*BS*ANDY HESSENTHALER ranked clinching the Ryman One South title at Dover along with his high of gaining promotion to the Championship with Gillingham at Wembley Stadium.

*BF*The jubilant Dover boss saw his men beat Burgess Hill 1-0, courtesy of Jimmy Dryden’s second-half header, which sealed the title and with it promotion to the Premier Division in his first season in charge.

He told DAFCtv exclusively on the pitch at the full-time whistle: “I’m delighted. I’ve had great times, and some lows, and it’s up there with the best. I’ve lost and won at Wembley and this is right up there.

“I’m not just delighted for the players but everyone at the club, the fans, the chairman, the tea ladies, everyone.

“The chairman (Jim Parmenter) has put a lot of money into this club and wants to get it back to where it should be – and this is the first part of that journey.

“Darren Hare, my assistant, has been fantastic. If it wasn’t for him, we’d not have got this promotion. Everyone deserves this – it’s been a long time coming.”

*Lpic1*He also was chuffed for local boy Dryden, who had the honour of sealing the championship by nodding in a superb cross from Matt Fish.

Hess added: “If someone is going to score a goal for this football club, it’s Jimmy. I am delighted for him.”

Jim Parmenter could barely watch the final 10 minutes, he was so tense. He said: “What a fantastic day. That’s 15 years since we won anything. We’re slowly getting the club back from the dead almost. We’ve won the league, got a new clubhouse coming and other improvements to the ground. Dover Athletic is back and I’m relieved.

“We’ve got a special club with a special team and a special manager. We’re back and thanks to everyone for sticking by us.”

Assistant boss Darren Hare said: “I’m so proud of the team. I’ve not worked with such a professional group of players.

“Just three defeats all season speaks volumes.

“Next season is going to be a different challenge. There is going to be better footballing sides in the Premier but it’s a challenge me and the gaffer are looking forward to.”

Re-live Saturday’s emotional afternoon and watch the celebrations, as well as interviews with Hess, Jim Parmenter, Darren Hare, James Rogers and Laurence Ball.

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*BS*JIMMY DRYDEN nodded the goal that ultimately sealed Dover Athletic’s status as Ryman League Division One South Champions!

*BF*Dover Athletic, after years of heartache, years of relegations, years of financial turmoil, are back.
We will be playing Premier Division football next season.

As the referee blew the full-time whistle, the pitch was swamped by jubilant fans, who have been starved of success. At last, it is time to celebrate.

All the players shook hands with fans, Dryden got mobbed and Craig Cloke carried his son on to the pitch.

Every single player, Andy Hessenthaler, Darren Hare, the board, and everyone who works behind the scenes of this great club deserve every credit for pulling this off.

Quite simply – it has been a remarkable turnaround for a club that was on the brink of going out of business just three and a half years ago.

Now we are out of financial trouble, are set to build a brand new clubhouse, have a Blue Square Premier-graded ground and have a Championship-winning team.

This is only the start of the journey … but everyone get the champagne out and party!!!!

Come on you Whites …..

*BS*Interviews and exclusive reaction to follow on DAFCtv and doverathletic.com

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*BS*JIMMY DRYDEN nodded the goal that ultimately sealed Dover Athletic’s status as Ryman League Division One South Champions!

*BF*Dover Athletic, after years of heartache, years of relegations, years of financial turmoil, are back.
We will be playing Premier Division football next season.

As the referee blew the full-time whistle, the pitch was swamped by jubilant fans, who have been starved of success. At last, it is time to celebrate.

All the players shook hands with fans, Dryden got mobbed and Craig Cloke carried his son on to the pitch.

Every single player, Andy Hessenthaler, Darren Hare, the board, and everyone who works behind the scenes of this great club deserve every credit for pulling this off.

Quite simply – it has been a remarkable turnaround for a club that was on the brink of going out of business just three and a half years ago.

Now we are out of financial trouble, are set to build a brand new clubhouse, have a Blue Square Premier-graded ground and have a Championship-winning team.

This is only the start of the journey … but everyone get the champagne out and party!!!!

Come on you Whites …..

*BS*Interviews and exclusive reaction to follow on DAFCtv and doverathletic.com

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*BS*JASON MOORE could make a shock return to Dover Athletic after being invited to the club’s pre-season training sessions.

*BF*The former West Ham FA Youth Cup finalist – who played for the Whites in two spells during our Conference days – is now 29 and still lives in Deal.

His brother Sammy signed a two-year deal this summer – and Jason has won back his enthusiasm for the game after a few years out.

Dad Henry said: “He’s got this hunger back for football and Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare invited him to train with the first team.

“Jason’s 29 and not over-the-hill yet by any means. He’s still very fit and was second fastest in training the other night. He’d love to play for Dover again. He might even get some games in the pre-season matches.

“Of course, Jason is under no illusions that he’ll have to prove himself as he’s been out of football for a few years. But he’s prepared to work hard to do that.”

