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*BS*Dover Athletic have completed the signing of winger Jemal Johnson.*BF*

The 26 year-old has signed until the end of the season after impressing boss Nicky Forster on trial.

He played in Whites’ 7-0 friendly win against Whitstable on Wednesday, winning a penalty for the first goal.

Born in the United States, Jemal came to England at the age of five, signing for Manchester United and then Blackburn Rovers as a teenager.

After serving his apprenticeship at Ewood Park, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and Milton Keynes Dons. He spent three years with the Midlands club, scoring 12 goals in 96 appearances.

In the past year Johnson has experienced Bulgaria’s top flight with Lokomotiv Sofia, where he was one of only a few foreign players. He left Bulgaria last summer and had a short spell with Southend United earlier this season.

Jemal will go straight into tomorrow’s squad for the first ever visit of Truro City to Perrys Crabble.

*BS*Dover Athletic have completed the signing of winger Jemal Johnson.*BF*

The 26 year-old has signed until the end of the season after impressing boss Nicky Forster on trial.

He played in Whites’ 7-0 friendly win against Whitstable on Wednesday, winning a penalty for the first goal.

Born in the United States, Jemal came to England at the age of five, signing for Manchester United and then Blackburn Rovers as a teenager.

After serving his apprenticeship at Ewood Park, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers and Milton Keynes Dons. He spent three years with the Midlands club, scoring 12 goals in 96 appearances.

In the past year Johnson has experienced Bulgaria’s top flight with Lokomotiv Sofia, where he was one of only a few foreign players. He left Bulgaria last summer and had a short spell with Southend United earlier this season.

Jemal will go straight into tomorrow’s squad for the first ever visit of Truro City to Perrys Crabble.

*BS*Shane Huke’s latest column:*BF*

So as we all know Farnborough was called off due to the weather conditions freezing the playing surface. Not great, but what can you do?!

We were lucky enough to get hold of an inside sports gym where we trained hard and played 6 vs 6 games. Good laugh but also a good quality session which we needed to have a good sweat.

It was good news that the gaffer could arrange a friendly game during the week against local opposition, Whitstable. Just like to say a big thank you for them coming down as we all appreciated playing against them.

In tough conditions, with the rain and the heavy pitch, the lads performed well netting seven times and not conceding. It was nice to blow off a few cobwebs ahead of Saturday’s game against Truro.

I must mention that Baz’s goal last night oozed with quality. A little short corner taken and a great whip into the top corner of the goal, although some say he was trying to find Ed at the far post. No, but honestly, what a strike!

Well done to the other lads for taking their chances and netting a few goals too.

Also, he keeps reminding me to say it so I’d better mention it… congratulations to Lee Hook, who has now played five games and kept five clean sheets… snore!!

So Saturday brings us to Truro at home. As we know, these are a tough team who beat us in our first defeat of the season 1-0 at their place. It didn’t help though when the ref and the linesman fancied sending Tommy off for a trip on their player when apparently he was through on goal.

With the game last night and training tonight I’m sure we are more than ready to face them this Saturday and continue our good run of form in the league, pushing further towards the all important 5th spot.

We hope to see a lot of you down there supporting us; it does really help.

Hukey

*BS*Shane Huke’s latest column:*BF*

So as we all know Farnborough was called off due to the weather conditions freezing the playing surface. Not great, but what can you do?!

We were lucky enough to get hold of an inside sports gym where we trained hard and played 6 vs 6 games. Good laugh but also a good quality session which we needed to have a good sweat.

It was good news that the gaffer could arrange a friendly game during the week against local opposition, Whitstable. Just like to say a big thank you for them coming down as we all appreciated playing against them.

In tough conditions, with the rain and the heavy pitch, the lads performed well netting seven times and not conceding. It was nice to blow off a few cobwebs ahead of Saturday’s game against Truro.

I must mention that Baz’s goal last night oozed with quality. A little short corner taken and a great whip into the top corner of the goal, although some say he was trying to find Ed at the far post. No, but honestly, what a strike!

Well done to the other lads for taking their chances and netting a few goals too.

Also, he keeps reminding me to say it so I’d better mention it… congratulations to Lee Hook, who has now played five games and kept five clean sheets… snore!!

