*BS*Dover Athletic can today confirm six pre-season friendlies, including home games against League Two clubs Gillingham and Dagenham.*BF*

Manager Nicky Forster and assistant Steve Brown were keen to arrange a competitive and varied set of fixtures against different styles and quality of opposition.

Whites begin at Deal Town on Saturday 7 July. The following weekend sees Championship side Brighton bring a team to Crabble on 14 July.

Supporters can look forward to a trip to the Dripping Pan against Lewes on Saturday 21st July. The Ryman Premier side are now managed by Whites legend Simon Wormull.

Dover will be tested by League Two opponents twice in three days midway through the pre-season schedule. Gillingham’s new manager will bring a side to Crabble on Tuesday 31 July, following Dagenham’s visit on Saturday 28 July.

The players will wrap up their preparation for the new season with a trip to Liam Daish’s Ebbsfleet on Saturday 4th August before entertaining Chris Kinnear’s Margate at Crabble a week later.

*BS*Pre-Season Schedule:*BF*

Saturday 7 July – Deal Town away (3.00pm)

Saturday 14 July – Brighton & Hove Albion at Crabble (3.00pm)

Saturday 21 July – Lewes away (3.00pm)

Saturday 28 July – Dagenham & Redbridge at Crabble (3.00pm)

Tuesday 31 July – Gillingham at Crabble (7.45pm)

Saturday 4 August – Ebbsfleet United away (3.00pm)

Saturday 11 August – Margate at Crabble (3.00pm)

The opening day of the Blue Square Bet South season is Saturday 18th August.

*BS*Dover Athletic have today signed former loanee midfielder Dean Rance on a permanent deal.*BF*

Nicky Forster moved quickly to sign the 20 year-old after he left Gillingham earlier this month. The central midfielder made two appearances for Whites on loan last season.

He becomes the club’s third new signing of the summer after Steven Thomson and Mitchell Walker.

Dean said: “I’m excited about the fresh challenge and look forward to a successful season.”

Rance joined Gillingham at the age of eight and progressed through their youth set-up, finishing the 2009–10 season as the youth team’s top goalscorer. He signed his first professional contract in May 2010.

He had loan spells with home town club Maidstone United and Bishop’s Stortford during 2010 and 2011, scoring three goals in 15 Blue Square Bet South appearances. Like his former teammate at Gillingham Connor Essam, Dean followed up his time at Stortford with a loan spell at Crabble.

In a 2-1 victory against Chelmsford last season his performance contributed to Whites’ best home display of the campaign. Unfortunately he was injured in that game and so his loan spell with the club was cut short.

Rance made his first team debut for Gillingham in November 2011 as a substitute in an FA Cup first round replay against Bournemouth.

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Reaction to follow.

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the graduation of Tom Axford from Whites’ Academy to the first team squad.*BF*

The young prospect has today signed a one year contract, joining fellow Academy graduates Lloyd Harrington and Sean Raggett in Nicky Forster’s squad for next season.

Tom featured in midfield for the first team last season in the Kent Senior Cup and has recently been capped by England Schoolboys, playing at right back.

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Meanwhile, midfielder Glen Southam has decided not to renew his contract and yesterday signed for fellow Blue Square Bet South club Eastleigh. The former Barnet player spent a year at Crabble and we wish him well for the future.

Nicky Forster said: “Glen leaves with our best wishes. He will be remembered for his wholehearted performances on the pitch and professionalism off it during his time at the club.”

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the graduation of Tom Axford from Whites’ Academy to the first team squad.*BF*

The young prospect has today signed a one year contract, joining fellow Academy graduates Lloyd Harrington and Sean Raggett in Nicky Forster’s squad for next season.

Tom featured in midfield for the first team last season in the Kent Senior Cup and has recently been capped by England Schoolboys, playing at right back.

