*BS*Whites face the unusual task of playing two teams from the same town in the space of three days, one at home and one away, starting at Walton Casuals.*BF*

After Saturday’s away trip to Casuals, Walton & Hersham visit SeaFrance Crabble on Monday.

Walton & Hersham have been touted as one of the favourites for promotion this season while near-neighbours Walton Casuals were expected to fight against the drop.

Go back two weeks and that theory was alive and well. Casuals were bottom of the league and looking for their second win of the season, while Walton & Hersham were close behind the front runners with games in hand.

So you may be expecting the trip to Casuals to be the easier of the two matches. Well, perhaps not because the recent form of both clubs is quite the opposite. Casuals are in fact above Walton & Hersham in the form guide. W&H have won just once in the last six games, losing three on the spin in the past two weeks, whereas Casuals have lost only once in six games, drawing three and winning two.

*BS*Saturday 1 December – Walton Casuals
Franklyn Road Sports Ground – 3.00pm kick-off*BF*

Walton Casuals form could be attributed to their new manager. Kim Harris left the club in September and his former assistant Luke Dowling took over the reins. The young boss can count on the experience of John Morris, who ran a successful reserve team at AFC Wimbledon and knows the Ryman League scene well.

Casuals, currently lying 18th in the table, lost key forward Craig Carley in the summer to Met Police. However, they still have the quality of ex-Kingstonian striker Greg Ball and have also signed ex-Dulwich winger Jean-Serge Musungu and former Maidenhead forward Nana Badu to bolster their attacking options.

*Ppic1*It seems that Casuals are a stronger outfit on home turf at the moment but Whites will go into the game having won on both of their trips to the Franklyn Road Sports Ground in the past two seasons. Dover are used to visiting in March or April, however, so we shall see if the December weather makes any difference.

One similarity between Dover and Casuals is that both clubs are attempting ambitious clubhouse redevelopment plans for 2008. Walton Casuals are planning to replace their existing clubhouse with a long two-storey facility. They also hope to lay seven grass pitches for youth football by 2009.

*BS*DAFC Team News*BF*

Shaun Welford will return to the Dover squad, after missing the Sutton FA Trophy tie due to being cup-tied. The striker’s presence was missed in attack for Whites, particularly on Tuesday night at Gander Green Lane.

Alan Pouton picked up an ankle injury in the first half at Sutton and therefore may not start this weekend. The experienced midfielder still has a way to go fitness-wise so may be better utilised off the bench.

James Rogers and Hessenthaler filled the midfield role on Saturday and Tuesday respectively, the latter after Pouton had gone off. However, Hess may decide to return to the more attacking Lee Browning in an advanced midfield role. This would allow Welford to return up front alongside Jimmy Dryden and Frannie Collin.

In defence, Craig Wilkins has come in for Matt Bourne and “concrete head” put in an excellent performance on Tuesday evening. Whites’ defensive options have limited Liam Quinn to a substitutes role recently and Hessenthaler has decided to give the promising defender more games by loaning him out to struggling Whitstable. The Oystermen desperately need defensive reinforcements but were beaten on Quinn’s debut last Saturday 3-2 against Kingstonian.

John Keister picked up his fifth booking of the season on Tuesday – for certain, this time. However, I believe that the only game he will miss is the Kent Senior Cup tie at Princes Park, Dartford on Tuesday 11 December. If so, that would be a slice of good fortune with games against promotion chasing Worthing and Cray either side of the KSC tie.
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Finally, Jimmy Dryden will be hoping to get back amongst the goals after failing to net against Sutton. This perhaps wasn’t a surprise though, as Whites’ top-scorer has only netted once in cup competitions this season. He has scored 12 times in the league. Jimmy would no doubt settle for a performance on Saturday similar to the one that earned him a brace at Walton Casuals last season.

*BS*Monday 3 December – Walton & Hersham
SeaFrance Crabble Stadium – 7.45pm kick-off*BF*

The Swans will visit Dover on Monday on the back of another trip to Kent this weekend against Ashford. It’s a big weekend for the club who are struggling for form and starting to drift down the table. Having been within eight points of top spot with several games in hand a couple of weeks ago, they now lie 11 points behind Whites with no games in hand.

