*BS*SAMMY MOORE bids a fond farewell to Dover Athletic as he completes his free transfer move to AFC Wimbledon.

*BF*The talented central midfielder, who was out of contract this summer, admits the lure of training full-time as a professional footballer again was too much to turn down.

But he wants to thank Dover fans for their excellent support during the past two seasons.

He said: “The support at Dover has been amazing. I was a fan of the club so it was a great honour to play for the club. I had an enjoyable time and the supporters played a big part in that.

“It’s been a difficult summer but I’ve missed training full-time and want to get back into the Football League, as it’s always been my dream to be a professional footballer.

“Obviously, I was a professional footballer with Ipswich and played a lot of games in League Two for Brentford before coming here. I am so glad that I helped my local club gain a promotion and we so nearly got another one last season.

“I hope that the club can win promotion again this season – and wish Martin Hayes and the boys the very best of luck. And I thank everyone for the past two seasons.”

*BS*SAMMY MOORE bids a fond farewell to Dover Athletic as he completes his free transfer move to AFC Wimbledon.

*BF*The talented central midfielder, who was out of contract this summer, admits the lure of training full-time as a professional footballer again was too much to turn down.

But he wants to thank Dover fans for their excellent support during the past two seasons.

He said: “The support at Dover has been amazing. I was a fan of the club so it was a great honour to play for the club. I had an enjoyable time and the supporters played a big part in that.

“It’s been a difficult summer but I’ve missed training full-time and want to get back into the Football League, as it’s always been my dream to be a professional footballer.

“Obviously, I was a professional footballer with Ipswich and played a lot of games in League Two for Brentford before coming here. I am so glad that I helped my local club gain a promotion and we so nearly got another one last season.

“I hope that the club can win promotion again this season – and wish Martin Hayes and the boys the very best of luck. And I thank everyone for the past two seasons.”

*BS*The Premier League has announced that it will commit £6m of financial support to the Football Conference for the next three seasons.*BF*

The Premier League today announced a solidarity package with The Football Conference worth £6m over the next three seasons.

Following the £1m payment made to the Football Conference in 2009/10 the Premier League has decided to provide funding for seasons 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 that will support all Football Conference clubs.

The funding will be split into general payments made to all 68 Conference clubs and a separate club development fund which any Conference club can apply to for specific projects.
The funding will be structured in the following way:*Q1*

– £1.2m per season provided as funds to support all Football Conference clubs;

– £800,000 per season committed to a new club development fund to which all Conference clubs can apply;

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said:
“The Premier League and our member clubs recognise the importance of the continued health of football outside the Football League and it is with this in mind that we have made this commitment to the Football Conference.
*Lpic1*
“In particular, we are extremely pleased to be working with the Football Conference to establish a new club development fund that will allow Conference clubs, all extremely important within their local communities, to invest more funds into local youth development and good cause initiatives.”

Football Conference Chairman, Brian Lee, said:
“This is a further wonderful gesture of friendship from the Premier League towards The Football Conference. The solidarity commitment for three years is most welcome whilst the new funding will allow our Clubs to express themselves in a tangible form for the benefit of their communities. We accept the challenge with gratitude.”

*BS*Dover Athletic travel to Ryman South new boys Faversham on Saturday.*BF*
*IS*Pictured above: Olly Schulz makes his Dover debut at Salters Lane in 2008.*IF*

Whites will play their 2nd pre-season friendly at the Kent League champions, who will feature a number of familiar faces to Dover supporters.

Meanwhile, Martin Hayes is hoping to complete the signings of several new players in the coming week to bolster his first-team squad.

A welcome addition on Saturday will be central defender Rob Gillman, a new signing from Bromley. Rob was unavailable for the first match due to a family wedding.

A host of former Dover players now play for Faversham, including Matt Bourne, Tom Hickman, Shane Hamshare, Michael ‘Buster’ Smissen and Dale Skelton.

Assistant manager at Salters Lane is Clive Walker, who will need no introduction to Whites’ supporters. He helped boss Justin Luchford in guiding the club to promotion from the Kent League last season.