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Meanwhile, midfielder Glen Southam has decided not to renew his contract and yesterday signed for fellow Blue Square Bet South club Eastleigh. The former Barnet player spent a year at Crabble and we wish him well for the future.

Nicky Forster said: “Glen leaves with our best wishes. He will be remembered for his wholehearted performances on the pitch and professionalism off it during his time at the club.”

*BS*Nicky Forster has completed the signing of goalkeeper Mitchell Walker from Brighton & Hove Albion.*BF*

The highly-rated youngster has experience of Blue Square Bet South football, having played for Eastbourne Borough and Welling United in the past two seasons.

Walker made his professional debut for Brighton on the last day of the 2009-10 season in a 1–0 victory over Yeovil Town. He will compete with Lee Hook for the No 1 jersey at Crabble next season.

Nicky Forster told doverathletic.com: “Mitch is a fantastic prospect who has a maturity beyond his years, a goalkeeper with huge presence who has featured in League One with Brighton & Hove Albion.

“We have worked hard for his signature as he turned down a professional club in order to sign for Dover Athletic, which shows the quality of players we are now trying to attract here.”

This signing means Whites’ boss is close to completing the defensive part of his squad. Of the 12 players currently signed on contract, two are goalkeepers and six are defenders.

Forster moved to bolster the squad’s midfield at the weekend with the capture of Steven Thomson from St Mirren.

Nicky said: “I am delighted get Thommo down here at Crabble, especially as his signature was being chased by a number of other clubs both in our league and above.

“He is an experienced professional who is still hungry for success and will bring a level of experience that at times we missed last season, especially during the key run in.”

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*BS*Dover Athletic’s commercial progress was given a further boost today with the addition of a further large scale, 5 figure, sponsorship deal.*BF*

Viking Recruitment, the leading Cruise Ship and Large Yacht Crew Management Company based in Dover has agreed to extend its support. The company, which has offices around the world, has agreed a substantial 5 figure deal.

Viking have been supporting the Whites, as sponsors, for the past two seasons.

Viking Chairman and Founder, Dieter Jaenicke said “As a local Dover business, the Chairman, Directors and all of the staff at Viking Recruitment are very proud of its association with Dover Athletic and are committed to assisting the football club in their long term future. We hope this is aided with our substantial sponsorship for a 3rd consecutive year and of course by attending games and promoting the club locally, nationally and internationally with its clients.”

Club Director, Alistair Bayliss, said “I’m delighted that Viking have decided to continue their sponsorship for another season, it is vital to us as a club that as many local businesses as possible support us. There is a real feel good factor around the club at the moment and I’d like to personally thank Dieter and his Directors for adding to that.”

*BS*Academy boss Michael Sandmann reflects on the progression made this season and the potential for more players to graduate to the first team…*BF*

The Academy finished the season last week with 3-1 win over league winners Weston-super-Mare.

It has been an excellent season for us with Sean Raggett, Tom Axford and Lloyd Harrington being offered first team contracts by Nicky Forster for next season.

I have been extremely pleased with the progression of the players and it shows that the Academy does work. For me it’s all about producing players to play in the first team and I hope with more experience the three of them can become regulars in seasons to come.

I was proud to watch Lloyd play the last few games for the first team and he showed what potential he has. It’s also a pleasure to see the players develop in the two years of having them and watch them reach their end goal with us.

This year we have also had Tom and Lloyd represent England at schoolboy level. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience, proudly representing the Abbey School and Dover Athletic.

To get three players in one year progress into the first team is outstanding and testament to the players’ hard work every day in training.

*Lpic1*I was also pleased to see eight other Academy players represent Dover Athletic in the Kent Senior Cup. I thank Nicky Forster and Steve Brown for giving the players the opportunity; it shows the club has a real belief in its youth system.

Next season plans are already underway with 23 new Academy players joining the Abbey School and Dover Athletic. I am pleased with the amount of players progressing from the club’s Under-16 youth team into the Academy and shows what a great youth set-up we have.

