CRAIG CLOKE was in tears when Whites’ fate was sealed after Saturday’s epic at Tonbridge.

Clokey – who must be odds-on favourite to scoop the Player of the Year awards this season – could not believe that his beloved home-town club had sunk to the fourth step of non-league football.

He said: “I was just in shock. This club means a lot to me. I’ve grown up either watching or playing for Dover Athletic – and it was just too much for me when the ref blew his whistle at the end.

“It brought many tears to my eyes. I remember, when I was a kid, watching David Leworthy score goals for fun for us when we were in the Conference. I remember all the big crowds and the buzz of knowing that Dover Athletic were one of the top non league clubs in the country.

“Now we’re in Ryman One – and I was just so gutted because we really believed we had a chance of pulling off a miracle escape.

“I just stood there crying and didn’t want to go back to the dressing rooms. I waited outside for a while with the Dover fans, who have been brilliant this season. Braz (Daniel Braithwaite) put his arm around me and consoled me – as I’m just a young lad.

“For me Dover Athletic means everything. I am a Dover boy and have come through the ranks. To see us drop down three divisions is heartbreaking.”

However, Clokey insists that the mood in the dressing room is a united one and the message from the players to the fans is – “We’ll be giving everything we’ve got to get Dover Athletic promoted next season.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the Whites changing room immediately after the match. The great fight was over after a brave effort since January to claw back a 15-point gap.

Ultimately, it proved too big a challenge for the young players.

Yet Clokey, who is still just 20 himself, said: “We were soon talking about next season and pre-season. The lads cannot wait for the summer and to get back into pre-season training. We want to right the wrongs of this season and give it a real good go at getting us back into the Premier Division.

“But, to be honest, we want to take the club higher than just the Premier. We want to take Dover all the way back up to where it should be, which is the Conference.”

The Whites kid has ambitions to play in the Football League but is happily committed to Dover’s cause next season. He believes his best chance of playing at the highest possible level will lie in helping Whites to promotion next season and the season after that.

Ideally, he would love to be playing Conference football with Dover in a few seasons, when he will still only be 23.

With that experience under his belt, he will be a much better player. And, although it seems a million miles away at the moment, it is possible.

He said: “There are always scouts watching, even at this level. I just want to go out there and help Dover Athletic. I am a Dover fan. If a big club comes in for me, then of course I’d have to look at it. I’d hope no-one would stand in my way but I wouldn’t just leave to go to another non-league club.

“I’d like to stay and help Dover get all the way back up the leagues. It can certainly be done and, with the board we have at the club now, it’s more possible than perhaps it was last year.

“The directors of the past regime have come in for a bit of stick but ultimately it’s us players who are responsible for the position we’re in.

“Although I must say Clive has made a big difference. He is such a legend and helped my game enormously over the years I’ve known him. He makes you work harder and go that extra yard for him. That is often the difference between winning and losing. He’s a great manager.”

Clokey was also moved by the tributes to Paul Sykes, who sadly passed away last Tuesday evening at the age of 28 after collapsing during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate.

The Dover fans chanted “Syko’s” name at Tonbridge throughout Saturday’s game – and that moved the Whites defender.

He said: “What happened to Syko puts everything in context. When the Dover fans were chanting his name, it really moved me. It was, I guess, a moving day all round. But Syko is a huge loss to Kent football. He was a real blood and guts kind of player and was superb.

“I knew him personally and he had a big influence on my career. When I first got into the first-team squad, Syko was here and I got to know him a bit from being on the bench with him. He used to give me many tips that would help me when I started games for the club.

“He definitely taught me a lot and the atmosphere has been a bit down this week as most of the lads knew him well. Syko was a hero at Dover and he has a lot of friends over here.

“We were all gutted when we heard about it and just hope we can make the Kent Senior Cup final against Margate a fitting memorial for him.”

CRAIG CLOKE was in tears when Whites’ fate was sealed after Saturday’s epic at Tonbridge.

Clokey – who must be odds-on favourite to scoop the Player of the Year awards this season – could not believe that his beloved home-town club had sunk to the fourth step of non-league football.

He said: “I was just in shock. This club means a lot to me. I’ve grown up either watching or playing for Dover Athletic – and it was just too much for me when the ref blew his whistle at the end.

“It brought many tears to my eyes. I remember, when I was a kid, watching David Leworthy score goals for fun for us when we were in the Conference. I remember all the big crowds and the buzz of knowing that Dover Athletic were one of the top non league clubs in the country.

“Now we’re in Ryman One – and I was just so gutted because we really believed we had a chance of pulling off a miracle escape.

“I just stood there crying and didn’t want to go back to the dressing rooms. I waited outside for a while with the Dover fans, who have been brilliant this season. Braz (Daniel Braithwaite) put his arm around me and consoled me – as I’m just a young lad.

“For me Dover Athletic means everything. I am a Dover boy and have come through the ranks. To see us drop down three divisions is heartbreaking.”

However, Clokey insists that the mood in the dressing room is a united one and the message from the players to the fans is – “We’ll be giving everything we’ve got to get Dover Athletic promoted next season.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the Whites changing room immediately after the match. The great fight was over after a brave effort since January to claw back a 15-point gap.

Ultimately, it proved too big a challenge for the young players.

