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*BS*Andy Hessenthaler’s wish for a home draw in the FA Cup didn’t come true as Dover received a third successive away draw – this time to Hythe Town.*BF*

Following wins at Redhill and Burgess Hill, Whites will make the short trip to Reachfields Stadium on Saturday, September 29 in the 2nd qualifying round of the country’s premier cup competition.

Hythe, currently fifth in the Kent League Premier, will have four or five players well known to the travelling Dover supporters, including former fringe first-teamers Buster Smissen, Roy Godden and Dale Skelton.

*Ppic1*Most familiar though will be goalkeeper Paul Hyde, one of Athletic’s best ever keepers. Hydey spent around eight years at Crabble, mostly playing under the management of Bill Williams and Clive Walker. He left Whites in 2006 and spent last season at Welling before moving to Hythe in the summer.

Hyde will relish the prospect of the tie and Hythe will be more than keen on causing an upset against Hessenthaler’s side, who will have another tough task away from Crabble in their effort to progress to the latter qualifying rounds.

Other ties involving Kent clubs include:
Hayes & Yeading v Herne Bay
Dulwich/Deal v Chalfont St Peter
Dartford/Sittingbourne v Camberley Town
Fisher Athletic v Margate
Billericay v Maidstone
Ramsgate v Barton Rovers/Corby Town
Folkestone/Horsham YMCA v Windsor & Eton

FA Cup 2nd qualifying round draw:
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*BS*FA Cup magic and Dover’s travelling contingent will descend on Burgess Hill tomorrow (Saturday) for manager Andy Hessenthaler’s second taste of the early rounds of the famous competition.*BF*

Hessenthaler’s first bite at the cherry away to Sussex County league side Redhill (which is actually situated in Surrey) two weeks ago was a relatively pain-free exercise, though one of the White Army support may disagree!

It was a fairly gentle introduction into the competition, which allowed Matt Bourne to ease back into the first team and Matt Carruthers a chance to impress his new boss with the winning goal.

This weekend’s opposition will undoubtedly give Whites’ goalkeeper Dean Ruddy more to think about, especially if former Hillians striker Steve Harper returns to the club in time for the game. The Argus, a Sussex newspaper, has claimed today that the prolific front-man has signed from Tonbridge Angels.

Harper was the subject of a four-figure transfer fee from Thurrock in 2005, when in his first spell at Burgess Hill. He was noticed when scoring 34 goals for the Hillians in one season.

However, the signing may not help Burgess Hill’s cause too greatly as it appears their current problems lie in defence. 11 goals scored in five league games this season is a decent return for the ninth-placed side but nine have been shipped at the other end, which is the highest conceded by any team in the top 14.*Lpic1*
Athletic’s strikers will therefore be hoping to record a similar scoreline to the club’s last visit to Leylands Park back in April, when Jimmy Dryden and Tommy Tyne scored two apiece in a convincing 4-1 win.

Missing for Dover this weekend will of course be the sidelined Craig Cloke and Alan Pouton, though Cloke could be back in action very soon if given the all clear by doctors this week following a kidney problem picked up at Whitstable last month.

The only other certain absentee will be new signing Lee Browning, whose free transfer from Sittingbourne will not go through for a few more days. He is cup-tied as well so will not feature in any other FA Cup matches this season, whether Whites progress or not.

Browning would appear to be another exciting signing for Athletic, who now boast an impressive forward line of six players competing for three or four places in attack. Last Saturday’s double-goalscorer Mark Lovell will have been relieved to hit the net against Dulwich after a few missed chances in previous games. It can’t be long, surely, before the excellent attacking play results in a windfall of goals.
*Ppic1*
One player who will be available on Saturday is Liam Quinn, following his seven day ban from KCFA for a reserve misdemeanour last season. It will be a difficult decision for the manager to make between Quinn and Craig Wilkins for who partners Matt Bourne in central defence.

Another dilemma for Hessenthaler may be whether or not to keep himself in the line-up or instead field two out-and-out wingers, as was the case at Redhill when Carruthers and Frannie Collin caused many problems out wide for Tommy Sampson’s team.

The amount of experience and quality in midfield, despite the absence of Pouton, is testament to the squad’s strength in depth and even injuries to several key players has not affected the team’s entertaining brand of passing football.

