Dover Athletic are back to pre-season training, with a much changed squad of players. doverathletic.com caught up with some of the new faces to ask them why they chose Dover, what they bring to the squad and how they think the season will go.
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*BS*ADAM BIRCHALL has NOT yet decided which club he wants to join – after the club accepted bids from AFC Wimbledon, Swindon and Gillingham.
*BF*And although Birchall has expressed a desire to speak to Gillingham – and the two clubs have now agreed a fee – the striker had a medical this morning at newly-promoted League Two club AFC Wimbledon.
He said: “I want to talk properly to all three clubs and don’t want to just rush into a snap decision.
“I had a medical today at AFC Wimbledon and was very impressed with the club. It’s a great set-up and they left a very good impression on me.
“Gillingham are obviously local to me and I wanted to talk to them. My partner is having a baby very soon so that is something I need to consider. I am planning to speak to Hessy (Andy Hessenthaler) either today or tomorrow. I am absolutely flattered that three clubs all want me.
“Swindon also are talking to me – so I have not yet decided on where I want to go. It’s a big decision for me – and I want to make the right choice.”
*BS*ADAM BIRCHALL has NOT yet decided which club he wants to join – after the club accepted bids from AFC Wimbledon, Swindon and Gillingham.
*BF*And although Birchall has expressed a desire to speak to Gillingham – and the two clubs have now agreed a fee – the striker had a medical this morning at newly-promoted League Two club AFC Wimbledon.
He said: “I want to talk properly to all three clubs and don’t want to just rush into a snap decision.
“I had a medical today at AFC Wimbledon and was very impressed with the club. It’s a great set-up and they left a very good impression on me.
“Gillingham are obviously local to me and I wanted to talk to them. My partner is having a baby very soon so that is something I need to consider. I am planning to speak to Hessy (Andy Hessenthaler) either today or tomorrow. I am absolutely flattered that three clubs all want me.
“Swindon also are talking to me – so I have not yet decided on where I want to go. It’s a big decision for me – and I want to make the right choice.”
*BS*ADAM BIRCHALL would like to reassure fans that he “totally loves being a Dover player” – and is not “on the phone to his agent every day” seeking a move.
*BF*Kent on Sunday today ran a so-called “exclusive” story which covered a lot of old ground about Adam’s time in the Football League and his ambition to one day return to that level. Much of it was stating the obvious.
Adam has never hidden his desire to be a League striker again and been quoted saying this time and again.
A Kent on Sunday journalist rang Adam while he was at Wembley Stadium on Thursday for some quotes – but some of his comments have either been twisted or taken out of context.
For example, Adam joked that he was “on the phone to his agent every day”. Also he does not think he “single-handedly destroyed Aldershot”.
Adam said: “I was disappointed with the way the article came across this morning. Some of the stuff has been twisted a little bit, which is not nice.
“Dover fans know that I always give 100 per cent to the club and I think they are the best supporters. I have loved every minute playing here – and will continue to do so if no League club signs me.
“One thing I will never do is betray Dover Athletic – but of course I want to play on the League stage again. I’ve always said that.”
The club are intrigued why they were not contacted by the journalist concerned – especially to tackle the issue of Adam “being valued at £250,000”.
Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “It’s strange that this journalist did not bother asking for our view on things. In fact, as regards Adam, we would not stand in his way of joining a Football League club and fees are always negotiable.
“If someone rings us and makes an offer then it is for us to discuss it with Adam and either accept or reject. That’s how football works. But we have not had any contact from League clubs.
“We will not be allowing local reporters to just freely ring up our players in future because of this journalist’s recent activitities.”
Boss Martin Hayes also had his quotes twisted by the same reporter last week, where it suggested he was “struggling to find a striker”.
He said: “It seems to me that the aim of this reporter is to take the most negative angle out of an interview – or cause problems at our club. We will not be tolerating this from now on.”
*BS*ADAM BIRCHALL would like to reassure fans that he “totally loves being a Dover player” – and is not “on the phone to his agent every day” seeking a move.