Yet Clokey, who is still just 20 himself, said: “We were soon talking about next season and pre-season. The lads cannot wait for the summer and to get back into pre-season training. We want to right the wrongs of this season and give it a real good go at getting us back into the Premier Division.

“But, to be honest, we want to take the club higher than just the Premier. We want to take Dover all the way back up to where it should be, which is the Conference.”

The Whites kid has ambitions to play in the Football League but is happily committed to Dover’s cause next season. He believes his best chance of playing at the highest possible level will lie in helping Whites to promotion next season and the season after that.

Ideally, he would love to be playing Conference football with Dover in a few seasons, when he will still only be 23.

With that experience under his belt, he will be a much better player. And, although it seems a million miles away at the moment, it is possible.

He said: “There are always scouts watching, even at this level. I just want to go out there and help Dover Athletic. I am a Dover fan. If a big club comes in for me, then of course I’d have to look at it. I’d hope no-one would stand in my way but I wouldn’t just leave to go to another non-league club.

“I’d like to stay and help Dover get all the way back up the leagues. It can certainly be done and, with the board we have at the club now, it’s more possible than perhaps it was last year.

“The directors of the past regime have come in for a bit of stick but ultimately it’s us players who are responsible for the position we’re in.

“Although I must say Clive has made a big difference. He is such a legend and helped my game enormously over the years I’ve known him. He makes you work harder and go that extra yard for him. That is often the difference between winning and losing. He’s a great manager.”

Clokey was also moved by the tributes to Paul Sykes, who sadly passed away last Tuesday evening at the age of 28 after collapsing during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate.

The Dover fans chanted “Syko’s” name at Tonbridge throughout Saturday’s game – and that moved the Whites defender.

He said: “What happened to Syko puts everything in context. When the Dover fans were chanting his name, it really moved me. It was, I guess, a moving day all round. But Syko is a huge loss to Kent football. He was a real blood and guts kind of player and was superb.

“I knew him personally and he had a big influence on my career. When I first got into the first-team squad, Syko was here and I got to know him a bit from being on the bench with him. He used to give me many tips that would help me when I started games for the club.

“He definitely taught me a lot and the atmosphere has been a bit down this week as most of the lads knew him well. Syko was a hero at Dover and he has a lot of friends over here.

“We were all gutted when we heard about it and just hope we can make the Kent Senior Cup final against Margate a fitting memorial for him.”

JIM PARMENTER is looking forward – not back – after Whites’ relegation to Ryman One was confirmed last night.

Our 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge means we will have to take a step down next season but the Dover chairman says that the club is in good health to challenge for the title.

Although initially gutted to have dropped out of the Premier Division, Jim has collected his thoughts and looked at the facts in the cold light of day.

He said: “I’ve accepted it. You have to take a step back and look at what we expected to get out of this season when we took over the club in January, realistically. It was always odds on that we were going to get relegated.

“But if you look at what has been achieved in the past three months, we’re on target to revive Dover Athletic.

“We were 15 points adrift in January and to have taken the relegation fight to the last couple of weeks was a fantastic effort.

“We set out to do two things when we took charge. We set out to stabilise the club financially and improve things on the pitch. We’ve paid the club’s bills, are servicing the CVA and bank overdraft – and we’ve seen a phenomenal improvement on the field.

“OK, it wasn’t quite enough for us to stay in this division – but we were nearly there.

“Every match since January has been like a cup final. And, with so many cup finals in three months, that ultimately ended up being too much pressure for our young, inexperienced players. Yet if you look at their run since January, they have hit promotion form.

“It’s true that we don’t have enough experienced players in the side and that will be addressed for next season.”

Ideally, Whites would have brought in more experienced players during January but the immediate financial situation made that impossible, not to mention our helpless-looking league position that would have put a few players off.

Jim said: “People have got to understand how low the club was when we came in. It had literally been run into the ground.

“We had to get players back who had been released. Confidence was on the floor, morale was on the floor, players weren’t getting paid, the creditors weren’t getting paid, the club faced two winding up orders – and here we are aggrieved because we’ve not kept championship form up for more than a few months to stay in the league.

“We’ve all got to take a step back and look at it objectively – had we had that form throughout the season we’d be in the play-offs.

“The board had to sort out the financial side of things before we could sign players. Players are not available generally from February onwards. Players don’t want to come to a side in relegation trouble.

“I think anyone who criticises the current players at the club should take a good long look at themselves. The lads, since Clive Walker has been back as manager, have put in some brilliant performances. It’s not fair to criticise them.”

But Jim is now looking ahead to next season. Promotion back to the Premier Division is the absolute minimum target and the club will be pulling out all the stops to make sure that happens.

He said: “There is a budget in place that is sufficient enough to win the next level down. I don’t care what anyone says, we’ve got a good squad of players. We do need to add three or four experienced players, which we will be doing.

“We have to wait until the end of the season until we can reveal who we will be signing. Clive has his budget and targets. I shall give him my opinions but decisions on players will be down to Clive. I am sure he will spend money wisely. You’ll certainly see signings across the park – defence, midfield and up front.

“I think, at this moment in time, we’d probably not be good enough to win the Premier Division but certainly could have made the play-offs.

“If you transfer this side into the league below, add some experienced quality to the side, I’d say we are in with an excellent shout of winning the Ryman One title next season.

