*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the appointment of Calum Green, formerly of Northampton Town, Luton Town and Welling United as first-team physiotherapist. In this interview, he details his experience in football, how he believes he can help the side – and more.*BF*

Green has now completed his first week with the club, and his appointment comes just weeks after former Welling United manager Loui Fazakerley joined Whites as a coach. Green, who owns a sports injury clinic in Brighton, said the link with Fazakerley was key in his appointment at Crabble: “I know Loui Fazakerley, having worked with him at Welling United. It was good to see him back in the game so quickly after leaving Welling.

“I knew that Dover were looking for somebody to come in and help with the physiotherapy side of things, and Loui put my name forward. Having spoken to Chris and Jake about what was on offer at Dover, it sounded very good and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Having played at youth team level for Colchester United, Green made the move onto the other side of the touchline and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Therapy, at the University of Bedfordshire. He is also an accredited member of The World Federation of Athletic Training & Therapy.

With spells at Northampton Town and Luton Town also on his CV, he explains the way of thinking behind his work: “A lot of what I, and other physiotherapists, try to do is about prevention. It is a lot better to focus on what could be causing an injury and be proactive, rather than just focusing on the cure.

“If we can stop an injury before it happens then that is better for everyone. As much as we focus on the prevention, injuries still happen – but then my role is about educating the players with regards to their recovery, and helping them rehabilitate quicker.”

The 23-year-old has hit the ground running, and is currently working with Aswad Thomas, Andy Rafferty and Jamie Grimes to help them overcome their current injuries – as well as arranging for every player to complete a medical history form, which will give an insight into why certain injuries are more prone to happen.

Green joins Whites at a vital part of the season, with the side well in the hunt for the Vanarama National League playoffs – and in the quarter-final stage of the FA Trophy. He said: “The boys are absolutely flying this season but it is going to be a very busy last few months for them, with plenty of games still to be played. The work that we do off the pitch will hopefully make sure they are in top condition for the rest of the season.”

*BS*With today’s match at Macclesfield Town postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Whites’ eyes were on the other Vanarama National League matches around the country.*BF*

Despite dropping two places to 7th, Dover remain in a strong position in the hunt for a playoff place, with defeats suffered by Woking, Eastleigh, Grimsby and Tranmere.

Today’s results sees Whites now two points behind Gateshead in 5th, but Chris Kinnear’s men have games in hand over every side above them in the table.

Next up for Dover in the league is a home match against Southport, who are 16th in the table, at Crabble on Tuesday 1st March.

Vanarama National League results – Saturday 20th February
Altrincham 1-1 Guiseley
Boreham Wood 0-1 Torquay
Bromley 2-1 Woking
Halifax 4-2 Grimsby
Forest Green 2-1 Eastleigh
Gateshead 3-2 Aldershot
Kidderminster 2-2 Chester
Lincoln City 3-1 Southport
Tranmere 0-1 Cheltenham
Welling 0-2 Wrexham

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*BS*With today’s match at Macclesfield Town postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Whites’ eyes were on the other Vanarama National League matches around the country.*BF*

Despite dropping two places to 7th, Dover remain in a strong position in the hunt for a playoff place, with defeats suffered by Woking, Eastleigh, Grimsby and Tranmere.

Today’s results sees Whites now two points behind Gateshead in 5th, but Chris Kinnear’s men have games in hand over every side above them in the table.

Next up for Dover in the league is a home match against Southport, who are 16th in the table, at Crabble on Tuesday 1st March.

