Archives: News

FA CUP PREVIEW: WHITES V BROMLEY

Boss Chris Kinnear will be hoping his side can extend their five-game unbeaten run when they tackle Bromley at home in Saturday’s all-Kent fourth qualifying round tie.

But a tough task lies ahead for Dover with the Ravens winning two of their last three matches at Crabble, including a 2-1 victory back in August.

Should Athletic progress, It will be the fifth consecutive season they have qualified for the first round proper.

Neil Smith’s team will be looking to go one better in the competition this time around, having lost to 4-2 Braintree Town at the same stage last year.

BROMLEY’S RECENT FORM

GATESHEAD 1-2 BROMLEY

Neil Smith’s team completed a remarkable turnaround with 10 minutes remaining to take all three points at the Heed.

Sub Richard Peniket crossed for Danny Johnson to head the home side in-front on 64 minutes.

But the visitors hit back with Louis Dennis converting from the spot six minutes from full-time, following a foul by Scott Barrow on Jack Holland in the area.

And deep into injury time, sub Brett Williams headed the visitors ahead to ensure victory for the Kent side.

PREVIOUS MEETING

09/08/17: WHITES 1-2 BROMLEY

Whites were unable to extend their winning league start after losing their first Kent derby of the season 2-1 at Crabble on a Tuesday evening.

Joshua Rees slotted Bromley in front midway through the first-half and a quick breakaway strike from Louis Dennis extended the visitor’s lead after the break.

Connor Essam saw his header cleared off the line and seconds later the ball was in the back of the net at the other end of the pitch.

Iffy Allen started a swift counter-attack that ended with Dennis passing the ball underneath home stopper Mitch Walker’s body to double the away team’s advantage.

An own goal from David Gregory gave Whites hope after substitute Kadell Daniel’s free-kick struck the underside of the bar and went in off the unfortunate keeper.

But the visiting goalie redeemed himself moments later with a flying save to deny Daniel from a tight angle as Whites were unable to find an equaliser.

OTHER LEAGUE MEETINGS

18/03/17: Dover 1-0 Bromley
25/10/16: Bromley 0-2 Dover
28/12/15: Dover 2-3 Bromley

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s – Free (With an accompanying result).

Tickets can still be purchased on the day but supporters should note that this match IS segregated.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

OTHER EMIRATES FA CUP FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND FIXTURES

AFC FYLDE V WREXHAM
AFC TELFORD UNITED V FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER
ALDERSHOT TOWN V TORQUAY UNITED
BATH CITY V CHELMSFORD CITY
BRACKLEY TOWN V BILLERICAY TOWN
BURGESS HILL TOWN V DARTFORD
BUXTON V GATESHEAD
CHORLEY V BOSTON UNITED
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE V LEYTON ORIENT
EAST THURROCK UNITED V EBBSFLEET UNITED
EASTLEIGH V HEREFORD FC
FC HALIFAX TOWN V TRANMERE ROVERS
GUISELEY V SHILDON
HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH V TRURO CITY
HARINGEY BOROUGH V HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS
HARROGATE TOWN V GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS V CHESTER FC
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE
MAIDSTONE UNITED V ENFIELD TOWN
MARGATE V LEATHERHEAD
NANTWICH TOWN V KETTERING TOWN
OXFORD CITY V BOGNOR REGIS TOWN
PAULTON ROVERS V SUTTON UNITED
SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC V HYDE UNITED
SHAW LANE ASSOCIATION V BARROW
SLOUGH TOWN V FOLKESTONE INVICTA
SOLIHULL MOORS V OSSETT TOWN
SOUTH SHIELDS V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
ST ALBANS CITY V BOREHAM WOOD
STOURBRIDGE V MACCLESFIELD TOWN
WOKING V CONCORD RANGERS

AWAY TRAVEL

There will be a Supporters Club coach making the trip to Gateshead on Saturday 28th October and it’s not too late to reserve your seat on it.