“Everyone will see us as the big club next term and want to beat us. We’re not going to expect easy games and if there are any players who want to have an easy time here, it’s best they go elsewhere. Our players will be well prepared, fitter and just as keen and enthusiastic as well as more experienced.”

Three relegations in four seasons have now been suffered but, thankfully, the club have a board in place who are equipped to run it professionally and take it forward.

Jim added: “I can understand fans being miserable after three relegations. But the new board can only be judged since January. We came in largely because there was a request and huge support from the fans and Supporters Trust. We came in to save the club. Lots of people said at the time, they don’t care what league we’re in, they just wanted a club to watch.

“It is a terrible travesty that Dover Athletic is where it is. But we’ve got to work together to deal with this. We cannot sit around dwelling on the past. What is gone is gone. No-one at the club can do anything about that. We’ve cleared out the dead wood from the club now and will take it forward.”

Jim has been delighted with the response of fans since he and his fellow new board members took over and says that has made it all worthwhile. Despite our relegation, Dover Athletic boasted the best average home attendance by some distance in the division. The fans also raised a huge chunk of money to help Jim’s rescue package.

The Whites chairman said: “Lots of people come down and say what a fantastic club this is. The difference between Dover as a club and Tonbridge is chalk and cheese. It’s been unfortunate that since January, we’ve not won enough games.

“Everyone who has been involved in the club should be proud of themselves. A lady, of senior years, came up to me at Tonbridge yesterday and shook my hand and told me she and her husband had been lifelong Dover supporters and were delighted with what was happening at the club now. And she told us to keep up the hard work. That kind of thing makes it all worthwhile to me.”

Narada Bernard, meanwhile, has been offered a one-year contract at the club and Clive will be sitting down with keeper Paul Hyde next month, as his current deal expires.

Jim said: “He is out of contract and Clive is due to talk to Paul very soon. It’s between them. Clive’s only got a certain amount of money to spend and it’s up to him how he spends it.”

Finally, Jim would like to make it clear that both Dover and Margate will be donating their prizemoney from the Kent Senior Cup Final to Paul Sykes’ young family as well as all the net profits from the game.

He said: “Margate chairman Keith Piper and I have approached the KCFA to agree that all money will go to Paul Sykes’ family.

“I understand that Dover fans have already raised nearly a grand for his family. That’s the brighter side of football. Knocking and criticising is the easiest thing in the world. Dover Athletic have come in for a lot of it recently but when you see this sort of effort and selflessness, football is a great environment to be in.”

JIM PARMENTER is looking forward – not back – after Whites’ relegation to Ryman One was confirmed last night.

Our 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge means we will have to take a step down next season but the Dover chairman says that the club is in good health to challenge for the title.

Although initially gutted to have dropped out of the Premier Division, Jim has collected his thoughts and looked at the facts in the cold light of day.

He said: “I’ve accepted it. You have to take a step back and look at what we expected to get out of this season when we took over the club in January, realistically. It was always odds on that we were going to get relegated.

“But if you look at what has been achieved in the past three months, we’re on target to revive Dover Athletic.

“We were 15 points adrift in January and to have taken the relegation fight to the last couple of weeks was a fantastic effort.

“We set out to do two things when we took charge. We set out to stabilise the club financially and improve things on the pitch. We’ve paid the club’s bills, are servicing the CVA and bank overdraft – and we’ve seen a phenomenal improvement on the field.

“OK, it wasn’t quite enough for us to stay in this division – but we were nearly there.

“Every match since January has been like a cup final. And, with so many cup finals in three months, that ultimately ended up being too much pressure for our young, inexperienced players. Yet if you look at their run since January, they have hit promotion form.

“It’s true that we don’t have enough experienced players in the side and that will be addressed for next season.”

Ideally, Whites would have brought in more experienced players during January but the immediate financial situation made that impossible, not to mention our helpless-looking league position that would have put a few players off.

Jim said: “People have got to understand how low the club was when we came in. It had literally been run into the ground.

“We had to get players back who had been released. Confidence was on the floor, morale was on the floor, players weren’t getting paid, the creditors weren’t getting paid, the club faced two winding up orders – and here we are aggrieved because we’ve not kept championship form up for more than a few months to stay in the league.

“We’ve all got to take a step back and look at it objectively – had we had that form throughout the season we’d be in the play-offs.

“The board had to sort out the financial side of things before we could sign players. Players are not available generally from February onwards. Players don’t want to come to a side in relegation trouble.

“I think anyone who criticises the current players at the club should take a good long look at themselves. The lads, since Clive Walker has been back as manager, have put in some brilliant performances. It’s not fair to criticise them.”

But Jim is now looking ahead to next season. Promotion back to the Premier Division is the absolute minimum target and the club will be pulling out all the stops to make sure that happens.

He said: “There is a budget in place that is sufficient enough to win the next level down. I don’t care what anyone says, we’ve got a good squad of players. We do need to add three or four experienced players, which we will be doing.

“We have to wait until the end of the season until we can reveal who we will be signing. Clive has his budget and targets. I shall give him my opinions but decisions on players will be down to Clive. I am sure he will spend money wisely. You’ll certainly see signings across the park – defence, midfield and up front.

“I think, at this moment in time, we’d probably not be good enough to win the Premier Division but certainly could have made the play-offs.