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*BS*JASON MOORE could make a shock return to Dover Athletic after being invited to the club’s pre-season training sessions.

*BF*The former West Ham FA Youth Cup finalist – who played for the Whites in two spells during our Conference days – is now 29 and still lives in Deal.

His brother Sammy signed a two-year deal this summer – and Jason has won back his enthusiasm for the game after a few years out.

Dad Henry said: “He’s got this hunger back for football and Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare invited him to train with the first team.

“Jason’s 29 and not over-the-hill yet by any means. He’s still very fit and was second fastest in training the other night. He’d love to play for Dover again. He might even get some games in the pre-season matches.

“Of course, Jason is under no illusions that he’ll have to prove himself as he’s been out of football for a few years. But he’s prepared to work hard to do that.”

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*BS*We all got a bit ahead of ourselves last week, didn’t we?! The fat lady was simply gargling, not singing, after all. An easy mistake to make.*BF*

“Where is the victory party going to be?” we cried, forgetting that to celebrate you first have to win. And then to lose, I mean, what is going on there?

Worthing had the temerity not only to put our defence under pressure for longer than five minutes but to score against us as well… and beat us! I nearly fainted on the spot.

Joking aside, it was a bit of a wake-up call. Our old pal ‘reality’ had bitten us on the bum. We’d almost forgotten the losing feeling. Chatham may have won 3-1 in January but the refereeing fiasco that day tended to cover up the feeling of losing the game.

It probably shouldn’t have come as any surprise, however. It’s very rare for any side to go more than a few months without losing, after all. Also, it had been coming. Whites have been struggling to find the net since Frannie Collin and Lee Browning’s injuries at Corinthian-Casuals. Defensive solidity kept all at bay from Tooting through to Ashford, with Shaun Welford knocking in enough goals up front to keep winning.

However, at Worthing the team was perhaps a victim of its own confidence. The first half rattled by at a pace, as Whites had three or four sustained periods of pressure and dominated possession. Craig Cloke buzzed around, Jon Wallis caressed in some great crosses and Shaun Welford held the ball up well in attack.

As the chances came and went though, mainly thanks to ‘keeper Rikki Banks pulling off a couple of quality stops, Worthing’s seemingly fragile belief remained unbroken. This belief can only have been enhanced when Banks came to the rescue twice more in an even second half and the home side started to see more of the ball.

*Lpic1*Whites’ substitutions probably weakened their cause also. Cloke was out on his feet and needed to be replaced but the withdrawal of both Jimmy Dryden and Collin left only Shaun Welford very likely to score.

Fairplay to Worthing and their skipper Ben Andrews for snatching it at the last, sending the home crowd in somewhat of a frenzy. Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler is expecting his side to bounce back from this disappointment though, just as they did after the two losses against Chatham.

Hess said: “The last time we let ourselves down, at Chatham, we bounced back and went on a 14-game unbeaten run so let’s hope we do the same again now and win our last four games.”

It was, after all, only the third time Dover had lost and only the third time they had failed to score in the league this season. Hess’s men should have more than enough about them to get the job done, despite some tough fixtures remaining.

Hopefully the loss at Worthing and Tooting’s last minute win against Chatham on Tuesday will provide the necessary reminder that nothing is won yet. Plus, the fact that Saturday’s opponents Burgess Hill are top of the form table should ensure the players know that they’re in for a fight.

The Hillians have won six of their last eight matches, drawing the other two. They have tightened up at the back in recent weeks after a run of high-scoring games in February. Their opponents have been lower in the division, however, so this Saturday will provide a big test for the Sussex outfit.

Their player-manager, Jamie Howell, won manager of the month for March and striker Steve Harper has regularly been getting on the scoresheet. Harper, in his second spell at the club, is a natural goalscorer and earned the Hillians a four-figure fee when moving to Thurrock a few years ago. He went on to play for Welling and Tonbridge Angels before returning to Leylands Park earlier this season.

*Ppic1*Another Ryman League award winner for March was Dover goalkeeper John Whitehouse, winning the ‘Safe Hands’ accolade for conceding just twice (one a handball) in six matches. Worthing won the Ryman South performance of the month award for beating us, which is perhaps as much of a compliment to us as it is to them.

Going into Saturday’s home game, Whites could be strengthened by the return of Alan Pouton and Andy Hessenthaler. At Worthing, Dover had a very young line-up – an average age of about 24 of the 15 players involved – and they may need the steadying influence of the experienced ex-professionals to see them through.

Hessenthaler should have plenty of options to select from, with new signing Marvin Hamilton in contention, plus Craig Cloke and James Simmonds back from injury. It will be interesting to see what personnel the boss opts for this weekend with most of his squad available for selection.

Not getting ahead of ourselves this time, let’s hope for a good game against the Hillians and three points for the Whites – and then see where that leaves us!