Les Cleevely has put together a young side at Stompond Lane and the Swans have found goals hard to come by so far. Ex-Molesey hotshot Phil Ruggles recently signed so Cleevely will be hoping he can fire his team back up the table.

Walton & Hersham have struggled to gain points from their matches against the stronger Ryman South sides so far this term, losing to Tooting and Cray, drawing 2-2 with Kingstonian after leading 2-0 and losing to Worthing in the FA Trophy.

Dover will hope to continue that trend when we’re “at home with the Waltons” on Monday.

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*BS*SUTTON UNITED of BlueSquare South is Whites’ home draw for the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy.*BF*

Goals from Frannie Collin and Jimmy Dryden saw Athletic fend off higher division opponents Brackley on Saturday in a 2-1 win on home turf.

Andy Hessenthaler will no doubt be confident of his side’s ability to progress further despite a tough test against a team two divisions higher.

FA Trophy games against Sutton are not new to Whites, having twice been tied against the Surrey club in the 90s at Gander Green Lane. Hessenthaler will be pleased that SeaFrance Crabble will play host to this tie though.

Sutton have had a difficult start to the season, currently seven points from safety at the bottom of BlueSquare South, having won only once in the league so far and scored just 10 times in 14 league matches. Manager Ian Hazel resigned a month ago and was replaced recently by Ernie Howe, who masterminded Basingstoke’s success between 1994 and 2006.

Dover fans will hope Howe does not inflict the same kind of suffering on them as he did as Basingstoke boss about 10 years ago, when the then Ryman League outfit defeated Whites at Crabble in the FA Cup.

*Lpic1*A familiar face in the Sutton line-up will be accomplished defender John Scarborough (pictured right with Shaun Welford for Dover in 2004 – obscured by then Windsor goalkeeper Chuck Martini), who had an all-too-brief spell in a white shirt under the caretaker-management of Gary Whittle during the club’s difficult Ryman Premier season in 2004.

Prior to the FA Trophy tie, Dover have four league games to focus on. On Tuesday Whites travel to Sittingbourne and then Chipstead on Saturday. Two home games in three days will follow against Corinthian-Casuals and league leaders Tooting & Mitcham.

*BS*SUTTON UNITED of BlueSquare South is Whites’ home draw for the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy.*BF*

Goals from Frannie Collin and Jimmy Dryden saw Athletic fend off higher division opponents Brackley on Saturday in a 2-1 win on home turf.

Andy Hessenthaler will no doubt be confident of his side’s ability to progress further despite a tough test against a team two divisions higher.

FA Trophy games against Sutton are not new to Whites, having twice been tied against the Surrey club in the 90s at Gander Green Lane. Hessenthaler will be pleased that SeaFrance Crabble will play host to this tie though.

Sutton have had a difficult start to the season, currently seven points from safety at the bottom of BlueSquare South, having won only once in the league so far and scored just 10 times in 14 league matches. Manager Ian Hazel resigned a month ago and was replaced recently by Ernie Howe, who masterminded Basingstoke’s success between 1994 and 2006.

Dover fans will hope Howe does not inflict the same kind of suffering on them as he did as Basingstoke boss about 10 years ago, when the then Ryman League outfit defeated Whites at Crabble in the FA Cup.

*Lpic1*A familiar face in the Sutton line-up will be accomplished defender John Scarborough (pictured right with Shaun Welford for Dover in 2004 – obscured by then Windsor goalkeeper Chuck Martini), who had an all-too-brief spell in a white shirt under the caretaker-management of Gary Whittle during the club’s difficult Ryman Premier season in 2004.

Prior to the FA Trophy tie, Dover have four league games to focus on. On Tuesday Whites travel to Sittingbourne and then Chipstead on Saturday. Two home games in three days will follow against Corinthian-Casuals and league leaders Tooting & Mitcham.