“If you transfer this side into the league below, add some experienced quality to the side, I’d say we are in with an excellent shout of winning the Ryman One title next season.

“Everyone will see us as the big club next term and want to beat us. We’re not going to expect easy games and if there are any players who want to have an easy time here, it’s best they go elsewhere. Our players will be well prepared, fitter and just as keen and enthusiastic as well as more experienced.”

Three relegations in four seasons have now been suffered but, thankfully, the club have a board in place who are equipped to run it professionally and take it forward.

Jim added: “I can understand fans being miserable after three relegations. But the new board can only be judged since January. We came in largely because there was a request and huge support from the fans and Supporters Trust. We came in to save the club. Lots of people said at the time, they don’t care what league we’re in, they just wanted a club to watch.

“It is a terrible travesty that Dover Athletic is where it is. But we’ve got to work together to deal with this. We cannot sit around dwelling on the past. What is gone is gone. No-one at the club can do anything about that. We’ve cleared out the dead wood from the club now and will take it forward.”

Jim has been delighted with the response of fans since he and his fellow new board members took over and says that has made it all worthwhile. Despite our relegation, Dover Athletic boasted the best average home attendance by some distance in the division. The fans also raised a huge chunk of money to help Jim’s rescue package.

The Whites chairman said: “Lots of people come down and say what a fantastic club this is. The difference between Dover as a club and Tonbridge is chalk and cheese. It’s been unfortunate that since January, we’ve not won enough games.

“Everyone who has been involved in the club should be proud of themselves. A lady, of senior years, came up to me at Tonbridge yesterday and shook my hand and told me she and her husband had been lifelong Dover supporters and were delighted with what was happening at the club now. And she told us to keep up the hard work. That kind of thing makes it all worthwhile to me.”

Narada Bernard, meanwhile, has been offered a one-year contract at the club and Clive will be sitting down with keeper Paul Hyde next month, as his current deal expires.

Jim said: “He is out of contract and Clive is due to talk to Paul very soon. It’s between them. Clive’s only got a certain amount of money to spend and it’s up to him how he spends it.”

Finally, Jim would like to make it clear that both Dover and Margate will be donating their prizemoney from the Kent Senior Cup Final to Paul Sykes’ young family as well as all the net profits from the game.

He said: “Margate chairman Keith Piper and I have approached the KCFA to agree that all money will go to Paul Sykes’ family.

“I understand that Dover fans have already raised nearly a grand for his family. That’s the brighter side of football. Knocking and criticising is the easiest thing in the world. Dover Athletic have come in for a lot of it recently but when you see this sort of effort and selflessness, football is a great environment to be in.”

NICKY HUMPHREY cannot wait to play against his former club Tonbridge at Longmead on Saturday in a match that will decide one team’s fate this season.

This local derby is a big one for Whites and probably even more so for Nicky. The losing team will almost certainly be relegated but Dover’s central defender does not fear his old club.

Nicky said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t played against them before so it will be an interesting experience but I’m very confident we can get the win we need. All the players are confident.

“I have read on their forum that they didn’t rate me so that adds a bit of incentive. I know I can prove them wrong.”

With Dean Readings suspended for the Tonbridge and Wealdstone away games, Craig Cloke is likely to partner Humphrey in central defence. This isn’t a problem according to Nicky.

He said: “Clokey is a really good player. There won’t be a massive difference. We’ve played together a few times before and I’m sure we’ll have no problems on Saturday.

“Hopefully Sam Vallance will return at right back. He’s been playing well but struggling with a knock and a bit of tonsillitis, which is why he didn’t play on Saturday against Hampton and Richmond, I think.”

Nicky is not the only Whites player facing his former club on Saturday. Anthony Hogg and Craig Wilkins have both played for the Angels, with Hogg starring for them earlier this season.

Humphrey said: “We know them inside out. We won’t have a better chance to win than this. We know what to expect from them.”

When the two sides met at the Hoverspeed Stadium in October, both Humphrey and Hogg were playing for Tonbridge.

Nicky said: “I thought we (Tonbridge) did well that day. Dover probably had more possession but I thought we were solid and would have got something but for some dodgy decisions.

“Clokey won it for Dover with two penalties but the first one was a bad decision. However, it’s a good result for me now! It was a nice day anyway, with a big crowd and playing at Dover.”

Nicky was playing his second stint for Tonbridge at the time. He played there as a youngster before being brought to Dover in 2002 by Clive Walker. This was when he met and played alongside Paul Sykes, who tragically died on Tuesday night after collapsing on the pitch during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate.

“It’s frightening to think that it can happen, with no warning. I knew Syko personally. He was a joker and kept everyone entertained.

“As a player, he knew he wasn’t technically the best but he wore his heart on his sleeve and was 100 per cent committed. Sadly, I didn’t play many games with him, as we both suffered injuries that season.”

While Sykes struggled with niggling injuries at the start of the 2002-03 season, Humphrey was playing at the heart of the defence in Whites’ great FA Cup run.

However, four days after helping Dover defeat Woking in the fourth qualifying round to book Athletic a place in the first round proper for the first time in the club’s history, Nicky broke his ankle against league-leaders Tamworth. This kept him out of the rest of an excellent season for Dover, when the club finished third in the Dr. Marten’s Premier.

