during the weekend of 20th/21st October.

EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH ROUND QUALIFYING DRAW IN FULL

NORTH SECTION

CLEETHORPES TOWN or GUISELEY
WARRINGTON TOWN v FC HALIFAX TOWN
CHORLEY v BARROW
HARTLEPOOL UNITED v KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC
AFC FYLDE v CHESTERFIELD
SOUTHPORT v ASHTON UNITED
BLYTH SPARTANS v YORK CITY
HARROGATE TOWN v WREXHAM
DUNSTON UTS v GATESHEAD
STOCKPORT COUNTY v ALTRINCHAM
MARINE v SALFORD CITY
WITTON ALBION v SOLIHULL MOORS
ALFRETON TOWN v ST NEOTS TOWN

SOUTH SECTION

WOKING v WELLING UNITED
HITCHIN TOWN v LEATHERHEAD
CHIPPENHAM TOWN v MAIDENHEAD UNITED
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH v SLOUGH TOWN
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD v OXFORD CITY
WESTON-SUPER-MARE v BATH CITY
BOREHAM WOOD v DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
METROPOLITAN POLICE v HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE
GLOUCESTER CITY v BROMLEY
ALDERSHOT TOWN v KETTERING TOWN
TORQUAY UNITED v WINCHESTER CITY
BILLERICAY TOWN v TAUNTON TOWN or ST ALBANS CITY
EASTLEIGH v HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH
WEALDSTONE v SUTTON UNITED
EBBSFLEET UNITED v WORTHING
MAIDSTONE UNITED v LEYTON ORIENT
HARINGEY BOROUGH v POOLE TOWN
BARNET v BRAINTREE TOWN
CONCORD RANGERS v DOVER ATHLETIC