Vanarama National League results – Saturday 20th February
Altrincham 1-1 Guiseley
Boreham Wood 0-1 Torquay
Bromley 2-1 Woking
Halifax 4-2 Grimsby
Forest Green 2-1 Eastleigh
Gateshead 3-2 Aldershot
Kidderminster 2-2 Chester
Lincoln City 3-1 Southport
Tranmere 0-1 Cheltenham
Welling 0-2 Wrexham

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*BS*Whites midfielder Nicky Deverdics says he is enjoying his football – and is determined to make this season a successful one, both for himself and for the side he has assumed the captaincy of.*BF*

Deverdics, 28, is one of the more experienced players in the current squad – and says that stands him in good stead when he puts on the captain’s armband before each match. Speaking at the club’s training ground, he said: “It’s a role I am really enjoying. You feel that extra sense of responsibility, and you feel like you have to put in a good performance each game because you are the leader of the side.

“It’s something I like doing, and I can see myself continuing to captain a side further into my career.”

Tuesday’s FA Trophy victory at Guiseley was Deverdics’ tenth match in succession as captain, with six wins picked up in that time. The 3-0 win in Yorkshire saw Whites progress to the quarter-final stage of the FA Trophy for the second consecutive season. Deverdics played a starring role, assisting Stefan Payne for the first goal and then scoring the second, to seal a comfortable win.

Next up in that competition for Deverdics and his men is a trip to Cheshire a week on Saturday to face Nantwich Town, who ply their trade two leagues below the Vanarama National League.

That, according to the ex-Newcastle United trainee, represents a favourable draw. He explained: “I think we all would have taken that draw in the quarter-final. On paper, it is better than going away to a side like Grimsby, with all respect to Nantwich – it is a game we will feel confident for.

“We have had a couple of blips before against sides we probably should have beaten, such as Stourbridge in the FA Cup earlier this season, but the draw represents a good opportunity for us.”

Whites’ successful season so far means that they are still fighting on two major fronts. As well as the last-eight stage of the FA Trophy looming large, the side are also occupying a playoff place in the league – but neither takes priority, according to the midfield maestro: “We are going out there to try and win every game, regardless of whether it’s the league or the Trophy.

“We have done well so far this season but we know we can keep it going. It is just about taking it one game at a time now. We have good team spirit here, and everybody is ambitious and knows their role within the team, and we all know what we want to achieve.”

On a personal level, it has been an excellent season for Deverdics so far. With 14 goals and 16 assists, he has played an influential part in Whites’ attacking play and is on a red-hot run of form – with three goals in his last four games.

As for his own personal targets, he explained: “I just want to better the stats I got for the side last season. I am enjoying my football, and we have got a good group here. I said in the summer that I would only stay if I really felt we could have a crack at it this season, and that’s what we are doing.”

Up next for Whites is a trip to Macclesfield Town on Saturday, who – like many others the side are now facing week in, week out, are a former Football League team. That is a tag that Deverdics plays down, however: “You hear a lot about how a side used to be in the League, but it doesn’t make much difference to me.

“I think that, with our performances last season and how we have done so far this time, we have earned the respect of the other sides in this league.”

*BS*Whites midfielder Nicky Deverdics says he is enjoying his football – and is determined to make this season a successful one, both for himself and for the side he has assumed the captaincy of.*BF*

Deverdics, 28, is one of the more experienced players in the current squad – and says that stands him in good stead when he puts on the captain’s armband before each match. Speaking at the club’s training ground, he said: “It’s a role I am really enjoying. You feel that extra sense of responsibility, and you feel like you have to put in a good performance each game because you are the leader of the side.

“It’s something I like doing, and I can see myself continuing to captain a side further into my career.”

Tuesday’s FA Trophy victory at Guiseley was Deverdics’ tenth match in succession as captain, with six wins picked up in that time. The 3-0 win in Yorkshire saw Whites progress to the quarter-final stage of the FA Trophy for the second consecutive season. Deverdics played a starring role, assisting Stefan Payne for the first goal and then scoring the second, to seal a comfortable win.

Next up in that competition for Deverdics and his men is a trip to Cheshire a week on Saturday to face Nantwich Town, who ply their trade two leagues below the Vanarama National League.