After returning at the start of 2004, Nicky struggled to regain fitness and form in a difficult second half of the season, when Whites were relegated under the management of Richard Langley and Mark Patterson.

Nicky said: “That was a very difficult time for me. I knew I could play better but I was lacking fitness and confidence. I am always committed but confidence is a big thing for me, as it is for many footballers. I perhaps applied myself badly at times, which led to bad decisions and costly mistakes.”

Nicky stayed loyal to Dover, despite relegation and friends leaving the club, but his fitness and confidence were still low at the start of this season. His time at Dover seemed to have come to an end when former boss Steve Browne made it clear that he wasn’t in his plans.

Nicky said: “I made the decision for him and left. I needed games and was pleased to be given the chance to go back to Tonbridge. However, that didn’t really work out either! The squad wasn’t very strong and I didn’t enjoy it as much as my time there before.

“Dover were going through a transitional period, which was very sad to see. Thankfully there is now a strong board in place and Clive is back. When he asked me to play for him again, I jumped at the chance.

“Clive was the key factor for my return but the set-up here and the great support is also important. Playing in front of big gates, sometimes bigger than a few Conference teams, is a great experience. Our travelling support is also something to be proud of.”

Clive Walker is the clear factor for the upturn in fortunes on the pitch this season, with many players praising the manager’s methods and inspirational qualities. For Humphrey, it is the confidence that his manager gives his players that has made all the difference.

Nicky said: “The confidence he instils in you is fantastic. For me personally, he has always believed in my ability and his one-on-one chats are a great boost. He breeds confidence, which leads to good results.”

This confidence was glaringly obvious last Saturday, when Whites defeated Hampton and Richmond 2-0. Narada Bernard was a deserved man-of-the-match but Nicky was a close second in many fans’ eyes.

Nicky said: “That’s nice to hear. I’m still nowhere near full fitness. For that, I’ll need a full pre-season and a long run in the side. It’s just great to be playing again though and in some sort of form.

“After Alan Devonshire’s comments before the game, which Clive pinned up in the dressing room, we were even more up for it and wanted to shove his words back in his face. I think we did that!”

A key factor for Whites in Saturday’s win was a strong and resolute defensive display by everyone at the back, especially with a player of Richard Pacquette’s quality in attack for Hampton.

Nicky said: “We’ve improved defensively over the last three games. Deano and I have been pretty solid. However, we let Hampton in a bit at the end, when we gave away some chances. We were too flat at the back and allowed them to control play and come onto us.

“However, for most of the game we stopped them playing. We frustrated them and didn’t allow any good service to Richard Pacquette. We don’t focus too much on individual opponents though. We just try to stop the team as a whole. It’s great for confidence that we did that against some decent players.”

After the sad news of Paul Sykes’ death this week, it has been a time for looking back and remembering what he brought to Kent football. However, Syko would no doubt want everyone to look forward and Nicky is confident that Dover Athletic has a bright future.

He said: “With the new board and Clive back, the club is in safe hands. I was delighted to sign a new contract, whatever league we’re in next season.

“However, we desperately want to stay up. It would be a huge boost for the club and fans if we could avoid relegation. I’m sure Clive would get us competing at the top of the league, as our recent form would suggest. This is a big club and doesn’t deserve to be where it is now.”

NICKY HUMPHREY cannot wait to play against his former club Tonbridge at Longmead on Saturday in a match that will decide one team’s fate this season.

This local derby is a big one for Whites and probably even more so for Nicky. The losing team will almost certainly be relegated but Dover’s central defender does not fear his old club.

Nicky said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t played against them before so it will be an interesting experience but I’m very confident we can get the win we need. All the players are confident.

“I have read on their forum that they didn’t rate me so that adds a bit of incentive. I know I can prove them wrong.”

With Dean Readings suspended for the Tonbridge and Wealdstone away games, Craig Cloke is likely to partner Humphrey in central defence. This isn’t a problem according to Nicky.

He said: “Clokey is a really good player. There won’t be a massive difference. We’ve played together a few times before and I’m sure we’ll have no problems on Saturday.

“Hopefully Sam Vallance will return at right back. He’s been playing well but struggling with a knock and a bit of tonsillitis, which is why he didn’t play on Saturday against Hampton and Richmond, I think.”

Nicky is not the only Whites player facing his former club on Saturday. Anthony Hogg and Craig Wilkins have both played for the Angels, with Hogg starring for them earlier this season.

Humphrey said: “We know them inside out. We won’t have a better chance to win than this. We know what to expect from them.”

When the two sides met at the Hoverspeed Stadium in October, both Humphrey and Hogg were playing for Tonbridge.

Nicky said: “I thought we (Tonbridge) did well that day. Dover probably had more possession but I thought we were solid and would have got something but for some dodgy decisions.

“Clokey won it for Dover with two penalties but the first one was a bad decision. However, it’s a good result for me now! It was a nice day anyway, with a big crowd and playing at Dover.”

Nicky was playing his second stint for Tonbridge at the time. He played there as a youngster before being brought to Dover in 2002 by Clive Walker. This was when he met and played alongside Paul Sykes, who tragically died on Tuesday night after collapsing on the pitch during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate.

“It’s frightening to think that it can happen, with no warning. I knew Syko personally. He was a joker and kept everyone entertained.