*BF*Kent on Sunday today ran a so-called “exclusive” story which covered a lot of old ground about Adam’s time in the Football League and his ambition to one day return to that level. Much of it was stating the obvious.
Adam has never hidden his desire to be a League striker again and been quoted saying this time and again.
A Kent on Sunday journalist rang Adam while he was at Wembley Stadium on Thursday for some quotes – but some of his comments have either been twisted or taken out of context.
For example, Adam joked that he was “on the phone to his agent every day”. Also he does not think he “single-handedly destroyed Aldershot”.
Adam said: “I was disappointed with the way the article came across this morning. Some of the stuff has been twisted a little bit, which is not nice.
“Dover fans know that I always give 100 per cent to the club and I think they are the best supporters. I have loved every minute playing here – and will continue to do so if no League club signs me.
“One thing I will never do is betray Dover Athletic – but of course I want to play on the League stage again. I’ve always said that.”
The club are intrigued why they were not contacted by the journalist concerned – especially to tackle the issue of Adam “being valued at £250,000”.
Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “It’s strange that this journalist did not bother asking for our view on things. In fact, as regards Adam, we would not stand in his way of joining a Football League club and fees are always negotiable.
“If someone rings us and makes an offer then it is for us to discuss it with Adam and either accept or reject. That’s how football works. But we have not had any contact from League clubs.
“We will not be allowing local reporters to just freely ring up our players in future because of this journalist’s recent activitities.”
Boss Martin Hayes also had his quotes twisted by the same reporter last week, where it suggested he was “struggling to find a striker”.
He said: “It seems to me that the aim of this reporter is to take the most negative angle out of an interview – or cause problems at our club. We will not be tolerating this from now on.”
*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC boss Martin Hayes has arranged eight matches for the pre-season campaign.
*BF*Arsene Wenger will be sending down an Arsenal XI to face their former player Hayes on WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3 (originally this was scheduled for the 4th) – while newly-promoted League One club and old friends from our Conference days Stevenage pit their wits against us at Crabble on July 19.
There is no game planned for Saturday July 16. This will instead be used by Hayes as a training day.
Here is the list in full:
July 9: Faversham (a) 3pm
July 12: Hastings (h) 7.45pm
July 16: NO GAME – TRAINING DAY
July 19: Stevenage (h) 7.45pm
July 23: Ebbsfleet (a) 3pm
July 26: East Thurrock (a) 7.45pm
July 30: Ostend (h) 3pm
Aug 3: Arsenal (h) 7.45pm
Aug 6: Billercay (a) 3pm
*BS*DOVER ATHLETIC boss Martin Hayes has arranged eight matches for the pre-season campaign.
*BF*Arsene Wenger will be sending down an Arsenal XI to face their former player Hayes on WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3 (originally this was scheduled for the 4th) – while newly-promoted League One club and old friends from our Conference days Stevenage pit their wits against us at Crabble on July 19.
There is no game planned for Saturday July 16. This will instead be used by Hayes as a training day.
Here is the list in full:
July 9: Faversham (a) 3pm
July 12: Hastings (h) 7.45pm
July 16: NO GAME – TRAINING DAY
July 19: Stevenage (h) 7.45pm
July 23: Ebbsfleet (a) 3pm
July 26: East Thurrock (a) 7.45pm
July 30: Ostend (h) 3pm
Aug 3: Arsenal (h) 7.45pm
Aug 6: Billercay (a) 3pm
*BS*The squad for the new Dover Athletic Under 13s for next season is almost complete but there are still a few places up for grabs.*BF*
If you play at a decent level now and are interested in playing for DAFC U13s side for next season please contact the manager Joe Brady 07904 910836 for further details.
We have a Level 3 UEFA ‘A’ Licensed coach who is offering some of the best coaching that is currently available.
These are exciting times for Dover Athletic and its Youth Section so if you want to be part of get in touch today.
