Archives: News

THE BIG 4 0 – KIT LAUNCH

We unveil our new kit. 

This season sees Dover Athletic turn the big four zero, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. And with such a big occasion we have decided to mark it with a special edition kit for the coming campaign. Dover Athletic took over from Dover FC after the club had run into massive debt and were dissolved in 1983. Athletic took over the mantle and replaced Dover in the Southern League and the rest is history, so they say.

There have been some fantastic highs in that period, as well as real lows as the club has continued to play its football at non league level. Some would argue that the golden period for the club was between the 2007-16 seasons when back to back promotions were secured from the Isthmian League to the Conference South (in old money) where eventually Chris Kinnear guided us back into the National League in 2014. The Whites beat Ebbsfleet United on their own patch courtesy of Nathan Elder’s thumping header in a 1-0 win.

Clinching promotion in 2014 via the play-offs – Photo Andy Payton

Just two seasons later and the club were in touching distance of the Football League, only to be denied by eventual winners of the play-offs, Forest Green. Chris Kinnear had two separate spells at the club and is arguably Dover’s greatest ever manager having guided the club to two titles in his first stint. The first in 1989/90 and the second in 1992/93. The Whites have had their fare share of colourful managers in the past with the likes of Peter Taylor, Clive Walker and Bill Williams, who guided us to within a whisker of Wembley, losing to Cheltenham Town in the FA Trophy semi-final back in 1997/98.

There have also been some magnificent cup runs, most notably in the FA Cup where the Whites have faced the likes of Oxford United, Aldershot, MK Dons, Huddersfield Town, Crystal Palace and who can forget when we went to Gillingham and turned them over.

The Whites face Crystal Palace in FA Cup Third round action. Photo – Getty Images

 

We are delighted to be working with our new kit partner VX3 with our bespoke 40th anniversary kit. – Jim Parmenter

As ever in football, we always look to move forward and what better way than this new edition shirt with the anniversary marking above the club crest.

Sizes and Price:

Adult shirt – £44 available in XS,S,M,L,XL,2XL,3XL & 4xL

Kids shirt – £37 available in 2,6,8,10 & 12 Years

You can now pre-order your shirt by contacting the office on 01304 822373. Once these are available, you will be able to purchase via the website or in the club shop, we assume this to be in June. You can still get your EARLY BIRD season tickets by clicking HERE.

Come on you 40 year old Whites.

RETAINED LIST 2023/24

Our retained list for the 2023/24 campaign. 

We now look ahead to another season in the Vanarama National League South. Things have been progressing behind the scenes as we build a new look team, ready to compete on the pitch at Crabble. The Gaffer has been busy trying to find the right pieces of the jigsaw and we will update you as and when we have news on new players coming through the door. Our retained list consists of:

  • Luke Baptiste
  • George Wilkinson
  • Geroge Nikaj
  • Freddie Oliver

 

Luke Baptiste skipping by a couple of challenges

With the U19’s winning the National League South last week, the manager will looking to add to his squad further with some of the young talent available. All other players are now out of contract and have left the club although we have spoken to a couple of which we wait a reply. We would like to thank all of our 2022/23 squad for its efforts and we wish you all well in the future, wherever that may be.

COYW.

YOUNG GUNS – CHAMPIONS

Academy boys claim U19 National League South title.

Mike Sandmann’s young guns claimed the National League South title today following a final day 4-1 win over Woking. The boys pipped Dartford U19’s to the post, edging in front of our north Kent rivals by three points. It was a cracking end to a season that had already seen two decent cup runs in both the FA Youth Cup and National League Cup, respectively.

‘I couldn’t be prouder – Mike Sandmann

The Successful U19’s Squad

Goals from Tim Marapara, Mohammed Ali, Jake Lumby and an Own goal secured the lads the trophy after a hard seasons graft. Gaffer Sandmann said ‘I couldn’t be prouder of what they have achieved this season, it has been a pleasure to work with them all and they should enjoy the credit that will come their way.’

First team boss Mitch Brundle will be casting a keen eye over the lads with potential of future additions as he prepares his team for the coming season. Kieron Agbebi had featured heavily on the bench towards the back end of the campaign whereas Freddie Oliver had played a pivotal role since his debut away at Taunton Town.

Get in there, lads. Super stuff.

COYW

STRIKER – DID YOU HIT THE NET?

Latest Striker Lottery results for Wednesday 10th May

 

Congratulations to all the winners and better luck next time if your name wasn’t drawn out. It could well be your time next week.

For anyone who doesn’t know how the Striker Lottery works well let me explain if for you. Each week, so long as you have paid your £1 weekly subscription, your number will be entered into a draw. If your number is drawn, congratulations – you’re a winner! It’s as simple as that. The draw is held every Wednesday. Keep an eye on the website and social media pages for full details. Who knows, your number could scoop the £1,000 top prize.

Please note that only paid-for tickets are entered in the draw. For your convenience, your membership fee can be collected from you, or you can pay at the Club Office or, to save time, you can pay monthly or quarterly by standing order.

Contact [email protected] to register your interest and good luck.

SEASON TICKETS

DOVER ATHLETIC PRESENTS – OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

Take advantage of our Early Bird prices.

Mitch Brundle’s Whites head into the 2023/24 Vanarama National South campaign and they want you to join them. Don’t miss a kick next season by grabbing yourself a season ticket and if purchased by the June cut off date, can net yourself a nifty saving. Season ticket prices have been frozen again this year so don’t delay, grab yours now. An Early Bird ticket means you can watch the Whites for as little as £10.86 per match and includes free seating in the respective areas.

Following Covid and the need to stabilise the football club in the last two seasons, we feel that now we can start to build again and we want you to be a part of that. We asked what it meant to still have a football club.


