*BS*Nicky Forster is pleased to announce Steven Thomson as club captain. The vastly experienced midfielder takes the armband, while defender Ian Simpemba is vice captain.*BF*

34 year-old Thomson joined the club in May from Scottish Premier League club St Mirren, where he was a near ever-present for three years. He has also captained Falkirk.

Nicky told doverathletic.com: “Steven is a natural leader and has experience of captaincy at most of his previous clubs.

“He is a talker on the pitch and has the full respect of everyone in the dressing room. His experience and leadership qualities will be important for us this season.

“We are fortunate to have a number of leaders in the squad and Ian Simpemba falls into the same category as Steven. He galvanises players and knows this division inside out.”

Forster had a wide selection to choose from with Shane Huke, Barry Cogan, Steven Watt, Tom Wynter and Lee Hook having previously captained the side.

He said: “It wasn’t an easy decision, as I had five or six very strong candidates. In particular Shane Huke, who was our captain last season.”

Tomorrow’s game at Crabble is the first Blue Square Bet South fixture of the season and the boss has just three players unavailable from his 21 man squad.

Forster said: “Mitch Walker and Ricky Modeste are suspended, and Ben May has a slight calf strain. However, Terry Dixon is fit and will be on the bench tomorrow so we are close to full strength.”

*BS*It is the football equivalent of Christmas Eve today, as Whites kick-off the league season at Crabble tomorrow.*BF*

“We want to win promotion and we have the squad here to do that”, says Nicky Forster.

Whites are second favourites with the bookmakers for the title but Welling boss Jamie Day has said the division is “the most open and competitive for years”.

Nicky Forster and his squad will be taking the football cliché of one game at a game, so let’s start with Farnborough on Saturday…

Team news is mixed for Dover. Goalkeeper Mitch Walker and winger Ricky Modeste are suspended for two and three games respectively from Saturday following red cards at the end of last season. Meanwhile, a couple of injury concerns may not clear up in time for this weekend but Forster should have at least 17 first-team players to select from.

Whites’ manager is confident in the squad he has assembled: “We’ve made lots of additions this summer and we will get better and better as the season goes on.

“Eastleigh are the bookies favourites, then you have Sutton, Welling, Chelmsford and Basingstoke, not to mention any surprise packages.”

*Q1*Dover will need to stay patient and be creative when teams come to Crabble this season, believes Forster.

He said: “Farnborough will work hard, keep their shape and look to hit us on the break. We’re expected to get a result but the important thing is that we stay patient.

“Sometimes teams come here and sit back but Manchester United have that every week and they still win so it’s something we’ve got to deal with.

“I want us to be take teams on more this season and draw defenders out of position to free other players up.”

Farnborough will come to Crabble without summer signing Dave Tarpey. The striker joined from Hampton & Richmond, where he was top-scorer last season, but sustained an ankle injury at training on Tuesday.
*Lpic1*
Boro boss Spencer Day said: “It’s a massive blow to us because Tarps has been sensational in pre-season and will prove to be a big player for us. Anyone who scores 20+ goals in this league for a relegated side is going to be a big miss.”

However, Day has a new centre forward to turn to in Jacek Magdzinski. The Polish striker left Crabble two weeks ago after a pre-season trial. Fellow Pole Michal Steinke, a defender, has also joined the Hampshire club.

Day commented: “They are two physical lads who have impressed me and are keen to play. Jacek has been training with Dover so he’s really looking forward to Saturday’s match.”

*BS*Don’t miss Saturday’s opening league game at Crabble. Come along early to take advantage of the *Link1*. We’re open from midday.*BF*

*BS*Nicky Forster is pleased to announce Steven Thomson as club captain. The vastly experienced midfielder takes the armband, while defender Ian Simpemba is vice captain.*BF*

34 year-old Thomson joined the club in May from Scottish Premier League club St Mirren, where he was a near ever-present for three years. He has also captained Falkirk.

Nicky told doverathletic.com: “Steven is a natural leader and has experience of captaincy at most of his previous clubs.

“He is a talker on the pitch and has the full respect of everyone in the dressing room. His experience and leadership qualities will be important for us this season.

“We are fortunate to have a number of leaders in the squad and Ian Simpemba falls into the same category as Steven. He galvanises players and knows this division inside out.”

Forster had a wide selection to choose from with Shane Huke, Barry Cogan, Steven Watt, Tom Wynter and Lee Hook having previously captained the side.

He said: “It wasn’t an easy decision, as I had five or six very strong candidates. In particular Shane Huke, who was our captain last season.”

Tomorrow’s game at Crabble is the first Blue Square Bet South fixture of the season and the boss has just three players unavailable from his 21 man squad.

Forster said: “Mitch Walker and Ricky Modeste are suspended, and Ben May has a slight calf strain. However, Terry Dixon is fit and will be on the bench tomorrow so we are close to full strength.”

*BS*It is the football equivalent of Christmas Eve today, as Whites kick-off the league season at Crabble tomorrow.*BF*

“We want to win promotion and we have the squad here to do that”, says Nicky Forster.

Whites are second favourites with the bookmakers for the title but Welling boss Jamie Day has said the division is “the most open and competitive for years”.

