NULL

NULL

*BS*Club captain Craig Stone speaks to new doverathletic.com writer Jack O’Sullivan about the side’s opening day victory against Gosport, his pride at being named captain and more…*BF*

Stone’s 57th minute goal secured all three points for The Whites in a 1-0 victory against newly-promoted Gosport, a performance the summer signing from Ebbsfleet was delighted about:

“It’s always good to get off to a good start and an early win, and more importantly it settles the nerves. There are a lot more games to play, but our aim this season is to take it one game at a time. With that in mind, it was a great win away from home.”

Mitch Walker made an important save in injury time to deny Gosport a late equaliser, and Stone has full confidence in the England C international: “Mitch is a great goalkeeper and we know he can make saves like that. Full credit to our defence too, they were all outstanding and I felt confident in them behind me.”

*Q1*One thing which the side arguably lacked in recent squads was a sense of unity, something which Stone feels is present in the current squad: “I think togetherness is massive and I believe it can be the difference in the end for the sides that get promoted.

“Looking at previous promoted sides – Welling, Braintree, and when I was at Ebbsfleet – they were all together, well-organised and all singing from the same hymn sheet. Chris has installed that this year. Our squad is a good, tight unit.”

Being given the captain’s armband by Chris Kinnear is something Stone is relishing: “I love having that responsibility. Dover are a big club and to be their captain is a massive honour. I believe I conduct myself in the right manner both on and off the field, and have a good relationship with the lads.”

Stone’s arrival at the club was followed by the signings of Liam Bellamy, Nathan Elder and Ashley Carew, all of which he played with whilst at rivals Ebbsfleet United.

*Lpic1*Commenting on the positivity that this familiarity brings, he said: “They are all very good players. Liam has been unlucky with his injury during pre-season, but he is a hard worker and isn’t far away now.

“Ashley and I work really well together in midfield, we grew up playing together at Gillingham and we get on really well off the pitch which helps also.

“Nathan is very similar to Ash. I played with him at Brentford and we’ve known each other a long time now, and we are great friends. The impact from all of them this season will be massive.”

Stone is delighted with the reaction of the fans: “They have been very warm and welcoming to me, I have had some nice messages via Twitter.

“At the Gosport game the fans were amazing, always singing and making a lot of noise. I’m sure for the rest of the season they are going be even more vocal and they will be fully behind us whether it’s at home or away, on a Saturday afternoon or a cold Tuesday night!”

*BS*COYW Magazine is our new 32-page matchday programme, packed with original content for adults and children. Pick up your copy at Tuesday’s Kent derby against Ebbsfleet United.*BF*

The first issue includes an in-depth look at our opponents Ebbsfleet United, a four page pull-out on captain Craig Stone, special features, activities for children and much, much more!

The new magazine will be on sale for £2.50, providing great value for the much improved, bigger and brighter matchday magazine this season.

Club officials reviewed the matchday programme at the end of last season, plus feedback from supporters, and felt the club needed to provide more value for money with a big increase in content suitable for adults fans and children, plus a fresh design and layout.

Programme editor Chris Collings has been working alongside the club’s media team and new designers Buckland Media Group to produce a quality magazine which will interest all Dover supporters, as well as children and visiting fans too.

Throughout the season there will be a variety of writers providing original content NOT available on doverathletic.com or anywhere else. Meanwhile, our younger fans will be able to enjoy fun activities and learn all they need to know about their favourite players in our centrefold pull-out!

*BS*Collect your copy in front of the turnstiles when you enter Crabble on Tuesday evening for the big game against Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United.*BF*

*BS*Club captain Craig Stone speaks to new doverathletic.com writer Jack O’Sullivan about the side’s opening day victory against Gosport, his pride at being named captain and more…*BF*

Stone’s 57th minute goal secured all three points for The Whites in a 1-0 victory against newly-promoted Gosport, a performance the summer signing from Ebbsfleet was delighted about:

“It’s always good to get off to a good start and an early win, and more importantly it settles the nerves. There are a lot more games to play, but our aim this season is to take it one game at a time. With that in mind, it was a great win away from home.”

Mitch Walker made an important save in injury time to deny Gosport a late equaliser, and Stone has full confidence in the England C international: “Mitch is a great goalkeeper and we know he can make saves like that. Full credit to our defence too, they were all outstanding and I felt confident in them behind me.”