It is truly a pleasure to watch such a fluid and skilful side in action each week. If the defence and midfield can get a run of games together, and the team learn to hit the target with a bit more frequency then we’re going to be a hard to stop.

*BS*DOVER couple Richard and Tracey Crutchfield have been heralded as football heroes by Alan Shearer.

*BF*They came out tops throughout the region in the unaugural Football Heroes awards from Umbro for their incredible contribution and dedication to football in the local community.

Richard, 44, is the chairman of 24 teams from the Dover Athletic youth section while Tracey, 41, is the secretary of 14 sides from Dover Rangers Colts, which is incorporated into Dover Athletic. Having received an outstanding number of nominations, Richard and Tracey will now be put forward as the South East representative for the national UMBRO Football Heroes award.

Richard told doverathletic.com: “It’s amazing, we are so honoured to receive this award from UMBRO, but it’s not just about us. This award is for all the people who help us out at the club and in the community to make this club so special.”

Together, Tracey and Richard spend every spare minute ensuring the smooth running of their beloved community teams.

It is an amazing feat when you consider that Richard works full time and is often on call at night, while Tracey has her hands full with three kids, one of which requires 24-hour care.

Each year they undertake the arduous task of organising a trip for more than 70 club members to attend a Spring Festival of Football at a Holiday camp, one which is greatly appreciated by all that attend.

Their hard work and commitment has enriched the lives of hundreds of individuals and families in their community through football.*Q1*

The UMBRO Football Heroes awards ambassador, Alan Shearer, said: “Richard and Tracey are true football heroes. Their contribution to the game and their community is immeasurable.

“It’s people like Richard and Tracey that make the game possible at a grassroots level. It’s fantastic that UMBRO can recognise their heroic contributions with this prestigious award.”

Nominations for Richard and Tracey flooded into umbrofootballkits.co.uk following UMBRO’s launch of the Football Heroes awards.

The awards were created to honour football’s true heroes; the unsung volunteers, parents and supporters which make up the nation’s ‘football workforce’, keeping the amateur game thriving at all levels.

Ed Hughes, FA Development Manager for UMBRO said: “The response from the South East was tremendous, making it a really tough decision, but Richard and Tracey thoroughly deserve to win this prestigious award in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the game.

“Their passion for football is clearly evident with nothing ever being too much trouble for them when it comes to the clubs and the local community.”

The couple have had their own tale of football heroism immortalised on a unique plaque, which was presented to them at SeaFrance Crabble yesterday.

They also win tickets to a top game at Wembley Stadium, and will take delivery of a set of UMBRO playing kits and training equipment for the club.

Nine UMBRO Football Heroes have been selected from the following regions: South West, South East, London, East Anglia, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East, North West. The overall national winner will be selected in mid- September and will receive a visit and a unique training session from England legend Alan Shearer, thanks to UMBRO.

*BS*FA Cup magic and Dover’s travelling contingent will descend on Burgess Hill tomorrow (Saturday) for manager Andy Hessenthaler’s second taste of the early rounds of the famous competition.*BF*

Hessenthaler’s first bite at the cherry away to Sussex County league side Redhill (which is actually situated in Surrey) two weeks ago was a relatively pain-free exercise, though one of the White Army support may disagree!

It was a fairly gentle introduction into the competition, which allowed Matt Bourne to ease back into the first team and Matt Carruthers a chance to impress his new boss with the winning goal.

This weekend’s opposition will undoubtedly give Whites’ goalkeeper Dean Ruddy more to think about, especially if former Hillians striker Steve Harper returns to the club in time for the game. The Argus, a Sussex newspaper, has claimed today that the prolific front-man has signed from Tonbridge Angels.

Harper was the subject of a four-figure transfer fee from Thurrock in 2005, when in his first spell at Burgess Hill. He was noticed when scoring 34 goals for the Hillians in one season.

However, the signing may not help Burgess Hill’s cause too greatly as it appears their current problems lie in defence. 11 goals scored in five league games this season is a decent return for the ninth-placed side but nine have been shipped at the other end, which is the highest conceded by any team in the top 14.*Lpic1*
Athletic’s strikers will therefore be hoping to record a similar scoreline to the club’s last visit to Leylands Park back in April, when Jimmy Dryden and Tommy Tyne scored two apiece in a convincing 4-1 win.