“As a player, he knew he wasn’t technically the best but he wore his heart on his sleeve and was 100 per cent committed. Sadly, I didn’t play many games with him, as we both suffered injuries that season.”

While Sykes struggled with niggling injuries at the start of the 2002-03 season, Humphrey was playing at the heart of the defence in Whites’ great FA Cup run.

However, four days after helping Dover defeat Woking in the fourth qualifying round to book Athletic a place in the first round proper for the first time in the club’s history, Nicky broke his ankle against league-leaders Tamworth. This kept him out of the rest of an excellent season for Dover, when the club finished third in the Dr. Marten’s Premier.

After returning at the start of 2004, Nicky struggled to regain fitness and form in a difficult second half of the season, when Whites were relegated under the management of Richard Langley and Mark Patterson.

Nicky said: “That was a very difficult time for me. I knew I could play better but I was lacking fitness and confidence. I am always committed but confidence is a big thing for me, as it is for many footballers. I perhaps applied myself badly at times, which led to bad decisions and costly mistakes.”

Nicky stayed loyal to Dover, despite relegation and friends leaving the club, but his fitness and confidence were still low at the start of this season. His time at Dover seemed to have come to an end when former boss Steve Browne made it clear that he wasn’t in his plans.

Nicky said: “I made the decision for him and left. I needed games and was pleased to be given the chance to go back to Tonbridge. However, that didn’t really work out either! The squad wasn’t very strong and I didn’t enjoy it as much as my time there before.

“Dover were going through a transitional period, which was very sad to see. Thankfully there is now a strong board in place and Clive is back. When he asked me to play for him again, I jumped at the chance.

“Clive was the key factor for my return but the set-up here and the great support is also important. Playing in front of big gates, sometimes bigger than a few Conference teams, is a great experience. Our travelling support is also something to be proud of.”

Clive Walker is the clear factor for the upturn in fortunes on the pitch this season, with many players praising the manager’s methods and inspirational qualities. For Humphrey, it is the confidence that his manager gives his players that has made all the difference.

Nicky said: “The confidence he instils in you is fantastic. For me personally, he has always believed in my ability and his one-on-one chats are a great boost. He breeds confidence, which leads to good results.”

This confidence was glaringly obvious last Saturday, when Whites defeated Hampton and Richmond 2-0. Narada Bernard was a deserved man-of-the-match but Nicky was a close second in many fans’ eyes.

Nicky said: “That’s nice to hear. I’m still nowhere near full fitness. For that, I’ll need a full pre-season and a long run in the side. It’s just great to be playing again though and in some sort of form.

“After Alan Devonshire’s comments before the game, which Clive pinned up in the dressing room, we were even more up for it and wanted to shove his words back in his face. I think we did that!”

A key factor for Whites in Saturday’s win was a strong and resolute defensive display by everyone at the back, especially with a player of Richard Pacquette’s quality in attack for Hampton.

Nicky said: “We’ve improved defensively over the last three games. Deano and I have been pretty solid. However, we let Hampton in a bit at the end, when we gave away some chances. We were too flat at the back and allowed them to control play and come onto us.

“However, for most of the game we stopped them playing. We frustrated them and didn’t allow any good service to Richard Pacquette. We don’t focus too much on individual opponents though. We just try to stop the team as a whole. It’s great for confidence that we did that against some decent players.”

After the sad news of Paul Sykes’ death this week, it has been a time for looking back and remembering what he brought to Kent football. However, Syko would no doubt want everyone to look forward and Nicky is confident that Dover Athletic has a bright future.

He said: “With the new board and Clive back, the club is in safe hands. I was delighted to sign a new contract, whatever league we’re in next season.

“However, we desperately want to stay up. It would be a huge boost for the club and fans if we could avoid relegation. I’m sure Clive would get us competing at the top of the league, as our recent form would suggest. This is a big club and doesn’t deserve to be where it is now.”

ANTHONY HOGG has been playing through the pain barrier to help Whites’ fight – but he isn’t getting any sympathy from boss Clive Walker.

The midfield ace broke a bone in his left foot a few weeks ago and has been having injections to ease the pain.

He had complained to the Whites management team about the injury but soon faced the hairdryer treatment from Clive.

Tony said: “He had a right go at me. He told me to stop moaning, get out there and play.”

So that was the end of that debate and now he is preparing to play through the pain to face his old team-mates at Tonbridge this Saturday in what is a huge game for both clubs.

But Tony, 25, who has also played for Gravesend and Welling, is not worried about possibly sending his old chums down into Ryman One next season.

He said: “I made quite a few friends there – but I’ve been in football long enough to get used to that sort of thing happening.

“It won’t be difficult to concentrate on the task at hand, especially when you know how important the game is.

“I can’t see it being a classic because we’re both fighting for our lives. A lot of the players know each other – Craig Wilkins and Nicky Humphrey have had spells there, too, which always adds a bit of extra spice to the occasion.

“We want to play in the Premier Division next season – as I’m sure they do – so victory is the most important thing. The performance is secondary to the result. If we play crap and win 1-0 with a fluke goal at the end, I’ll settle for that now.

“I am supremely confident we’ll win. I have to think that way – all the lads must.

“From seeing the way we played against Hampton on Saturday – and looking at the team we’ve got – on paper, we’re stronger than them but we’ve got to turn up on the day.”