Nicky Forster and his squad will be taking the football cliché of one game at a game, so let’s start with Farnborough on Saturday…

Team news is mixed for Dover. Goalkeeper Mitch Walker and winger Ricky Modeste are suspended for two and three games respectively from Saturday following red cards at the end of last season. Meanwhile, a couple of injury concerns may not clear up in time for this weekend but Forster should have at least 17 first-team players to select from.

Whites’ manager is confident in the squad he has assembled: “We’ve made lots of additions this summer and we will get better and better as the season goes on.

“Eastleigh are the bookies favourites, then you have Sutton, Welling, Chelmsford and Basingstoke, not to mention any surprise packages.”

*Q1*Dover will need to stay patient and be creative when teams come to Crabble this season, believes Forster.

He said: “Farnborough will work hard, keep their shape and look to hit us on the break. We’re expected to get a result but the important thing is that we stay patient.

“Sometimes teams come here and sit back but Manchester United have that every week and they still win so it’s something we’ve got to deal with.

“I want us to be take teams on more this season and draw defenders out of position to free other players up.”

Farnborough will come to Crabble without summer signing Dave Tarpey. The striker joined from Hampton & Richmond, where he was top-scorer last season, but sustained an ankle injury at training on Tuesday.
*Lpic1*
Boro boss Spencer Day said: “It’s a massive blow to us because Tarps has been sensational in pre-season and will prove to be a big player for us. Anyone who scores 20+ goals in this league for a relegated side is going to be a big miss.”

However, Day has a new centre forward to turn to in Jacek Magdzinski. The Polish striker left Crabble two weeks ago after a pre-season trial. Fellow Pole Michal Steinke, a defender, has also joined the Hampshire club.

Day commented: “They are two physical lads who have impressed me and are keen to play. Jacek has been training with Dover so he’s really looking forward to Saturday’s match.”

*BS*Don’t miss Saturday’s opening league game at Crabble. Come along early to take advantage of the *Link1*. We’re open from midday.*BF*

We will have Real Ale available on Saturday in the CentreSpot. This a trial to test demand for Real Ale on matchdays. Shepherd Neame are providing Master Brew. It will be priced £2.20 pint. Get the word out – this is your chance to make Real Ale a regular feature in the CentreSpot.

We’ll also have our Bar-my £1.95 matchday prices on Oranjeboom and Spitfire. Plus, if you collected stamps at our last game, you’ll be able to redeem them for your free pint of Spitfire or Oranjeboom.

All this is topped of with live football on Sky Sports / ESPN on our big screens.

Gates open at 12noon.

The CentreSpot is the place to be on Matchdays.

We will have Real Ale available on Saturday in the CentreSpot. This a trial to test demand for Real Ale on matchdays. Shepherd Neame are providing Master Brew. It will be priced £2.20 pint. Get the word out – this is your chance to make Real Ale a regular feature in the CentreSpot.

We’ll also have our Bar-my £1.95 matchday prices on Oranjeboom and Spitfire. Plus, if you collected stamps at our last game, you’ll be able to redeem them for your free pint of Spitfire or Oranjeboom.

All this is topped of with live football on Sky Sports / ESPN on our big screens.

Gates open at 12noon.

The CentreSpot is the place to be on Matchdays.

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*BS*Whites boss Nicky Forster has confirmed that his squad is now complete for the start of the league season.*BF*

The completed signings of Ben May and Chris Sessegnon have added the extra striker and winger respectively that Forster was looking for to build a squad aiming for promotion.

Including himself, Nicky has a squad of 21 contracted players for the forthcoming season and given the new players time to bed in ahead of the competitive matches.

Forster told doverathletic.com: “We have worked hard over a number of weeks to secure the signing of Ben May. He is a terrific lad and will give us a real physical presence in attack, which we lacked at times last season.

“Ben will bring a real competition for places and is the final piece of our attacking jigsaw.”

May has 10 years of Football League experience, while teenager Chris Sessegnon is just starting out.

Nicky said: “Chris is a young lad with a real hunger to improve and play first team football. He can play both right midfield and right back positions, and will be a valuable member of the squad this season.

“These signings complete the transfer activity before the season starts, which I’m delighted with. We look forward to an exciting season.”

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the signings of Ben May and Chris Sessegnon 10 days before the new league season starts.*BF*

Right winger Sessegnon has featured in two pre-season friendlies on trial, playing the full 90 minutes at Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

28 year-old May is a tall centre forward with more than 200 Football League appearances. Born in Maidstone, Ben returned to Kent after leaving Stevenage at the end of last season. He has been training with Gillingham in recent weeks.

Ben started his professional career with Millwall, scoring 19 goals in 95 appearances. After loan spells at Colchester and Brentford he joined Scunthorpe, making 50 appearances in two seasons. He went to Stevenage in 2010 and then Barnet on loan, scoring four goals in 11 games at the end of last season.

Sessegnon turns 19 years old on Friday and previously played for Sutton United, where he gained experience of Blue Square Bet South football last season. He has also had loan spells with Kingstonian and Tooting & Mitcham United.

Nicky Forster now has a first-team squad of 21 players, including himself, ahead of *Link1* and the first league game at home to Farnborough on Saturday 18th August.

*Link2*