That, according to the ex-Newcastle United trainee, represents a favourable draw. He explained: “I think we all would have taken that draw in the quarter-final. On paper, it is better than going away to a side like Grimsby, with all respect to Nantwich – it is a game we will feel confident for.

“We have had a couple of blips before against sides we probably should have beaten, such as Stourbridge in the FA Cup earlier this season, but the draw represents a good opportunity for us.”

Whites’ successful season so far means that they are still fighting on two major fronts. As well as the last-eight stage of the FA Trophy looming large, the side are also occupying a playoff place in the league – but neither takes priority, according to the midfield maestro: “We are going out there to try and win every game, regardless of whether it’s the league or the Trophy.

“We have done well so far this season but we know we can keep it going. It is just about taking it one game at a time now. We have good team spirit here, and everybody is ambitious and knows their role within the team, and we all know what we want to achieve.”

On a personal level, it has been an excellent season for Deverdics so far. With 14 goals and 16 assists, he has played an influential part in Whites’ attacking play and is on a red-hot run of form – with three goals in his last four games.

As for his own personal targets, he explained: “I just want to better the stats I got for the side last season. I am enjoying my football, and we have got a good group here. I said in the summer that I would only stay if I really felt we could have a crack at it this season, and that’s what we are doing.”

Up next for Whites is a trip to Macclesfield Town on Saturday, who – like many others the side are now facing week in, week out, are a former Football League team. That is a tag that Deverdics plays down, however: “You hear a lot about how a side used to be in the League, but it doesn’t make much difference to me.

“I think that, with our performances last season and how we have done so far this time, we have earned the respect of the other sides in this league.”

*IS**BS*Macclesfield Town vs Dover Athletic – Vanarama National League
Saturday 20 February 2016 – 3.00pm kick-off
Referee: Stephen Ross*BF**IF*

*BS*HEADLINES*BF*
With progression to the quarter-final stage of the FA Trophy sealed thanks to a midweek win over Guiseley, Chris Kinnear’s men are on the road again this Saturday with a trip to Macclesfield Town. Tuesday night’s results in the Vanarama National League were favourable for Dover, with fellow playoff hopefuls Eastleigh and Braintree Town both losing, meaning that Whites still sit in fifth place in the league table ahead of the weekend’s clash.

Macclesfield lost their FA Trophy replay on Tuesday night, against Torquay United, continuing a poor run of form for the Cheshire side. They remain with an outside chance of making the playoffs, but will need to arrest their slump in form if they want to get their promotion hunt back on track.

A win for Dover could see them climb above Tranmere Rovers – who host league leaders Cheltenham Town – and into fourth place. Three points for Town would give them the chance to jump as many as five places, and into seventh spot.

*BS*THE OPPOSITION*BF*
Name: Macclesfield Town FC | Manager: John Askey
Ground: Moss Rose | Nickname: The Silkmen

Following their relegation from League Two in the 2011/12 season, Steve King was appointed manager in the summer of 2012 for the Silkmen’s first season back in non-League football. Playing attractive football they were often chasing a play-off position and reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history when they lost by a single goal to the eventual winners Wigan Athletic. Towards the end of the season King was dismissed with John Askey taking over as caretaker manager, the team completing the campaign in 11th position.

John Askey was appointed manager in the summer of 2013 with former Silkmen Efe Sodje as his assistant, completing the season in fifteenth position in the league and reaching the third round of the FA Cup going out to Championship club Sheffield Wednesday after a replay at Hillsborough.

The 2014/15 season saw a successful season for the Silkmen ultimately end the club finishing just a point and place from the Vanarama Conference Play-Offs.

This season, The Silkmen have struggled for consistency and currently find themselves in twelfth place in the Vanarama National League. They are just five points behind fifth place, but have played more than most of their other playoff hopefuls – meaning that positive results against these rivals need to be picked up.

Macclesfield have drawn just two of their 33 league matches thus far, a league low.