Tony already has had a dose of losing to another of his ex-clubs, Folkestone, on Easter Monday.

He said: “That defeat stung a bit. It was a big game and seemed to have 0-0 written all over it. They’ve got one cross over and Jimmy Dryden has headed it into the net for a late winner.

“It was bad enough losing such an important game, but to then get a bit of stick from the Invicta fans at the end just rubbed it in even more. I don’t want a repeat this Saturday at Longmead.”

Tony signed for Whites as soon as Clive was re-appointed manager in January. Tonbridge were having financial worries of their own and could not afford to keep the midfielder.

As soon as Clive called him, he jumped at the chance of returning to Dover, where he made his debut eight years ago in the Conference against Southport.

He said: “I made my debut aged 17 when Bill Williams was the manager. I got to aged 18 or 19 and wanted to play a bit more and went to Folkestone. Then I came back and went to Welling with Bill. I had a lot of time for him.

“Clive is the same kind of manager and that’s the only reason why I came back to Dover. I wanted to play for him.”

Of course, since Tony departed, Whites have gone from being one of non-league’s top clubs – beating the likes of Rushden, Doncaster, Kidderminster and Hereford – to a side facing possibly a third relegation in four seasons.

He said: “When I first came back, I couldn’t believe the club were so far adrift at the bottom of the Ryman Premier, with the kind of players we had.

“It’s hard to believe that Dover are at this level. I remember beating Rushden 4-1 in front of a few thousand fans and Danny Hockton scored twice. We were near the top of the Conference at the time.

“We’ve gone from playing at Hereford and Yeovil to, no disrespect to teams in this league, Harrow and Cheshunt – places you never thought Dover would be.

“But things are going in the right direction again. You can’t underestimate how much chairman Jim Parmenter has brought to the club and Clive is back where he belongs.

“All the games since I’ve returned, it’s felt like we’re a top 10 side. It just shows what a difference Clive has made. Good managers are important to a team.”

Saturday’s comfortable 2-0 win against promotion-chasing Hampton and Richmond illustrates that Whites have nothing to fear in the remaining three matches. Tonbridge and Wealdstone are both towards the foot of the table – while play-off hopefuls Eastleigh are beatable.

Tony said: “I thought we cruised to victory on Saturday. It always felt as though we’d win. In the warm up, we were very confident and thought we were much stronger than them.

“Their manager, West Ham legend Alan Devonshire, had been saying before the game that they would be coming down to put a final nail in our coffin. It was in a newspaper and Clive pinned it up on the dressing room door.

“When Craig Cloke took a throw-in near where Devonshire was standing, he reminded him of his comments, ‘So you’re going to send us down today, are you?’ We forced those words back down his throat.

“It’s still game on as far as we’re concerned. We’re four points behind the safety zone but there are still nine points to play for.

“Every game will be different but I’m confident with Craig Wilkins back in the side, Matt Carruthers playing well – along with Victor Renner and Clokey back – we’re very strong and capable of winning the last three games. That has to be our aim.”

Tony is one of the eight players to have already signed a new deal. He did not take any time thinking it over before putting pen to paper.

He said: “Whatever league we’re in, I’m happy that I’ll be at Dover next season. I’m staying because I know the potential here. It’s a Conference club really. We’re always thinking, with Jim and Clive here, we can start realising Dover’s true potential.

“I’ve played for Welling, Gravesend, Tonbridge and Folkestone and there’s no better fans than those at Dover. The crowd are always there – big support and noise. Even while struggling at the bottom, we’re getting 700.

“Yeading might win the league and they get 50-100 fans a week. They’re a good team but don’t have the crowds you’d necesarily want to play in front of.

“Clubs come down and cannot believe the set-up we’ve got. I’ve told the younger lads about going to Hereford and playing in front of 4,000 fans and winning with Dover. I remember all those games and you can never underestimate how big a club Dover were and can become again.

“It’s great to see the London lads driving down to play. I live in Blackheath myself but the others, like Daniel Braithwaite, Ali Heselton and Narada Bernard, come from North London. They put the time in and come down. It’s great they’re talking about signing new deals. It’s the effect of Clive really. He makes you want to play for him.”

Dover Athletic are saddened by the news that Folkestone Invicta striker and ex-Whites star Paul Sykes has passed away at the age of 28.

Paul, who also played for Margate, Gillingham and Dartford during his career, collapsed after half an hour during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate tonight. He was taken to William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and it has been confirmed that he has passed away.

Our thoughts at this moment are with family and friends of Paul, who will always be fondly remembered not just at Dover Athletic but throughout Kent football.

ANTHONY HOGG has been playing through the pain barrier to help Whites’ fight – but he isn’t getting any sympathy from boss Clive Walker.

The midfield ace broke a bone in his left foot a few weeks ago and has been having injections to ease the pain.

He had complained to the Whites management team about the injury but soon faced the hairdryer treatment from Clive.

Tony said: “He had a right go at me. He told me to stop moaning, get out there and play.”

So that was the end of that debate and now he is preparing to play through the pain to face his old team-mates at Tonbridge this Saturday in what is a huge game for both clubs.

But Tony, 25, who has also played for Gravesend and Welling, is not worried about possibly sending his old chums down into Ryman One next season.

He said: “I made quite a few friends there – but I’ve been in football long enough to get used to that sort of thing happening.

