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VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Andy Hessenthaler spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 2-0 win against Gillingham in the pre-season opener at Crabble on Saturday.

Debutant Jordan Higgs put Whites ahead two minutes before half-time.

Gills replacement keeper Jake Turner saved Higgs’ first effort before the midfielder headed the rebound home.

Turner had earlier come on to replace our former Charlton Athletic loanee, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, after the Australian dislocated his shoulder.

A superb free-kick from Arjanit Krasniqi in the 50th minute completed the impressive win.

Dover first half: Nelson, Moses, Sterling, Paxman, Higgs, Wilkinson, Baptiste, Byford, Pavey, Carney, Wanadio.

Dover second half: Nelson, Judd, Moses (Agbebi 70mins), Paxman (Skirwayi 66mins), Green, Brundle, Martin, Trialist, Nikaj, Grant, Krasniqi.

Gillingham: Maynard-Brewer (Turner 20mins), Alexander (Wright 60mins), Tutonda (Akehurst 60mins), Baggott (Greenidge 46mins), Mensah (Carter 60mins), Williams (Jefferies 46mins), O’Keefe (Wise 60mins), Reeves (Kashket 46mins), Green (McDonald 60mins), Lee (MacArthur 60mins), Walker (Gbode 60mins). Sub not used: Moore.

Attendance: 917

 

 

 

MATCH PREVIEW: DOVER VS GILLINGHAM

We start our pre-season campaign this afternoon when we welcome League 2 Gillingham to Crabble.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler has been busy rebuilding his squad over the summer following our relegation to the National League South last season.

The game will give fans their first opportunity to see new signings Jordan Higgs, Alfie Paxman, Luke Wanadio, Reece Grant, Alfie Pavey, Tyrone Sterling,  Arjanit Krasniqi, and Mitch Brundle, together with the former Gillingham duo of Stuart Nelson and Lee Martin, in action.

The Gills kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory at Folkestone Invicta last Saturday with goals from Jordan Greene and Olly Lee.

Neal Harris’ Gills squad also includes a former Dover loanee, Australian goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The 22-year-old Maynard-Brewer, who impressed whilst on loan from Charlton Athletic during the 2019-2020 season, joined Gills on a season-long loan from Charlton last month.

The game kicks off at 1pm and admission is as follows:

Adults:  £10

Concessions:  £5

Under 11s: Free with a paying adult

Season ticket holders:  Free

Whites’ Upcoming Pre-Season Fixtures

  • 9th July: Dover Athletic vs Gillingham
  • 12th July: Deal Town vs Dover Athletic 
  • 16th July: Margate vs Dover Athletic 
  • 20th July: Dover Athletic vs Brighton & Hove Albion
  • 23rd July: Larkfield & New Hythe FC vs Dover Athletic
  • 27th July: Ramsgate vs Dover Athletic 
  • 30th July: Folkestone Invicta vs Dover Athletic

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

We play host to League 2 opposition this Saturday when manager Andy Hessenthaler’s new-look squad starts its pre-season campaign against Gillingham at Crabble.

The game will give fans their first opportunity to see summer signings Jordan Higgs, Alfie Paxman, Luke Wanadio, Reece Grant, Alfie Pavey, Stuart Nelson, Tyrone Sterling,  Arjanit Krasniqi, Mitch Brundle, and Lee Martin, in action.

The squad started pre-season training last week.

Gills, managed by Hessenthaler’s good friend Neil Harris, have played two games already.

They won 2-0 at Folkestone Invicta last Saturday before a very young Gills side lost 3-0 at Deal Town on Tuesday night.

The game kicks off at 1pm and admission is as follows:

Adults:  £10

Concessions:  £5

Under 11s: Free with a paying adult

Season ticket holders:  Free

LEAGUE FIXTURES RELEASED

We will start our National League South campaign in Sussex when we take on Worthing on August 6th.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s side will follow that up with consecutive home games against Hungerford Town and Tonbridge Angels.

Boxing Day sees Whites travel to Dulwich Hamlet before we host them in the reverse fixture on January 1st.

The final game of the regular season will be at home to Weymouth on Saturday, April 29th.

FORMER RED DEVIL IS NOW A WHITE

Dover Athletic are delighted to announce the signing of former Manchester United and Gillingham man, Lee Martin.

The hugely experienced attacking midfielder makes the move to Crabble after spending the past two seasons at Ebbsfleet United.

The 35-year-old started his career in the youth ranks at Wimbledon before he signed for Manchester United in December 2003 after the Red Devils paid an estimated £1m for him.

While he was at Old Trafford, Lee had loan spells at Royal Antwerp, Rangers, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield United, and Nottingham Forest.

Lee,  made his first Premier League start for Manchester United against Hull City in 2009, a match Sir Alex Ferguson’s men won 1-0, before then Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane paid £1.5m for him.

