Dover put on an excellent all round display against their full time Kent rivals with a Sean Raggett header securing a one nil victory. With Whites league campaign only just over a week away and with seven wins and one draw from eight games, manager Chris Kinnear believes his team are in the best possible shape.*Lpic1*

‘We trained hard last night for two hours and it is amazing they still had so much energy. They are all so fit and feel invincible right now. We even saw the full backs getting forward a lot more and almost scoring because they are so much fitter than last year. They are taking everything on board and are desperate to do well and have a strong desire to win games now.’

Dover are training three times a week compared to two last season and also have new training ground funded by the Jim Parmenter, which will be a key element if Dover are to be successful according to Chris. ‘The chairman has now sorted us out somewhere nice to train so we can work on things like set pieces like we did last night. Last year we hardly scored any goals from corners.’

Though games against the likes of Faversham, Tonbridge and Canvey Island have proved useful for fitness, the recent games against League one outfits Colchester and Gillingham have been a worthwhile test, of which Whites have passed with flying colours. ‘We were unlucky against Colchester and we ran them ragged for the last ten minutes and tonight we created lots of chances.’ Chris added ‘I watched Braintree against Cambridge and we look like we will do ok, but until you play them, you don’t know.’*Q2*

Dover’s solidity at the back in keeping the likes of Cody Macdonald and Danny Kedwell quiet was most impressive and similar to last season, adds to the liklihood of Dover’s mean defence being the key to being competitive. Kinnear however was quick to point out his team’s qualities at the other end of the pitch. ‘We are trying to get the ball up the other end and create lots of chances which we did tonight. We don’t play defensively. We went to Canvey and Sutton recently and scored lost of goals. Just because we don’t let the other teams score does not mean we are defensive – Other teams will panic if they cannot score which creates chances for you.’

Five recent new signings has meant competition for places has become fierce, with Kinnear facing a headache with the starting line up on the pitch and also with the players he will have to leave out of the squad altogether on match days. A problem he is happy to have. ‘It is good for the lads to have competition especially as the cover is important as you never know who may get injured. We had some good lads here to be fair last season, like Kamara and Forbes. The lads we have signed also have a good spirit and we want things to get better year on year.’

Kinnear also revealed there still may be one or two signings to come. ‘We still have something in the bank for someone to come in. We have not gone big time, but we have saved a bit for two or three quality players to come in – money is not as tight as it was last year.’*Lpic2*

*BS*Vanarama have been announced as the new title sponsor of the Football Conference.*BF*

The partnership was launched yesterday in the presence of member clubs and will see the commercial vehicle specialists take the naming rights for all 1,476 games a season across the three Conference divisions in 2014/15.

To mark the launch of the partnership, Vanarama will bring back the competitions traditional name after a 7 year absence. From the start of the new season the league shall be known as the Vanarama Conference, Vanarama Conference North and Vanarama Conference South.

The deal is a statement of intent for Vanarama joining Barclays Bank plc and Sky Bet as one of only three title partners of the top tier of English football. Vanarama will use the Vanarama Conference platform to further build rapid UK wide awareness and understanding of the Vanarama business via the League’s established national; regional and social media platforms.

Vanarama.co.uk is part of the Autorama Group of companies. Vanarama are specialists in van, pickup truck and car leasing, where customers lease their vehicles instead of buying them.

A company of football fans, Vanarama will support the sponsorship with a series of fan-based initiatives. The first of these initiatives is for each club’s community scheme to earn from every car or van leased from Vanarama, or one of its sister companies through a special Club offer.

The partnership was negotiated by sports marketing agency SportQuake who will also assist in managing and delivering the national sponsorship campaign. SportQuake specialise in helping consumer brands and rights owners to deliver commercial and cultural value through sport. This year SportQuake has already completed over 100 football partnership deals including major transactions with all 20 English Premier League clubs.

The first game in the new Vanarama Conference will take place on Saturday 9th August 2014 seeing Bristol Rovers FC host Grimsby Town FC at 12.45pm live on BT Sport.

Andy Alderson, Vanarama.co.uk’ s Managing Director, said: “With the Construction sector predicted to play a major role in the growth of the UK economy over the next few years Britain’s van drivers, our customers, will be at their busiest since the peak of 2007. Our research shows a clear fit between our customers and football fans UK wide and as soon as I became aware of this unique opportunity to become such an important part of the national game I just had to get involved.”