*BS*RECENT FORM*BF*
Coming into the game, Whites have a record of four wins, one draw and one defeats in their last six matches. Those wins came against Lincoln City (3-2), Southport (FA Trophy, 2-1), Gateshead (4-0) and Guiseley (FA Trophy replay, 3-0), with a draw against Guiseley (FA Trophy, 2-2) and a defeat against Cheltenham Town (1-2).

Macclesfield’s record over the same number of matches shows one win, one draw and four defeats. Their solitary victory was over Truro City (FA Trophy, 2-0), with a draw against Torquay United (FA Trophy, 3-3) and defeats against Aldershot Town (0-2), Forest Green Rovers (1-2), Kidderminster Harriers (1-3) and Torquay United (FA Trophy, 0-1).

*BS*HOME AND AWAY*BF*
At home this season, Macclesfield have the fourteenth best home record in the division, with seven wins and two draws from their fifteen matches at Moss Rose.

Away from home, Dover have the ninth best away record in the division, with six wins and four draws from their sixteen matches on the road in the league.

*BS*RECENT MEETINGS*BF*
17/10/15: Dover Athletic 2-1 Macclesfield
18/10/14: Macclesfield 1-0 Dover Athletic
13/09/14: Dover Athletic 0-1 Macclesfield

Highlights of our 1-0 defeat at Crabble last season can be seen here:

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*BS*HISTORIC MEETING*BF*
*IS*Saturday 18 October 2014
Vanarama Conference – Macclesfield Town 1-0 Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic fell to their tenth defeat of the Vanarama Conference at Moss Rose, their sixth away on the road, at the expense of a smash and grab style victory by Macclesfield Town FC’s Silkmen.

With Whites’ only defeat in the previous six games occurring away to Nuneaton Town, scooping a point away to Bristol Rovers plus three home wins in the league on the bounce left Kinnear’s men buoyed and looking to attain a result, however it was not to be and the visitors were lucky to concede just one thanks to some assured goalkeeping by Andrew Rafferty.

The Silkmen snatched the only goal of the game on 66 minutes. In a move which took them from their own half right up the pitch, Fairhurst was fed the ball up the field on the right hand side from Paul Lewis who had managed to dispossess Christian Nanetti and leave him in his wake. Holroyd raced past Tom Wynter to collect Fairhurst’s pass before supplying Lewis with the ball at the near post. Macclesfield’s number 8 was then able to comfortably slot his effort past Rafferty from close range and send Dover home empty handed. *IF*

*BS*TEAM NEWS*BF*
New signings Tyrone Marsh and Harry Crawford, who both made their debuts as substitutes in last weekend’s 4-0 thumping of Gateshead, were ineligible for Tuesday’s FA Trophy tie but will be available for selection once again this weekend.

Mitch Walker, on the back of consecutive clean sheets, is expected to keep his place in goal ahead of the injury Andy Rafferty, whilst Liam Bellamy can be expected to deputise at left-back at the expense of the injured Aswad Thomas.

*BS*TOP SCORERS*BF*
Macclesfield’s top scorer is hotshot Kristian Dennis, who has twenty-four goals to his name this season – all but three of them coming in the Vanarama National League. Dennis aside, Town’s top scorer is Danny Whitaker, who sits on six.

Whites’ top scorer in all competitions is Stefan Payne, who scored a brace on Tuesday night to put his tally up to seventeen for the season.

*BS*COVERAGE*BF*
Supporters unable to make the game are able to follow the action via our Live Text service on Twitter – all you need to do is follow @DAFCLiveText.

*BS*OTHER VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES*BF*
*IS*Saturday 20th February, 7.45pm*IF*
Altrincham v Guiseley
Barrow v Braintree
Boreham Wood v Torquay
Bromley v Woking
Halifax v Grimsby
Forest Green v Eastleigh
Gateshead v Aldershot
Kidderminster v Chester
Lincoln City v Southport
Tranmere v Cheltenham
Welling v Wrexham