He made more than 100 appearances for Ipswich and also had a loan spell at Charlton Athletic during his time at Portman Road.

Lee has also played for Millwall, Northampton Town, and Gillingham, where he was captain for the 2017/18 campaign, and Exeter City.

He joined Ebbsfleet from Exeter in July 2020 after appearing more than 80 times in two seasons for the Grecians.

Welcome to Crabble, Lee!

If you would like to sponsor Lee’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

 

HESS GETS HIS ASSISTANT

Dover Athletic Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Mitch Brundle as player/assistant to manager Andy Hessenthaler.

The 27-year-old midfielder returns to Crabble after leaving for Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer of 2019.

During his first spell with us, Mitch made 99 appearances and scored 13 goals across all competitions for the club after arriving from Gateshead in May 2017.

Mitch also captained the team and was named Supporters’ Player of the Season and Away Supporters’ Player of the Season at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Since leaving the Daggers, Mitch has played for Barnet and Farnborough.

Please join us in giving Mitch a warm welcome back to Crabble!

If you would like to sponsor Mitch’s home or away playing shirts for the 2022/23 season then please email enquiries@doverathletic.com for details.

SECURE YOUR PLACE ON OUR SLEEVE

Dover Athletic Football Club has a unique sponsorship opportunity available ahead of the 2022/23 season.

We are on the lookout for a new official shirt sleeve sponsor for our home and away shirts.

Be Wise Gas & Plumbing Services sponsored the sleeve, which is the left one, for us last season and we thank Director and huge Dover Athletic fan, Jamie Parsons, for that support.

Jamie is continuing to back the club with a pitchside advertising board and we appreciate that and all our other sponsors and advertisers.

It means the sleeve is now up for grabs along with the opportunity to display your company name and logo to improve your brand awareness.

The benefits of getting your company involved are:

  • Brand presence on the shirts which will be visible online, in the media, and to people in the local community
  • Potential TV coverage across the BBC and BT Sport
  • Brand presence on YouTube via video highlights and social media coverage
  • Logo in our matchday programme

If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please email Chairman Jim Parmenter at jim.parmenter@doverathletic.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

RYAN’S FAREWELL MESSAGE

By Ryan Hanson

Now that the news of my joining Torquay United has been announced, I wanted to take the time to send a message of thanks to all at the Club and all of the Dover Athletic fans for their support of me and the team throughout last season.

It has been a privilege playing for my hometown club and one that I grew up supporting from the River End.

To go on and be given the honour of captaining the team at such a young age was an amazing experience and one that I am very proud of.

I would like to thank the Gaffer for giving me the opportunity and helping me to develop over the last year and I would also especially like to thank kit manager Richard Harvey for looking after me so well both on and off the pitch.

Whilst the opportunity of playing for a club like Torquay is one that I am excited about, I will always remember my time at Dover, and the buzz I got from the fans singing my name and clapping us off at the end of each game even though results didn’t go our way.

Dover Athletic and its fans are special and I will always look at Dover’s results hoping that better times will soon be back to Crabble.

Thanks for everything and look forward to seeing you in and around Dover when I am back.

HANSON HEADS TO DEVON

Dover Athletic can today confirm that midfielder Ryan Hanson has joined National League side Torquay United for an undisclosed fee, subject to FA approval.

The 21-year-old leaves Crabble after making 33 National League appearances, scoring twice, for his hometown club over the past two seasons.

He made the first seven of those appearances while on loan from Hull City in the 2020/21 season before making the move a permanent one last July.

The former Dover Boys Grammar School student also captained manager Andy Hessenthaler’s team last season after Sam Wood left the club in February.

Everyone at Dover Athletic would like to thank Ryan for everything he did during his time with the Club over the past two seasons and we all wish him all the very best for the future.

KIT LAUNCH 2022/23

Dover Athletic are delighted to reveal our new Kappa home and away kits for the 2022 / 2023 season.

Our home kit keeps with our traditional and iconic white shirts with black shorts and socks, whilst we will be wearing all navy blue for our away games.

 

A huge thank you to Megger, the GSH Group, and Pulse Environmental Ltd  – our front and back of shirt sponsors.

Italian sportswear giants Kappa will supply training, playing, and travel wear for Andy Hessenthaler’s first team and staff as well as the Academy.

Elite stockist, Speed One Sports, will carry out fulfillment on behalf of Kappa, providing a dedicated service to the club to ensure a smooth and seamless process.

We shall release over the course of the next few days the full details on the different sizes available, pricing, and how you can place your pre-orders and be the first in line to get our new kit when they go on sale next month

In addition to our new home and away kits, this season we will also have new replica training and leisure wear available.

Detailed images of the kit and training gear will continue to be released.