Below are the prices for the coming campaign and we hope that with you behind the team, we can kick on again. Thank you for your continued support during these tough times, we really do appreciate it.

COYW

Early Bird Prices:

Adult – £250

Concessions – Over 60’s – £214

Under 18’s – £50

After July 1st:

Adult – £331

Concessions – Over 60’s – £290

Under 18’s – £50

Pay on the Gate:

Adult – £17

Concessions – Over 60’s – £15

Under 18’s – £9

Under 11’s FREE with a paying adult.

All season tickets can be purchased by the following options:

  • Call the club office on 01304 822373 (option 2) to pay by card
  • Head up to the club office at Crabble between 9am-5pm (Monday-Friday) or on matchdays

 

STRIKER – DID YOU HIT THE NET?

Latest Striker Lottery results for Wednesday 3rd May

Congratulations to all the winners and better luck next time if your name wasn’t drawn out. It could well be your time next week.

For anyone who doesn’t know how the Striker Lottery works well let me explain if for you. Each week, so long as you have paid your £1 weekly subscription, your number will be entered into a draw. If your number is drawn, congratulations – you’re a winner! It’s as simple as that. The draw is held every Wednesday. Keep an eye on the website and social media pages for full details. Who knows, your number could scoop the £1,000 top prize.

Please note that only paid-for tickets are entered in the draw. For your convenience, your membership fee can be collected from you, or you can pay at the Club Office or, to save time, you can pay monthly or quarterly by standing order.

Contact [email protected] to register your interest and good luck.

HAVE YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS – 2023/24 SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES

Take a look at our sponsorship opportunities for the 2023/24 campaign.

With the finale of the 2022/23 campaign now concluded, we look forward to another season in the Vanarama National South division with Mitch Brundle taking us forward. With things about to move in a positive manner on the pitch, why not come and join us off the pitch with an abundance of sponsorship opportunities available at the club. We have a range of ways to get your company name and brand advertised in both static and fluid form.

On our Home & Away kits we have the following opportunities available:

  • Shorts Sponsor
  • Back of Shirt Sponsor
  • Shirt Sleeve Sponsor
Have your company brand around the pitch at Crabble or on the stands

Around the ground we have the following:

  • Centre Spot – 37 Metre High Level Hoarding
  • River End – 24 Metre Hoarding
  • Dover End – 24 Metre Hoarding
  • VIP Area – 24 Metre High Level Hoarding

We also have many other exciting opportunities. All commercial sponsors receive two VIP season tickets as part of the package.

If you wish to express an interest and find out more information then don’t hesitate to contact Jim Parmenter on [email protected]

DOVER ATHLETIC 0 WEYMOUTH 2

Its a bitter-sweet end to the 2022/23 campaign.

The sun was beating down at the Megger Community Stadium as the two sides preparing to play out a relegation showdown took to the stage. Dover Athletic, having not won at home in their previous six attempts, hosted Weymouth who were the form horse of the two.

It was the team from down on the Solent who started the brightest, most notably with skipper Tom Bearwish who headed straight into the arms of Stuart Nelson after 5 minutes. Moments later and again Nelson was watching an Akheem Rose effort go narrowly wide of his upright.

Dover tried to get into the game but the home sides passing radars were slightly off as the Whites failed to string a series of passes together. Brad Ash for Weymouth was occupying both Dover centre halves and was keeping them honest.

It was the impressive Ash who opened the scoring for the Terras after good work down the right hand side was rewarded with the forward lashing the ball past the helpless Nelson after a neat cut back by the dead ball line.

Dover had a mountain to climb with Weymouth now leapfrogging them in the table and it got even worse for the hosts in the 30th minute when a free header by Rose managed to squirm under the body of Nelson, with the Whites unable to clear from a corner. Luke Wanadio struck the crossbar with on the brink of half-time but it was going to be a tough team talk for Mitch Brundle.

The Whites looked to get back into the game and exerted plenty of pressure on Weymouth but the visiting defence was not in the mood to throw away any goals. It was the story of Dover’s campaign. Plenty of action but nothing to back it up with despite dominating large parts of the game. In South London, Chippenham Town were leading at Dulwich Hamlet, which in the end proved costly for the Hamlet who slid into the drop zone on goal difference.

With moments to go, both sets of fans were singing ‘We are staying up’, but it was done the hard way for the Whites who reclaimed National League status once again. ‘I’m disappointed with the performance and the situation but I’m delighted we have stayed in the division,’ said Brundle post match.

COYW.

Dover Athletic: Nelson, Judd, Paxman, Sterling, Janjeva, Higgs, Martin, Oliver, Wanadio, Baptiste, Nikaj

Weymouth: Weymouth  Benfield, Howe, Carlyle, Wilson, Sesay, Bearwish, Hemings, Blair, O’Connell, Rose, Ash

Attendance: 1509

 

AWARDS NIGHT – JUDDY AT THE DOUBLE

Whites hold their annual awards

The curtain came down on the 2022/23 Vanarama National South campaign with the club holding its annual Supporters Club awards ceremony. There were three trophies up for grabs, Golden Boot, Away Supporters Player and Supporters Player of the season.

Luke Wanadio claimed the Golden Boot, hitting double figures for the season.

Myles Judd picked up both the Andy Fisher shield for Away Supporters Player of the season and the Simon Harris shield for Supporters Player of the Season. The Simon Harris Shield was presented by Simons son. Judd then chose the Pilgrims Hospice as the recipient of the £200 cheque kindly donated by the Supporters Club. Our number two was often seen marauding down the right hand side of the pitch and his no nonsense style went down well with the fans.

As always we appreciate the effort from all the players and we wish them well in the future.