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC today launches its campaign to build fans a brand new Centre Spot clubhouse.

*BF*The club has received planning permission from the local council to build a £200,000 complex to replace the current building.

Chairman Jim Parmenter revealed Dover Athletic need to raise £150,000 by the end of the season if building work is to begin next summer.

He said: “This is a very exciting project, which will give our fans a superb facility and increase Dover Athletic’s potential to increase its revenue streams significantly.

“The current facility we have has seen better days and is getting very expensive to maintain. Also, because it’s very small and old, it’s not an attractive venue – which handicaps our chances of pulling money in from social and business functions.”

Centre Spot 2008 – the name of our project – will result in a complex measuring 30metres by 16metres – that is 50 per cent bigger than the current clubhouse.

The one-storey brick-built facility will also be able to comfortably sit up to 200 people for a banqueting function, perfect for wedding receptions, parties, business conferences and many other events.

And, furthermore, the clubhouse will be more spacious so our fans can enjoy refreshments before, during and after a match in a far more welcoming environment.

There facility will have a far more spacious bar, large flat-screen television and a top-of-the-range sound system.

The foundations of the building allow the club an option to build a second storey at a later date – which is being pencilled in to happen if the club makes giant strides up the football pyramid in the next few years, to increase the clubhouse’s potential further. This would, of course, be subject to receiving planning permission.

Vice-chairman Roger Knight said: “After years of paying off debts, finally we’re raising money for something which won’t be going down a black hole. It’ll be going towards a super facility which our supporters can be proud of.

“We’ve set up a separate bank account, which will hold all funds raised for the Centre Spot – and that will mean we can earn some interest on the capital, which will go towards this project.”

*Lpic1*The Supporters Trust have also pledged their support to Centre Spot 2008 and are set to announce a whole host of other fundraising initiatives.

doverathletic.com will keep a running total of the funds raised to keep everyone up-to-date with the campaign’s progress. This can be found on the home page.

Director Chris Oakley says the facility will have a first-class kitchen, which will enable top-quality chefs to cater functions.

Chris, a top-rate chef in his own right who owns Wallett’s Court in St Margaret’s, said: “The new clubhouse will be able to incorporate a kitchen where top-quality food can be made to offer quality catering for functions.

“I am even going to have an input into the kitchen’s design. The facility really is going to be fantastic and will help this club progress.”

The club’s main fundraising scheme gives fans the chance to help us build the clubhouse by donating money – and having their name listed inside the building.

Dover Athletic will be displaying a large quality roll of honour board inside the new complex. And fans have their chance to have their name added, in recognition for their fundraising efforts.

There will be five categories listed on the board, with different price levels.

The donations will be listed as follows: £25 Supporter, £50 Bronze Supporter, £100 Silver Supporter, £250 Gold Supporter, £500 Platinum Supporter.

Each band will have a different standing on the wall display – in terms of its size and colour. Futher details will be released soon.

Supporters can make a one-off contribution to buy their level (as per the pricing structure) or they can continue contributing until they get to their desired level of supporter (normal, bronze, silver, gold or platinum).

*Q1*Payments can be made by Standing Order (you can fill out the form once and make contributions every month/week) or by cash/cheque.

There will be an information form, which will have a standing order form included and a ‘pay in’ form, for cash and cheques, which needs to be handed to Paul or Debbie Harrison on matchdays. Alternatively, you can post it to Centre Spot 2008 Appeal, Dover Athletic Football Club, Lewisham Road, River, Kent CT 17 0JB.

A pay in form still needs to be completed every time a payment is made. Standing orders only need to be submitted once.

If you wish to make a donation via PayPal, there is a £1 charge for each transaction, so please add £1 to your donation. There is a PayPal link on the home page. You must then email us at [email protected] to confirm your payment.

Supporters who haven’t paid for a Platinum membership as a one off payment, they can continue contributing until the Centre Spot is built, at which point we will count up their contribution and apply the correct level that has been achieved.

Each person will then be sent a form to fill in including space for the message etc they want on the wall.

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