Leaving the club in the summer was Lee Shearer (pictured above – no.6). Shears enjoyed two spells at Crabble and has since played for several Kent clubs, including Folkestone and Maidstone. He has now signed for Hythe Town.

*BS*Faversham Town Facts*BF*

*BS*Formed:*BF* 1884
*BS*Former Names:*BF* Faversham Invicta, Faversham Railway and Faversham Rangers
*BS*Ground:*BF* Moved to Salters Lane in 1953.
*BS*Honours:*BF*
Kent Amateur Cup: 1957, 1959, 1972-74
Kent League Champions: 1970, 1971, 1978, 1990, 2010
Kent Senior Trophy: 1977, 1978

*BS*Recent History*BF*
Faversham Town reached a crisis point in 2003 when the club were ejected from the Kent League for non-payment of fines. With the ground effectively abandoned the vandals and drug-dealers moved in and systematically destroyed what was left.

The club trustees fought a desperate battle to heal the rift between the then owners over ownership of the Club and the Salters Lane ground. The issues were eventually resolved and the club returned to the Kent League in 2006.

*Link1*

*BS*Faversham vs Dover Athletic
Saturday 17 July – 3.00pm kick-off*BF*
Salters Lane, Faversham, ME13 8ND

*BS*The Premier League has announced that it will commit £6m of financial support to the Football Conference for the next three seasons.*BF*

The Premier League today announced a solidarity package with The Football Conference worth £6m over the next three seasons.

Following the £1m payment made to the Football Conference in 2009/10 the Premier League has decided to provide funding for seasons 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 that will support all Football Conference clubs.

The funding will be split into general payments made to all 68 Conference clubs and a separate club development fund which any Conference club can apply to for specific projects.
The funding will be structured in the following way:*Q1*

– £1.2m per season provided as funds to support all Football Conference clubs;

– £800,000 per season committed to a new club development fund to which all Conference clubs can apply;

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said:
“The Premier League and our member clubs recognise the importance of the continued health of football outside the Football League and it is with this in mind that we have made this commitment to the Football Conference.
*Lpic1*
“In particular, we are extremely pleased to be working with the Football Conference to establish a new club development fund that will allow Conference clubs, all extremely important within their local communities, to invest more funds into local youth development and good cause initiatives.”

Football Conference Chairman, Brian Lee, said:
“This is a further wonderful gesture of friendship from the Premier League towards The Football Conference. The solidarity commitment for three years is most welcome whilst the new funding will allow our Clubs to express themselves in a tangible form for the benefit of their communities. We accept the challenge with gratitude.”

*BS*Dover Athletic travel to Ryman South new boys Faversham on Saturday.*BF*
*IS*Pictured above: Olly Schulz makes his Dover debut at Salters Lane in 2008.*IF*

Whites will play their 2nd pre-season friendly at the Kent League champions, who will feature a number of familiar faces to Dover supporters.

Meanwhile, Martin Hayes is hoping to complete the signings of several new players in the coming week to bolster his first-team squad.

A welcome addition on Saturday will be central defender Rob Gillman, a new signing from Bromley. Rob was unavailable for the first match due to a family wedding.

A host of former Dover players now play for Faversham, including Matt Bourne, Tom Hickman, Shane Hamshare, Michael ‘Buster’ Smissen and Dale Skelton.

Assistant manager at Salters Lane is Clive Walker, who will need no introduction to Whites’ supporters. He helped boss Justin Luchford in guiding the club to promotion from the Kent League last season.

Leaving the club in the summer was Lee Shearer (pictured above – no.6). Shears enjoyed two spells at Crabble and has since played for several Kent clubs, including Folkestone and Maidstone. He has now signed for Hythe Town.

*BS*Faversham Town Facts*BF*

*BS*Formed:*BF* 1884
*BS*Former Names:*BF* Faversham Invicta, Faversham Railway and Faversham Rangers
*BS*Ground:*BF* Moved to Salters Lane in 1953.
*BS*Honours:*BF*
Kent Amateur Cup: 1957, 1959, 1972-74
Kent League Champions: 1970, 1971, 1978, 1990, 2010
Kent Senior Trophy: 1977, 1978

*BS*Recent History*BF*
Faversham Town reached a crisis point in 2003 when the club were ejected from the Kent League for non-payment of fines. With the ground effectively abandoned the vandals and drug-dealers moved in and systematically destroyed what was left.