It leaves Crabble at 6:15am and the costs are as follows:

Adults members £40, adult non-members £55 and accompanied child (under 16) £20.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat, or see him in the Centre Spot after the games against Bromley, Maidenhead or Woking.

Please note you are now required to pay for your seat in advance by cash or via bank transfer.

ACADEMY TRIUMPH AT HOME

Coach Mike Sandmann’s Academy side remained unbeaten in the National Youth Alliance League after beating Hastings 4-2 at Crabble on Wednesday.

A double from Josh Spencer and one each from Ryan Kingsford and Matty Robinson secured the win, a second consecutive league win for the young Whites.

Man-of-the-match Spencer scored from close range to give his side a 1-0 lead at half-time before the visitors leveled just after the restart.

Robinson restored Dover’s lead before Spencer added a third and Kingsford made it four.

Hastings reduced the deficit from the penalty spot but it was too little, too late to prevent Sandmann’s side from registering another win.

Dover: Harry Earls, Jack smith, Josh Spencer, Tom Bond, Jordan Bartlett, Lyndon Dixon, Shusanta Rai, Marshall Wratten, Matty Robinson, Jack Cussen, Ryan Kingsford.

Subs: Lewis Mitchell, Jake Creed, Kyron Connolly, Jamie Chamberlin, Felix Medquita, Harrison Avery.

Report by Josh Spencer

GET THE VIP TREATMENT

Looking for a new quality way to experience watching a game at Crabble?

Why not get a table of eight together and try out our brand new VIP Platinum Lounge.

The new “VIP PLATINUM CLUB” brings a new level of matchday experience to guests and offers the ultimate season ticket membership with all the benefits of the Premier Club and much more.

All home league games and all cup games are included in the price of the VIP PLATINUM CLUB.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

Hosted lounge with large TVs and Projector showing the game.
Three course meal, served at your table.
Reserved undercover premium padded seating.
Complementary tea, coffee and mineral water, plus dedicated bar before and after match.
Complimentary matchday magazine and team sheet.
Reserved Parking in our ‘Premier Club’ parking area.

And as a special one-off for Christmas deal, a table of eight will cost you £500, £50 off the normal price.

If you are interested in finding out more about the special offer or any of the sponsorship packages we have on offer, please get in touch and contact the commercial team on 01304 822373 or email them at commercial@doverathletic.com

You can also call club director Matthew Jaenicke on 07900 690206

All of us here at the club appreciate your support.

WOMEN WALK INTO FOOTBALL

Dover Athletic is giving women aged over 40 a shot at playing walking football at Crabble.

The first session will be held this Sunday, October 15 and the action kicks-off at 10am and finishes at 11.30am.

It will include an hour of football followed by refreshments in the Centre Spot.

The rules of the game are much the same as what we normally see played – however, there are some major differences.

Anything so much as a jog is prohibited for a start!!

Teams playing are also smaller, with between five and seven players a-side.

Other rules include free kicks are indirect, kick-ins replace throws, there are no offsides and the ball must be kept below head height.

The first five weeks will also be FREE of charge.

So, come along and have a go at playing!

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

Make sure you don’t miss the unique opportunity to see one of the legends of British rock music up close and personal when the Strawbs take to the stage in the Centre Spot at Crabble on October 15th.

The special one-off gig is part of the bands European leg of their ‘Hero & Heroine’ tour.

The album of the same name has been listed by Rolling Stone magazine as ‘one of the 50 greatest progressive rock albums of all time’ and it is the band’s biggest seller worldwide.

They have sold three million albums worldwide, including Bursting At The Seams,’ ‘Grave New World,’ and the beloved ‘Hero and Heroine,’ since their formation in 1967.

Founder member Dave Cousins, who has been described by All Music Guide as ‘the most talented Dylan-influenced songwriter to come out of England’, is also a personal friend of Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter.

The band, who are often mentioned in the same breath as progressive rock bands such as Yes, King Crimson, and The Moody Blues, actually started out 50 years ago as a bluegrass-based trio called the Strawberry Hill Boys.