Brian Lee, Chairman of the Football Conference said: “I am sure I speak for the whole of the Football Conference family, in welcoming such a competitive and innovative brand as Vanarama, to become our new Title Sponsor. We all look forward to working with Andy and his first class committed team to establish a partnership going forward which will be of major benefit to both over the next few years. Branding is a key element in this sponsorship for Vanarama, who will now be able to link their rapidly growing name, allied to our national sport through our position in it, backed with vibrant media coverage”.

*IS*Press release courtesy of Vanarama and The Football Conference.*IF*

*BS*Sean Raggett speaks exclusively to Jack O’Sullivan about the pre-season campaign, the extra fitness work the side are undertaking and the impact the club’s new signings will make.*BF*

20-year-old Raggett, a product of the club’s youth academy, was born and raised in Gillingham and, expectedly, games against the Priestfield side will always have an extra bit of importance for him.

Despite Tuesday night’s fixture only being a pre-season friendly, it was played in a competitive spirit and Raggett typically gave his all during the game, putting in a man of the match performance as the hosts won 1-0. It was his second-half header that won the game for Whites, and Raggett expressed his pleasure: “I always enjoy playing against Gillingham, even in friendlies, because I’ve lived there for my whole life and supported them as a kid.

“Of course, it was a nice moment for me to get the goal that won the game, even though it was just a friendly, and I’m looking to improve my goalscoring record this season. I was disappointed to only get two last year, but I’ve been working on my attacking headers and I want to get a minimum of six this time around.”

As Sean infers, a lot of extra work has gone on during pre-season – largely down to the extra training session that the club have introduced. Six-foot-five-inch Raggett describes the change as “pleasing”, and pays tribute to the club’s fitness coach John Morris: “I think it’s so important to get more time on the training pitch, it helps the team and myself individually improve. John has done some great work and has definitely put us through our paces in pre-season.

“He has made it a bit different to what I am used to, so even though it is hard it is more enjoyable.

“You can see from our performances how well we press teams, that the side is in very good shape and the extra day training will contribute to this – credit has to go to John for helping to get us in the right shape.”

Whites’ pre-season record makes for impressive reading. With eight games played so far, the side have recorded seven wins and one draw – which came against a strong Colchester United outfit – and just three goals have been conceded. Raggett says: “I think pre-season has gone very well, the lads all look very fit and in training we’ve been able to do a lot of ball work alongside our fitness work.

“From the games we’ve played, I’ve been very pleased because we’ve played some good football. Conceding only three goals in the eight games is extremely good, especially when two of the sides we have faced are professional League One sides.

“Winning seven and drawing one shows how hard everyone has worked in pre-season, and how quickly the team has got back into the football season. It’s just about the result though – I think our performances have been exciting. We are getting the ball down a bit more than last season I think, and looking for different ways to break down teams whilst still staying solid defensively.

“Of course though, none of this will matter if we can’t take it into the season which we will look to do against Halifax.”

As mentioned, Raggett put in a stellar performance against his hometown club in the latest pre-season friendly, comfortably dealing with Gills’ first-choice strikeforce of Cody McDonald and Danny Kedwell. Handling their potential threats so well is something that Raggett feels will give his side a boost: “Playing, and keeping a clean sheet, against two top League One strikers will definitely give our defensive players massive confidence. We are confident that we won’t concede many goals, and that comes from the strikers all the way back to Mitch – we keep good shape, making it incredibly hard to teams to break us down.

“If we can limit the amount of goals we concede then we know our forwards will do the business up front and win us games.”

This season sees Whites back in the elite level of non-league football for over a decade, with the division a lot stronger than the last time the side played within it. The club’s absolute priority is likely to simply be to stay up – by whatever means possible – and although Raggett acknowledges this fact, he is adamant that the side will not just settle for finishing fifth from bottom: “When any team goes up, the main aim has to be to stay up – so of course, that will be ours.

“We absolutely won’t have the mind-set that we will be in a long relegation battle, though. All of the players and staff know we are capable of achieving a good position in the Conference Premier and surprising a lot of teams along the way – and then we can look to progress forward.

“Just look at our last two pre-season performances and results, and even the MK Dons game last season – we are capable of getting a result against anyone in that league and we won’t be scared of anyone.”

Manager Chris Kinnear has strengthened the side’s defensive options with the summer signings of Tyrone Sterling and Sean Francis, with the overall tally of new additions coming to seven.

Key players in every department have been retained from last season’s promotion-winning side, and Raggett feels this was a big requirement: “I think it was important to keep a large amount of the team from last season, and to only add players who would significantly improve what we already had – which I believe every one of the new boys has.

“We had terrific team spirit last season and the new signings have bought into that straight away. All of the signings, bar Christian Nanetti, have been with us pretty much from the start of pre-season so it seems like they’ve been here for a long time anyway.