*Q1*One thing which the side arguably lacked in recent squads was a sense of unity, something which Stone feels is present in the current squad: “I think togetherness is massive and I believe it can be the difference in the end for the sides that get promoted.

“Looking at previous promoted sides – Welling, Braintree, and when I was at Ebbsfleet – they were all together, well-organised and all singing from the same hymn sheet. Chris has installed that this year. Our squad is a good, tight unit.”

Being given the captain’s armband by Chris Kinnear is something Stone is relishing: “I love having that responsibility. Dover are a big club and to be their captain is a massive honour. I believe I conduct myself in the right manner both on and off the field, and have a good relationship with the lads.”

Stone’s arrival at the club was followed by the signings of Liam Bellamy, Nathan Elder and Ashley Carew, all of which he played with whilst at rivals Ebbsfleet United.

*Lpic1*Commenting on the positivity that this familiarity brings, he said: “They are all very good players. Liam has been unlucky with his injury during pre-season, but he is a hard worker and isn’t far away now.

“Ashley and I work really well together in midfield, we grew up playing together at Gillingham and we get on really well off the pitch which helps also.

“Nathan is very similar to Ash. I played with him at Brentford and we’ve known each other a long time now, and we are great friends. The impact from all of them this season will be massive.”

Stone is delighted with the reaction of the fans: “They have been very warm and welcoming to me, I have had some nice messages via Twitter.

“At the Gosport game the fans were amazing, always singing and making a lot of noise. I’m sure for the rest of the season they are going be even more vocal and they will be fully behind us whether it’s at home or away, on a Saturday afternoon or a cold Tuesday night!”

*BS*COYW Magazine is our new 32-page matchday programme, packed with original content for adults and children. Pick up your copy at Tuesday’s Kent derby against Ebbsfleet United.*BF*

The first issue includes an in-depth look at our opponents Ebbsfleet United, a four page pull-out on captain Craig Stone, special features, activities for children and much, much more!

The new magazine will be on sale for £2.50, providing great value for the much improved, bigger and brighter matchday magazine this season.

Club officials reviewed the matchday programme at the end of last season, plus feedback from supporters, and felt the club needed to provide more value for money with a big increase in content suitable for adults fans and children, plus a fresh design and layout.

Programme editor Chris Collings has been working alongside the club’s media team and new designers Buckland Media Group to produce a quality magazine which will interest all Dover supporters, as well as children and visiting fans too.

Throughout the season there will be a variety of writers providing original content NOT available on doverathletic.com or anywhere else. Meanwhile, our younger fans will be able to enjoy fun activities and learn all they need to know about their favourite players in our centrefold pull-out!

*BS*Collect your copy in front of the turnstiles when you enter Crabble on Tuesday evening for the big game against Kent rivals Ebbsfleet United.*BF*

NULL

NULL

*BS*Friday will feel like Christmas Eve for many Dover supporters, full of excitement ahead of the new league season.*BF*

However, experience will tell Chris Kinnear that his team will need to be fully focused against a club that has been full of surprises over the last two seasons.

Whites make their first voyage to Gosport Borough since 1989 on Saturday, quite literally for those who travel by train and take the ferry from Portsmouth, unsure of what to expect from the Skrill South newcomers.

What is clear is that Gosport are not going to lack experience at this level. For a club that has gained two straight promotions via play-offs, many people will be surprised by the level of experience they have throughout their squad.

Midfielder Sammy Igoe will be a familiar name to many, the 37 year-old having played around 500 Football League games in a 16 year professional career. He knows this league, having played two seasons for Havant & Waterlooville until 2012 when he signed for Gosport.

*Q1*In addition, former Eastleigh players Andy Forbes (striker), Jamie Brown (midfielder) and Justin Bennett (striker) have more than 10 years experience and know this division well.

There is a dash of youth in the team but a large proportion of their squad are over 25 years old. The average age of their squad on Saturday will almost certainly be two or three years older than Chris Kinnear’s side.

Gosport have had a successful pre-season campaign, only losing one match to Bognor Regis 1-0. Their main concern will be that they have yet to keep a clean sheet and defence is perhaps the only area where they lack significant experience.