Dover Athletic is attracting the best players in the youth teams and Academy. We are looking forward to working with these players and hopefully more and more of them will progress into the first team.

*BS*Nicky Forster has completed the signing of goalkeeper Mitchell Walker from Brighton & Hove Albion.*BF*

The highly-rated youngster has experience of Blue Square Bet South football, having played for Eastbourne Borough and Welling United in the past two seasons.

Walker made his professional debut for Brighton on the last day of the 2009-10 season in a 1–0 victory over Yeovil Town. He will compete with Lee Hook for the No 1 jersey at Crabble next season.

Nicky Forster told doverathletic.com: “Mitch is a fantastic prospect who has a maturity beyond his years, a goalkeeper with huge presence who has featured in League One with Brighton & Hove Albion.

“We have worked hard for his signature as he turned down a professional club in order to sign for Dover Athletic, which shows the quality of players we are now trying to attract here.”

This signing means Whites’ boss is close to completing the defensive part of his squad. Of the 12 players currently signed on contract, two are goalkeepers and six are defenders.

Forster moved to bolster the squad’s midfield at the weekend with the capture of Steven Thomson from St Mirren.

Nicky said: “I am delighted get Thommo down here at Crabble, especially as his signature was being chased by a number of other clubs both in our league and above.

“He is an experienced professional who is still hungry for success and will bring a level of experience that at times we missed last season, especially during the key run in.”

*Link1*

*BS*Dover Athletic’s commercial progress was given a further boost today with the addition of a further large scale, 5 figure, sponsorship deal.*BF*

Viking Recruitment, the leading Cruise Ship and Large Yacht Crew Management Company based in Dover has agreed to extend its support. The company, which has offices around the world, has agreed a substantial 5 figure deal.

Viking have been supporting the Whites, as sponsors, for the past two seasons.

Viking Chairman and Founder, Dieter Jaenicke said “As a local Dover business, the Chairman, Directors and all of the staff at Viking Recruitment are very proud of its association with Dover Athletic and are committed to assisting the football club in their long term future. We hope this is aided with our substantial sponsorship for a 3rd consecutive year and of course by attending games and promoting the club locally, nationally and internationally with its clients.”

Club Director, Alistair Bayliss, said “I’m delighted that Viking have decided to continue their sponsorship for another season, it is vital to us as a club that as many local businesses as possible support us. There is a real feel good factor around the club at the moment and I’d like to personally thank Dieter and his Directors for adding to that.”

*BS*Academy boss Michael Sandmann reflects on the progression made this season and the potential for more players to graduate to the first team…*BF*

The Academy finished the season last week with 3-1 win over league winners Weston-super-Mare.

It has been an excellent season for us with Sean Raggett, Tom Axford and Lloyd Harrington being offered first team contracts by Nicky Forster for next season.

I have been extremely pleased with the progression of the players and it shows that the Academy does work. For me it’s all about producing players to play in the first team and I hope with more experience the three of them can become regulars in seasons to come.

I was proud to watch Lloyd play the last few games for the first team and he showed what potential he has. It’s also a pleasure to see the players develop in the two years of having them and watch them reach their end goal with us.

This year we have also had Tom and Lloyd represent England at schoolboy level. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience, proudly representing the Abbey School and Dover Athletic.

To get three players in one year progress into the first team is outstanding and testament to the players’ hard work every day in training.

*Lpic1*I was also pleased to see eight other Academy players represent Dover Athletic in the Kent Senior Cup. I thank Nicky Forster and Steve Brown for giving the players the opportunity; it shows the club has a real belief in its youth system.

Next season plans are already underway with 23 new Academy players joining the Abbey School and Dover Athletic. I am pleased with the amount of players progressing from the club’s Under-16 youth team into the Academy and shows what a great youth set-up we have.

Dover Athletic is attracting the best players in the youth teams and Academy. We are looking forward to working with these players and hopefully more and more of them will progress into the first team.