“Even Christian, who hasn’t been with us for too long, is settling in and we can all see what an exciting player he looks.”

The club will be swapping trips to Boreham Wood and Wealdstone for clashes against Bristol Rovers and Wrexham this season, and Raggett is looking forward to facing the league’s big guns: “Obviously, the away games against Bristol Rovers and Torquay are games I’m very excited about. Both teams were in the Football League last season and will have a lot of players still probably capable of playing at that level.

“These are the teams and players you want to test yourself against, both individually and as a team.

“Also, Barnet at home will be a great one – it’s a televised game so I imagine Crabble will be absolutely rocking. What footballer doesn’t want to play a game live on TV?”

If Raggett can maintain his incredible progress, then the extra coverage and focus given to the Conference Premier could see the rumour mill start up once more.

Last season, the youngster was linked with moves to a variety of Championship and League One clubs, with scouts in attendance at a number of Whites games running the rule over the central defender. As an incredibly passionate and determined individual, it could be excused if his head turned – but Raggett assures fans this isn’t the case: “Regarding the links with other clubs, I don’t really give it much thought.

“I would love to play professional football in the League, that is my dream so it is flattering when you hear these rumours because you assume you must be doing well.

“However, right now I’m a Dover player and – just like last season – I am fully focused on the season ahead with Dover and helping us achieve the highest league position possible.”

*BS*Sean Raggett speaks exclusively to Jack O’Sullivan about the pre-season campaign, the extra fitness work the side are undertaking and the impact the club’s new signings will make.*BF*

20-year-old Raggett, a product of the club’s youth academy, was born and raised in Gillingham and, expectedly, games against the Priestfield side will always have an extra bit of importance for him.

Despite Tuesday night’s fixture only being a pre-season friendly, it was played in a competitive spirit and Raggett typically gave his all during the game, putting in a man of the match performance as the hosts won 1-0. It was his second-half header that won the game for Whites, and Raggett expressed his pleasure: “I always enjoy playing against Gillingham, even in friendlies, because I’ve lived there for my whole life and supported them as a kid.

“Of course, it was a nice moment for me to get the goal that won the game, even though it was just a friendly, and I’m looking to improve my goalscoring record this season. I was disappointed to only get two last year, but I’ve been working on my attacking headers and I want to get a minimum of six this time around.”

As Sean infers, a lot of extra work has gone on during pre-season – largely down to the extra training session that the club have introduced. Six-foot-five-inch Raggett describes the change as “pleasing”, and pays tribute to the club’s fitness coach John Morris: “I think it’s so important to get more time on the training pitch, it helps the team and myself individually improve. John has done some great work and has definitely put us through our paces in pre-season.

“He has made it a bit different to what I am used to, so even though it is hard it is more enjoyable.

“You can see from our performances how well we press teams, that the side is in very good shape and the extra day training will contribute to this – credit has to go to John for helping to get us in the right shape.”

Whites’ pre-season record makes for impressive reading. With eight games played so far, the side have recorded seven wins and one draw – which came against a strong Colchester United outfit – and just three goals have been conceded. Raggett says: “I think pre-season has gone very well, the lads all look very fit and in training we’ve been able to do a lot of ball work alongside our fitness work.

“From the games we’ve played, I’ve been very pleased because we’ve played some good football. Conceding only three goals in the eight games is extremely good, especially when two of the sides we have faced are professional League One sides.

“Winning seven and drawing one shows how hard everyone has worked in pre-season, and how quickly the team has got back into the football season. It’s just about the result though – I think our performances have been exciting. We are getting the ball down a bit more than last season I think, and looking for different ways to break down teams whilst still staying solid defensively.

“Of course though, none of this will matter if we can’t take it into the season which we will look to do against Halifax.”

As mentioned, Raggett put in a stellar performance against his hometown club in the latest pre-season friendly, comfortably dealing with Gills’ first-choice strikeforce of Cody McDonald and Danny Kedwell. Handling their potential threats so well is something that Raggett feels will give his side a boost: “Playing, and keeping a clean sheet, against two top League One strikers will definitely give our defensive players massive confidence. We are confident that we won’t concede many goals, and that comes from the strikers all the way back to Mitch – we keep good shape, making it incredibly hard to teams to break us down.

“If we can limit the amount of goals we concede then we know our forwards will do the business up front and win us games.”

This season sees Whites back in the elite level of non-league football for over a decade, with the division a lot stronger than the last time the side played within it. The club’s absolute priority is likely to simply be to stay up – by whatever means possible – and although Raggett acknowledges this fact, he is adamant that the side will not just settle for finishing fifth from bottom: “When any team goes up, the main aim has to be to stay up – so of course, that will be ours.