The club trustees fought a desperate battle to heal the rift between the then owners over ownership of the Club and the Salters Lane ground. The issues were eventually resolved and the club returned to the Kent League in 2006.

*Link1*

*BS*Faversham vs Dover Athletic
Saturday 17 July – 3.00pm kick-off*BF*
Salters Lane, Faversham, ME13 8ND

*BS*ADAM BIRCHALL has warned that Martin Hayes may be a laid-back geezer – but he is a manager who demands the best.

*BF*Former boss Andy Hessenthaler always drove a hard bargain with his players and only was satisfied with 100 per cent performances.

Hayes has a more relaxed attitude but that only masks a tougher interior.

And striker Birchall admitted: “He only demands the best – and will let everyone know if they are not hitting the standards he expects.

“I find him a far more laid-back character compared to Hess. Andy was very much in your face – almost boyish – but obviously a very good manager.

“Martin isn’t that type of guy – yet his standards are very high too and that’s what is important.”

Adam is encouraged that Hayes is looking to play with wingers and believes that the one weakness in the squad last season was a lack of width.

*Q1*The Whites striker said: “Once Jerhal Hughes left the club, we were struggling for width. He was great at coming on towards the end of matches and stretching the opposition.

“He was a great outlet for us and a player who got behind defenders. That’s something we need to improve and Martin, of course, was a winger so knows all about this part of the team.

“It’s great to hear he is looking to strengthen this area.”

Adam is confident Hayes can help the club deliver another promotion bid this season – and says the core of the squad is exceptionally strong.

He said: “The bulk of the squad is still here from last season and we just need a few more to improve us. I think Martin has an excellent chance of taking us forward – and the atmosphere is very positive. We can have a good season.”

The former Barnet ace says he was encouraged by the team’s performance during the 2-0 defeat to League One Colchester in the opening tune-up match.

And he added: “There was a good work ethic and I thought the trialists looked good. It was daunting going into the game as we only had one session with the ball.

“You always like to have a good feel for the ball before going into a game – but, despite that, I thought we did pretty well against a very strong Colchester side.”

*BS*MEDIA outlets are reminded that articles on doverathletic.com are copyrighted. Permission must be sought before reproducing any material.

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*BS*ADAM BIRCHALL has warned that Martin Hayes may be a laid-back geezer – but he is a manager who demands the best.

*BF*Former boss Andy Hessenthaler always drove a hard bargain with his players and only was satisfied with 100 per cent performances.

Hayes has a more relaxed attitude but that only masks a tougher interior.

And striker Birchall admitted: “He only demands the best – and will let everyone know if they are not hitting the standards he expects.

“I find him a far more laid-back character compared to Hess. Andy was very much in your face – almost boyish – but obviously a very good manager.

“Martin isn’t that type of guy – yet his standards are very high too and that’s what is important.”

Adam is encouraged that Hayes is looking to play with wingers and believes that the one weakness in the squad last season was a lack of width.

*Q1*The Whites striker said: “Once Jerhal Hughes left the club, we were struggling for width. He was great at coming on towards the end of matches and stretching the opposition.

“He was a great outlet for us and a player who got behind defenders. That’s something we need to improve and Martin, of course, was a winger so knows all about this part of the team.

“It’s great to hear he is looking to strengthen this area.”

Adam is confident Hayes can help the club deliver another promotion bid this season – and says the core of the squad is exceptionally strong.

He said: “The bulk of the squad is still here from last season and we just need a few more to improve us. I think Martin has an excellent chance of taking us forward – and the atmosphere is very positive. We can have a good season.”

The former Barnet ace says he was encouraged by the team’s performance during the 2-0 defeat to League One Colchester in the opening tune-up match.

And he added: “There was a good work ethic and I thought the trialists looked good. It was daunting going into the game as we only had one session with the ball.

“You always like to have a good feel for the ball before going into a game – but, despite that, I thought we did pretty well against a very strong Colchester side.”

*BS*MEDIA outlets are reminded that articles on doverathletic.com are copyrighted. Permission must be sought before reproducing any material.

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