Missing for Dover this weekend will of course be the sidelined Craig Cloke and Alan Pouton, though Cloke could be back in action very soon if given the all clear by doctors this week following a kidney problem picked up at Whitstable last month.

The only other certain absentee will be new signing Lee Browning, whose free transfer from Sittingbourne will not go through for a few more days. He is cup-tied as well so will not feature in any other FA Cup matches this season, whether Whites progress or not.

Browning would appear to be another exciting signing for Athletic, who now boast an impressive forward line of six players competing for three or four places in attack. Last Saturday’s double-goalscorer Mark Lovell will have been relieved to hit the net against Dulwich after a few missed chances in previous games. It can’t be long, surely, before the excellent attacking play results in a windfall of goals.
*Ppic1*
One player who will be available on Saturday is Liam Quinn, following his seven day ban from KCFA for a reserve misdemeanour last season. It will be a difficult decision for the manager to make between Quinn and Craig Wilkins for who partners Matt Bourne in central defence.

Another dilemma for Hessenthaler may be whether or not to keep himself in the line-up or instead field two out-and-out wingers, as was the case at Redhill when Carruthers and Frannie Collin caused many problems out wide for Tommy Sampson’s team.

The amount of experience and quality in midfield, despite the absence of Pouton, is testament to the squad’s strength in depth and even injuries to several key players has not affected the team’s entertaining brand of passing football.

It is truly a pleasure to watch such a fluid and skilful side in action each week. If the defence and midfield can get a run of games together, and the team learn to hit the target with a bit more frequency then we’re going to be a hard to stop.

*BS*DOVER couple Richard and Tracey Crutchfield have been heralded as football heroes by Alan Shearer.

*BF*They came out tops throughout the region in the unaugural Football Heroes awards from Umbro for their incredible contribution and dedication to football in the local community.

Richard, 44, is the chairman of 24 teams from the Dover Athletic youth section while Tracey, 41, is the secretary of 14 sides from Dover Rangers Colts, which is incorporated into Dover Athletic. Having received an outstanding number of nominations, Richard and Tracey will now be put forward as the South East representative for the national UMBRO Football Heroes award.

Richard told doverathletic.com: “It’s amazing, we are so honoured to receive this award from UMBRO, but it’s not just about us. This award is for all the people who help us out at the club and in the community to make this club so special.”

Together, Tracey and Richard spend every spare minute ensuring the smooth running of their beloved community teams.

It is an amazing feat when you consider that Richard works full time and is often on call at night, while Tracey has her hands full with three kids, one of which requires 24-hour care.

Each year they undertake the arduous task of organising a trip for more than 70 club members to attend a Spring Festival of Football at a Holiday camp, one which is greatly appreciated by all that attend.

Their hard work and commitment has enriched the lives of hundreds of individuals and families in their community through football.*Q1*

The UMBRO Football Heroes awards ambassador, Alan Shearer, said: “Richard and Tracey are true football heroes. Their contribution to the game and their community is immeasurable.

“It’s people like Richard and Tracey that make the game possible at a grassroots level. It’s fantastic that UMBRO can recognise their heroic contributions with this prestigious award.”

Nominations for Richard and Tracey flooded into umbrofootballkits.co.uk following UMBRO’s launch of the Football Heroes awards.

The awards were created to honour football’s true heroes; the unsung volunteers, parents and supporters which make up the nation’s ‘football workforce’, keeping the amateur game thriving at all levels.

Ed Hughes, FA Development Manager for UMBRO said: “The response from the South East was tremendous, making it a really tough decision, but Richard and Tracey thoroughly deserve to win this prestigious award in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the game.

“Their passion for football is clearly evident with nothing ever being too much trouble for them when it comes to the clubs and the local community.”

The couple have had their own tale of football heroism immortalised on a unique plaque, which was presented to them at SeaFrance Crabble yesterday.

They also win tickets to a top game at Wembley Stadium, and will take delivery of a set of UMBRO playing kits and training equipment for the club.

Nine UMBRO Football Heroes have been selected from the following regions: South West, South East, London, East Anglia, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East, North West. The overall national winner will be selected in mid- September and will receive a visit and a unique training session from England legend Alan Shearer, thanks to UMBRO.