“We absolutely won’t have the mind-set that we will be in a long relegation battle, though. All of the players and staff know we are capable of achieving a good position in the Conference Premier and surprising a lot of teams along the way – and then we can look to progress forward.

“Just look at our last two pre-season performances and results, and even the MK Dons game last season – we are capable of getting a result against anyone in that league and we won’t be scared of anyone.”

Manager Chris Kinnear has strengthened the side’s defensive options with the summer signings of Tyrone Sterling and Sean Francis, with the overall tally of new additions coming to seven.

Key players in every department have been retained from last season’s promotion-winning side, and Raggett feels this was a big requirement: “I think it was important to keep a large amount of the team from last season, and to only add players who would significantly improve what we already had – which I believe every one of the new boys has.

“We had terrific team spirit last season and the new signings have bought into that straight away. All of the signings, bar Christian Nanetti, have been with us pretty much from the start of pre-season so it seems like they’ve been here for a long time anyway.

“Even Christian, who hasn’t been with us for too long, is settling in and we can all see what an exciting player he looks.”

The club will be swapping trips to Boreham Wood and Wealdstone for clashes against Bristol Rovers and Wrexham this season, and Raggett is looking forward to facing the league’s big guns: “Obviously, the away games against Bristol Rovers and Torquay are games I’m very excited about. Both teams were in the Football League last season and will have a lot of players still probably capable of playing at that level.

“These are the teams and players you want to test yourself against, both individually and as a team.

“Also, Barnet at home will be a great one – it’s a televised game so I imagine Crabble will be absolutely rocking. What footballer doesn’t want to play a game live on TV?”

If Raggett can maintain his incredible progress, then the extra coverage and focus given to the Conference Premier could see the rumour mill start up once more.

Last season, the youngster was linked with moves to a variety of Championship and League One clubs, with scouts in attendance at a number of Whites games running the rule over the central defender. As an incredibly passionate and determined individual, it could be excused if his head turned – but Raggett assures fans this isn’t the case: “Regarding the links with other clubs, I don’t really give it much thought.

“I would love to play professional football in the League, that is my dream so it is flattering when you hear these rumours because you assume you must be doing well.

“However, right now I’m a Dover player and – just like last season – I am fully focused on the season ahead with Dover and helping us achieve the highest league position possible.”

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the squad numbers for the 2014/15 Conference Premier season.*BF*

Following tonight’s 1-0 pre-season friendly over Gillingham, manager Chris Kinnear announced this season’s squad numbers. They are as follows:

1. Mitch Walker
2. Craig Stone
3. Tom Wynter
4. Chris Kinnear Jr
5. Sean Raggett
6. Richard Orlu
7. Ricky Modeste
8. Liam Bellamy
9. Nathan Elder
10. Tom Murphy
11. Barry Cogan
12. Matt Lock
14. Stefan Payne
15. Sean Francis
16. Tyrone Sterling
17. Nick Deverdics
18. Jeff Goulding
19. Jake Reid
20. Christian Nanetti
22. Lee Hook

Kinnear explained that those players who were with the club last season were given first pick of the numbers.

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the squad numbers for the 2014/15 Conference Premier season.*BF*

Following tonight’s 1-0 pre-season friendly over Gillingham, manager Chris Kinnear announced this season’s squad numbers.

As opposed to last season, clubs are required to submit a list to the Football Conference prior to the season starting and adhere to these throughout.

Kinnear explained that those players who were with the club last season were given first pick of the numbers.

New signings Matt Lock, Stefan Payne, Sean Francis, Tyrone Sterling, Nick Deverdics, Jake Reid and Christian Nanetti will wear 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20 respectively.

The full list is as follows:

*BS*1*BF*. Mitch Walker
*BS*2*BF*. Craig Stone
*BS*3*BF*. Tom Wynter
*BS*4*BF*. Chris Kinnear Jr
*BS*5*BF*. Sean Raggett
*BS*6*BF*. Richard Orlu
*BS*7*BF*. Ricky Modeste
*BS*8*BF*. Liam Bellamy
*BS*9*BF*. Nathan Elder
*BS*10*BF*. Tom Murphy
*BS*11*BF*. Barry Cogan

*BS*12*BF*. Matt Lock
*BS*14*BF*. Stefan Payne
*BS*15*BF*. Sean Francis
*BS*16*BF*. Tyrone Sterling
*BS*17*BF*. Nick Deverdics
*BS*18*BF*. Jeff Goulding
*BS*19*BF*. Jake Reid
*BS*20*BF*. Christian Nanetti
*BS*22*BF*. Lee Hook

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC vs GILLINGHAM
Tuesday 29th July, 7.30pm at Crabble

Watch Gillingham at Crabble tonight for the bargain price of just £5. Whites take on Peter Taylor’s League One side at 7.45pm in the last pre-season friendly at Crabble.*BF*

Dover Athletic are offering the people of Dover the chance to get a taster of their local team for a five pound note.