That same year, the group — now rechristened the Strawbs, and doing repertory well beyond the bounds of bluegrass music.

In 1969, the Strawbs were signed to A&M Records and cut their first album, the acoustic-textured ‘Strawbs,’ that same year.

Since then, the band went on to have seven consecutive albums in the Billboard Top 200 in the United States.

The current Strawbs line-up comprises of Cousins, lead guitarist Dave Lambert, bass player Chas Cronk, and drummer Tony Fernandez, who recorded and toured together in the 1970s.

They will be joined by keyboard virtuoso Dave Bainbridge of Iona, a band whose mystical blend of rock, folk, Celtic and ambient music has endeared them to audiences across Europe and North America for the last 25 years.

This performance promises to be a remarkable evening spanning Progressive Rock and English Folk across the decades – do NOT miss out!

There will a limited release of tickets for this intimate night.

Tickets are £16 and are available from the reception at Crabble Stadium (open Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm) AND online from the DAFC Direct

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Chris Kinnear has his say following Whites 2-0 win away at Torquay on Saturday.

WHITES SWOOP FOR POINTS AT GULLS

TORQUAY 0-2 WHITES

A headed goal in each half from Paul Lewis and Ryan Bird saw Dover run out comfortable winners at bottom-of-the table Torquay at a windy Plainmoor on Saturday.

Cambridge loanee Lewis nodded in Mitch Pinnock’s cross after six minutes to give Chris Kinnear’s men an early lead and Bird powered in Jamie Allen’s assist off both the bar and home goalkeeper Vincent Dorel to double the advantage in the 64th minute as Athletic extended their unbeaten run to five games.

After the visitors had gone in front, Pinnock headed Passley’s cross harmlessly over and was then denied by the woodwork minutes later.

The wideman struck the underside of the crossbar with a fierce volley after latching onto Femi Ilesanmi’s lobbed pass.

Lewis thought he had doubled the lead after flicking in Bird’s shot, but the linesman chalked off his effort for offside and the midfielder was booked for protesting.

Ryan Higgins fired well wide from 20-yards and at the other end Bird nodded Allen’s cross just wide just before the break.

Luke Young drove a free-kick into Mitch Walker’s arms a minute before Bird struck Dover’s second.

The points were almost secured when Giancarlo Gallifuoco struck the post against his old side from sub Kadell Daniel’s corner.

Daniel then tried his luck with an audacious volley that flew into the arms of Gulls stopper Dorel.

Jamie Reid’s blast into the side netting summed up a disappointing day in front of goal for United.

The win sees Whites remain second in the standings, one point below current leaders Macclesfield Town.

Earlier, boss Kinnear kept the same side that started at Sutton on Tuesday night. Aziz Deen-Conteh replaced Tobi Sho-Silva on the bench, who missed out through injury.

Torquay: Dorel, Davis, Lathrope (Myrie-Williams 45), McGinty, Gowling(c), Young, Evans, McQuoid, Reid, Higgins (Pittman 68), Murphy (Keating 78).

Subs not used: Clarke, Efete.

Dover: Walker, Passley, Gallifuoco, Essam, Parry, Ilesanmi, Brundle(c), Lewis, Pinnock (Daniel 59), Allen, Bird.

Subs not used: Richards, Fazakerley, Nortey, Deen-Conteh.

Attendance: 1,915

Referee: Samuel Allison.

PREVIEW: TORQUAY V WHITES

Chris Kinnear’s men will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to five matches when they travel to Devon on Saturday.

Bottom-of-the-table United won their first match of the season on Tuesday night and new Gulls boss Gary Owers, hired last month following previous manager Kevin Nicholson’s dismissal, will be hoping Torquay can stave off relegation once again, following their survival on the final day of last season.

Since taking charge, Owers has strengthened his squad with the signings of Josh McQuoid, Rhys Murphy, Callum Evans (All loan) and Jennison Myrie Williams.

One Dover player will be familiar with his surroundings when Whites arrive at Plainmoor this weekend.