“It won’t be difficult to concentrate on the task at hand, especially when you know how important the game is.

“I can’t see it being a classic because we’re both fighting for our lives. A lot of the players know each other – Craig Wilkins and Nicky Humphrey have had spells there, too, which always adds a bit of extra spice to the occasion.

“We want to play in the Premier Division next season – as I’m sure they do – so victory is the most important thing. The performance is secondary to the result. If we play crap and win 1-0 with a fluke goal at the end, I’ll settle for that now.

“I am supremely confident we’ll win. I have to think that way – all the lads must.

“From seeing the way we played against Hampton on Saturday – and looking at the team we’ve got – on paper, we’re stronger than them but we’ve got to turn up on the day.”

Tony already has had a dose of losing to another of his ex-clubs, Folkestone, on Easter Monday.

He said: “That defeat stung a bit. It was a big game and seemed to have 0-0 written all over it. They’ve got one cross over and Jimmy Dryden has headed it into the net for a late winner.

“It was bad enough losing such an important game, but to then get a bit of stick from the Invicta fans at the end just rubbed it in even more. I don’t want a repeat this Saturday at Longmead.”

Tony signed for Whites as soon as Clive was re-appointed manager in January. Tonbridge were having financial worries of their own and could not afford to keep the midfielder.

As soon as Clive called him, he jumped at the chance of returning to Dover, where he made his debut eight years ago in the Conference against Southport.

He said: “I made my debut aged 17 when Bill Williams was the manager. I got to aged 18 or 19 and wanted to play a bit more and went to Folkestone. Then I came back and went to Welling with Bill. I had a lot of time for him.

“Clive is the same kind of manager and that’s the only reason why I came back to Dover. I wanted to play for him.”

Of course, since Tony departed, Whites have gone from being one of non-league’s top clubs – beating the likes of Rushden, Doncaster, Kidderminster and Hereford – to a side facing possibly a third relegation in four seasons.

He said: “When I first came back, I couldn’t believe the club were so far adrift at the bottom of the Ryman Premier, with the kind of players we had.

“It’s hard to believe that Dover are at this level. I remember beating Rushden 4-1 in front of a few thousand fans and Danny Hockton scored twice. We were near the top of the Conference at the time.

“We’ve gone from playing at Hereford and Yeovil to, no disrespect to teams in this league, Harrow and Cheshunt – places you never thought Dover would be.

“But things are going in the right direction again. You can’t underestimate how much chairman Jim Parmenter has brought to the club and Clive is back where he belongs.

“All the games since I’ve returned, it’s felt like we’re a top 10 side. It just shows what a difference Clive has made. Good managers are important to a team.”

Saturday’s comfortable 2-0 win against promotion-chasing Hampton and Richmond illustrates that Whites have nothing to fear in the remaining three matches. Tonbridge and Wealdstone are both towards the foot of the table – while play-off hopefuls Eastleigh are beatable.

Tony said: “I thought we cruised to victory on Saturday. It always felt as though we’d win. In the warm up, we were very confident and thought we were much stronger than them.

“Their manager, West Ham legend Alan Devonshire, had been saying before the game that they would be coming down to put a final nail in our coffin. It was in a newspaper and Clive pinned it up on the dressing room door.

“When Craig Cloke took a throw-in near where Devonshire was standing, he reminded him of his comments, ‘So you’re going to send us down today, are you?’ We forced those words back down his throat.

“It’s still game on as far as we’re concerned. We’re four points behind the safety zone but there are still nine points to play for.

“Every game will be different but I’m confident with Craig Wilkins back in the side, Matt Carruthers playing well – along with Victor Renner and Clokey back – we’re very strong and capable of winning the last three games. That has to be our aim.”

Tony is one of the eight players to have already signed a new deal. He did not take any time thinking it over before putting pen to paper.

He said: “Whatever league we’re in, I’m happy that I’ll be at Dover next season. I’m staying because I know the potential here. It’s a Conference club really. We’re always thinking, with Jim and Clive here, we can start realising Dover’s true potential.

“I’ve played for Welling, Gravesend, Tonbridge and Folkestone and there’s no better fans than those at Dover. The crowd are always there – big support and noise. Even while struggling at the bottom, we’re getting 700.

“Yeading might win the league and they get 50-100 fans a week. They’re a good team but don’t have the crowds you’d necesarily want to play in front of.

“Clubs come down and cannot believe the set-up we’ve got. I’ve told the younger lads about going to Hereford and playing in front of 4,000 fans and winning with Dover. I remember all those games and you can never underestimate how big a club Dover were and can become again.

“It’s great to see the London lads driving down to play. I live in Blackheath myself but the others, like Daniel Braithwaite, Ali Heselton and Narada Bernard, come from North London. They put the time in and come down. It’s great they’re talking about signing new deals. It’s the effect of Clive really. He makes you want to play for him.”

Dover Athletic are saddened by the news that Folkestone Invicta striker and ex-Whites star Paul Sykes has passed away at the age of 28.

Paul, who also played for Margate, Gillingham and Dartford during his career, collapsed after half an hour during Folkestone’s Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate tonight. He was taken to William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and it has been confirmed that he has passed away.

Our thoughts at this moment are with family and friends of Paul, who will always be fondly remembered not just at Dover Athletic but throughout Kent football.