Children under 11 years and Season Ticket holders go FREE.

Come along; bring family and friends for an evening of live football at your local football club.

We really hope that the people of Dover come out in numbers to support their local club and get a taster of what they can expect from the forthcoming season of football in the Football Conference Premier.

Chairman, Jim Parmenter said “This pre-season we really want to give the people of Dover a chance to come and see what we have to offer up at Crabble. We hope that we might get a few people hooked and see some new faces joining the party up at Crabble for our first season back with the elite of non-league football.

“With the support of the town anything is possible, but we do need the people of Dover to get involved. We hope this gesture offers everyone a little incentive to give it a try.”

As an extra bonus, supporters will be able to buy season tickets at the pre-season games, using their debit or credit card, at the early bird rate.

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the squad numbers for the 2014/15 Conference Premier season.*BF*

Following tonight’s 1-0 pre-season friendly over Gillingham, manager Chris Kinnear announced this season’s squad numbers. They are as follows:

1. Mitch Walker
2. Craig Stone
3. Tom Wynter
4. Chris Kinnear Jr
5. Sean Raggett
6. Richard Orlu
7. Ricky Modeste
8. Liam Bellamy
9. Nathan Elder
10. Tom Murphy
11. Barry Cogan
12. Matt Lock
14. Stefan Payne
15. Sean Francis
16. Tyrone Sterling
17. Nick Deverdics
18. Jeff Goulding
19. Jake Reid
20. Christian Nanetti
22. Lee Hook

Kinnear explained that those players who were with the club last season were given first pick of the numbers.

*BS*Dover Athletic are pleased to announce the squad numbers for the 2014/15 Conference Premier season.*BF*

Following tonight’s 1-0 pre-season friendly over Gillingham, manager Chris Kinnear announced this season’s squad numbers.

As opposed to last season, clubs are required to submit a list to the Football Conference prior to the season starting and adhere to these throughout.

Kinnear explained that those players who were with the club last season were given first pick of the numbers.

New signings Matt Lock, Stefan Payne, Sean Francis, Tyrone Sterling, Nick Deverdics, Jake Reid and Christian Nanetti will wear 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 20 respectively.

The full list is as follows:

*BS*1*BF*. Mitch Walker
*BS*2*BF*. Craig Stone
*BS*3*BF*. Tom Wynter
*BS*4*BF*. Chris Kinnear Jr
*BS*5*BF*. Sean Raggett
*BS*6*BF*. Richard Orlu
*BS*7*BF*. Ricky Modeste
*BS*8*BF*. Liam Bellamy
*BS*9*BF*. Nathan Elder
*BS*10*BF*. Tom Murphy
*BS*11*BF*. Barry Cogan

*BS*12*BF*. Matt Lock
*BS*14*BF*. Stefan Payne
*BS*15*BF*. Sean Francis
*BS*16*BF*. Tyrone Sterling
*BS*17*BF*. Nick Deverdics
*BS*18*BF*. Jeff Goulding
*BS*19*BF*. Jake Reid
*BS*20*BF*. Christian Nanetti
*BS*22*BF*. Lee Hook

*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC vs GILLINGHAM
Tuesday 29th July, 7.30pm at Crabble

Watch Gillingham at Crabble tonight for the bargain price of just £5. Whites take on Peter Taylor’s League One side at 7.45pm in the last pre-season friendly at Crabble.*BF*

Dover Athletic are offering the people of Dover the chance to get a taster of their local team for a five pound note.

Children under 11 years and Season Ticket holders go FREE.

Come along; bring family and friends for an evening of live football at your local football club.

We really hope that the people of Dover come out in numbers to support their local club and get a taster of what they can expect from the forthcoming season of football in the Football Conference Premier.

Chairman, Jim Parmenter said “This pre-season we really want to give the people of Dover a chance to come and see what we have to offer up at Crabble. We hope that we might get a few people hooked and see some new faces joining the party up at Crabble for our first season back with the elite of non-league football.

“With the support of the town anything is possible, but we do need the people of Dover to get involved. We hope this gesture offers everyone a little incentive to give it a try.”

As an extra bonus, supporters will be able to buy season tickets at the pre-season games, using their debit or credit card, at the early bird rate.