Giancarlo Gallifuoco played 35 matches for Torquay last season, scoring three goals.

TORQUAY’S RECENT FORM

TORQUAY 4-0 MAIDENHEAD

Torquay won for the first time in the National League this season in emphatic style.

The hosts struck four first-half goals in a delayed kick off, with visitors Maidenhead held up in traffic.

Josh McQuoid headed in the first on four minutes and Luke Young rifled into the bottom corner eight minutes later.

Rhys Murphy made it three from close range on 21 minutes and Jamie Reid complete the rout a minute before the break.

Maidenhead improved from the restart, but were unable to find a consolation as basement boys Torquay moved to within a point of second-bottom Solihull Moors.

PREVIOUS MEETING

22/04/17: WHITES 1-2 TORQUAY

Former Forest Green Rovers striker Brett Williams came back to haunt Dover at Crabble.

The forward scored a goal in each half as Torquay moved out of the relegation zone and took Dover’s hopes of making the play-offs out of their hands.

With half-time looming, Williams powerfully headed home AFC Bournemouth loanee Jordan Lee’s cross to give his side the lead with their first shot on target.

The attacked doubled United’s lead in the 66th minute, racing onto Luke Young’s pass and firing past Walker to notch his 11th of the season.

Aswad Thomas gave Dover a lifeline after his looping header beat Brendan Moore and the visiting keeper denied sub Moses Emmanuel seconds later.

Ricky Miller scooped over late in the game as the Gulls held on to keep their survival hopes alive.

OTHER LEAGUE MEETINGS

27/09/16: Torquay 2-1 Dover
26/03/16: Dover 5-0 Torquay
06/10/15: Torquay 2-3 Dover

DOVER COLOURS

For travelling fans wanting to wear the same shirts as the players, captain Mitch Brundle and his teammates will be wearing their blue ones.

TICKET NEWS

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £15
Concessions (Over 65’s & NUS card holders) – £12
Under 18’s – £7
Under 7’s – Free

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

SATURDAYS’ OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

BARROW V LEYTON ORIENT
BOREHAM WOOD V FC HALIFAX TOWN
GATESHEAD V BROMLEY
MACCLESFIELD TOWN V EBBSFLEET UNITED
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V ALDERSHOT TOWN
MAIDSTONE UNITED V GUISELEY
SOLIHULL MOORS V HARTLEPOOL UNITED
SUTTON UNITED V AFC FYLDE
TRANMERE ROVERS V CHESTER FC
WOKING V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
WREXHAM V EASTLEIGH

SUPER SUB SINKS WANDERERS

Substitute Matthew Robinson’s goal saw Dover Athletic’s Academy side start their FA Youth Cup campaign with a 1-0 win against Cray Wanderers at Crabble on Wednesday night.

Robinson’s stunning 63rd minute free-kick, with what was his first touch of the ball, won the Second Qualifying Round tie for coach Mike Sandmann’s youngsters.

Sandmann’s line-up started strongly and looked dangerous going forward in the opening 15 minutes with Josh Spencer seeing his audacious attempt from just inside the Cray half saved by the goalkeeper.

Dover keeper Harry Earls was at his best to deny the visitors in a one-on-one situation before Cray hit the post with a strike from the edge of the box.

The Academy responded with a strong run by Marshall Wratten ending with his dangerous cross not being capitalised on.

Man-of-the Match Earls denied Cray just before half-time and again in the second half before Robinson struck.

Jack Cusson was fouled on the edge of the box and Robinson curled the resulting free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner.

Dover survived a late scare with defender Jake Creed clearing an effort off the line just before the final whistle.

Dover: Harry Earls, Jack Smith, Tom Bond, Lyndon Dixon, Jake Creed, Joshua Spencer, Jordan Bartlett (Matthew Robinson 61), Shusanta Rai, Jack Cussen (James Belcher 75), Ryan Kingsford, Marshall Wratten.

Subs not used: Harrison Avery, Hayden Bunch, Thomas Gates