So Saturday brings us to Truro at home. As we know, these are a tough team who beat us in our first defeat of the season 1-0 at their place. It didn’t help though when the ref and the linesman fancied sending Tommy off for a trip on their player when apparently he was through on goal.

With the game last night and training tonight I’m sure we are more than ready to face them this Saturday and continue our good run of form in the league, pushing further towards the all important 5th spot.

We hope to see a lot of you down there supporting us; it does really help.

Hukey

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*BS*Nicky Forster reflects on a frustrating couple of weeks without a game and looks forward to the friendly against Whitstable, which will give the full squad some action before Saturday’s match against Truro.*BF*

I’m sure like me many of you will be delighted to see that the weather has finally improved, temperatures have risen and with a bit of luck football can proceed once again.

With the huge investment that the game has seen over the past 20 years the top two divisions in the English game are now largely unaffected by frozen putches and heavy snowfall due to under-soil heating but until we get there ourselves or technology provides an answer, we remain at the mercy of the elements.

I have said before that enforced lay-offs like we have had recently create problems in many areas. Training is obviously a problem with most outdoor areas unplayable so indoor facilities such as leisure centres and school halls have to be used.

Managers and players alike want games to focus their efforts on at the end of a week to either continue or improve on their current form, and I’m sure that fans are no different.

Fitness is the biggest issue during these periods as there really is no substitute for match day tempo but under the guidance of Niall Clark we hope that when the next game finally comes we are as close to being 100% as we possibly can be.

On Wednesday night we will play Whitstable Town at Crabble to get ourselves back into the swing of things, it will be a good opportunity to work on a few things without three points at stake. There will be no restrictions on substitutions, allowing us to use the whole squad at some stage which will be vital.

Entrance on the night is free to all who want to attend so come along and enjoy the game.

With the sudden resignation of Fabio Capello last week it seems that Harry Redknapp is primed to step in and take over the role of national manager. I am not a believer that the position has to be filled by an Englishman but feel that the best man for the job should be appointed and in Redknapp I feel we have that with the added bonus that he is English. It certainly could be an exciting time for the English game! Fingers crossed!

Fozzy

*BS*Nicky Forster reflects on a frustrating couple of weeks without a game and looks forward to the friendly against Whitstable, which will give the full squad some action before Saturday’s match against Truro.*BF*

I’m sure like me many of you will be delighted to see that the weather has finally improved, temperatures have risen and with a bit of luck football can proceed once again.

With the huge investment that the game has seen over the past 20 years the top two divisions in the English game are now largely unaffected by frozen putches and heavy snowfall due to under-soil heating but until we get there ourselves or technology provides an answer, we remain at the mercy of the elements.

I have said before that enforced lay-offs like we have had recently create problems in many areas. Training is obviously a problem with most outdoor areas unplayable so indoor facilities such as leisure centres and school halls have to be used.

Managers and players alike want games to focus their efforts on at the end of a week to either continue or improve on their current form, and I’m sure that fans are no different.

Fitness is the biggest issue during these periods as there really is no substitute for match day tempo but under the guidance of Niall Clark we hope that when the next game finally comes we are as close to being 100% as we possibly can be.

On Wednesday night we will play Whitstable Town at Crabble to get ourselves back into the swing of things, it will be a good opportunity to work on a few things without three points at stake. There will be no restrictions on substitutions, allowing us to use the whole squad at some stage which will be vital.

Entrance on the night is free to all who want to attend so come along and enjoy the game.

With the sudden resignation of Fabio Capello last week it seems that Harry Redknapp is primed to step in and take over the role of national manager. I am not a believer that the position has to be filled by an Englishman but feel that the best man for the job should be appointed and in Redknapp I feel we have that with the added bonus that he is English. It certainly could be an exciting time for the English game! Fingers crossed!

Fozzy

Dover Athletic FC have today confirmed that they will be hosting a Friendly game against Whitstable at Perrys Crabble on Wednesday evening. Entry to the game will be FREE.

Following a lack of games over the past few weeks, a friendly game has been organised to provide the first team squad with some much needed game time.

As a gesture from the Board, entry to this game will be FREE.

The Centre Spot Venue will be open on the evening.

The game kicks off at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15th February.