Gosport manager Alex Pike told his club’s official website: “Nobody knows what is going to happen; we could end up getting promotion or we could end up fighting against relegation.

“Like last season, we are an unknown quantity and an exciting one at that. I’ve got some experienced players in my squad that know how to win games at this level.

*Lpic1*”I wouldn’t be manager of this football club if there was not a vision to go forward and the aim was just to survive.

“People laughed at us last season but we surprised people and our aim will be to do exactly the same again.”

Pike has been manager at Privett Park since 2005 when they were in the Wessex League. He won the title in 2006/07, his first full season in charge, and stuck with the club despite an enforced £0 budget in 2008 after they lost key sponsorship deals due to the recession.

Pike stablised the club and squad, building them towards a second place finish in the Southern League South & West division in 2012. A certain Steve Claridge scored to help ‘Boro’ win the play-offs and return to the Premier division for the first time since 1990.

Last season saw them reach the play-offs again, sneaking in on the final day of the season after a bad start saw them low in the table. Stourbridge were beaten in the semi-final before a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Hemel Hempstead sealed promotion.

Dover boss Chris Kinnear has a full squad to choose from except midfielder Liam Bellamy, out for several weeks after an injury in pre-season. It is early days for his new team to gel and this won’t be an easy start for them. I’m sure the players, like the supporters, can’t wait to get going!

*BS*Are you travelling to Gosport?*BF* *Link1*

*Link2*

*BS*Friday will feel like Christmas Eve for many Dover supporters, full of excitement ahead of the new league season.*BF*

However, experience will tell Chris Kinnear that his team will need to be fully focused against a club that has been full of surprises over the last two seasons.

Whites make their first voyage to Gosport Borough since 1989 on Saturday, quite literally for those who travel by train and take the ferry from Portsmouth, unsure of what to expect from the Skrill South newcomers.

What is clear is that Gosport are not going to lack experience at this level. For a club that has gained two straight promotions via play-offs, many people will be surprised by the level of experience they have throughout their squad.

Midfielder Sammy Igoe will be a familiar name to many, the 37 year-old having played around 500 Football League games in a 16 year professional career. He knows this league, having played two seasons for Havant & Waterlooville until 2012 when he signed for Gosport.

*Q1*In addition, former Eastleigh players Andy Forbes (striker), Jamie Brown (midfielder) and Justin Bennett (striker) have more than 10 years experience and know this division well.

There is a dash of youth in the team but a large proportion of their squad are over 25 years old. The average age of their squad on Saturday will almost certainly be two or three years older than Chris Kinnear’s side.

Gosport have had a successful pre-season campaign, only losing one match to Bognor Regis 1-0. Their main concern will be that they have yet to keep a clean sheet and defence is perhaps the only area where they lack significant experience.

Gosport manager Alex Pike told his club’s official website: “Nobody knows what is going to happen; we could end up getting promotion or we could end up fighting against relegation.

“Like last season, we are an unknown quantity and an exciting one at that. I’ve got some experienced players in my squad that know how to win games at this level.

*Lpic1*”I wouldn’t be manager of this football club if there was not a vision to go forward and the aim was just to survive.

“People laughed at us last season but we surprised people and our aim will be to do exactly the same again.”

Pike has been manager at Privett Park since 2005 when they were in the Wessex League. He won the title in 2006/07, his first full season in charge, and stuck with the club despite an enforced £0 budget in 2008 after they lost key sponsorship deals due to the recession.

Pike stablised the club and squad, building them towards a second place finish in the Southern League South & West division in 2012. A certain Steve Claridge scored to help ‘Boro’ win the play-offs and return to the Premier division for the first time since 1990.

Last season saw them reach the play-offs again, sneaking in on the final day of the season after a bad start saw them low in the table. Stourbridge were beaten in the semi-final before a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Hemel Hempstead sealed promotion.

Dover boss Chris Kinnear has a full squad to choose from except midfielder Liam Bellamy, out for several weeks after an injury in pre-season. It is early days for his new team to gel and this won’t be an easy start for them. I’m sure the players, like the supporters, can’t wait to get going!

*BS*Are you travelling to Gosport?*BF* *Link1*

*Link2*