Archives: News

ACADEMY DUO EARN PRO DEALS

Dover Athletic Football Club is delighted to announce that highly-rated teenage midfielders George Wilkinson and Luke Baptiste have both put pen-to-paper on professional deals with the club.

The Dover Athletic Academy duo, who are both 18, have impressed with their performances for manager Andy Hessenthaler’s squad since making their senior debuts as second-half substitutes in the FA Trophy defeat against Bromley at Crabble last December.

Wilkinson has made 15 National League appearances since making his league debut at Wealdstone in January, scoring once, a stunning effort in the 6-5 defeat at Wrexham last month.

Baptiste got his first start away at FC Halifax Town last month and has appeared four times since then, earning Man-of-the-Match honours in the 1-1 draw with King’s Lynn Town at Crabble earlier this month.

Congratulations George and Luke!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Goalkeeper Alexis Andre Jr spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 1-0 National League defeat against Maidenhead United at Crabble on Saturday.

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Andy Hessenthaler spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 1-0 National League defeat against Maidenhead United at Crabble on Saturday.

Josh Kelly’s stoppage-time goal denied 10-man Whites a deserved point.

Kelly scrambled the ball home from close range following a corner, despite Dover’s protests for handball being waved away by referee Aji Ajibola.

Mr Ajibola had earlier sent 18-year-old midfielder Luke Baptiste, Man-of-the-Match in the draw against King’s Lynn Town a week earlier, off for a questionable second yellow.

MATCH PREVIEW – DOVER VS MAIDENHEAD UNITED

Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s squad is back in action at Crabble for a second consecutive weekend when they host Maidenhead United at 3pm on Saturday.

LAST TIME WE MET

Two first-half goals from Sam Barratt and Josh Kelly secured all three points for the hosts at York Road last August.

In what was our first game of the season after Covid in our squad, Kelly headed home Barratt’s cross in the 14th minute before Barratt double the lead four minutes later.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side piled on the pressure but found goalkeeper James Holden unbeatable.

Holden, who was named Man-of-the-Match, produced stunning saves to deny Reda Johnson and Jake Goodman.

LEADING SCORER

 Josh Kelly leads the way with 13 goals in the National League this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

05/04 Wealdstone 0-0 Maidenhead United

03/04 Solihull Moors 3-1 Maidenhead United

26/03 Maidenhead United 1-2 Barnet

TEAM NEWS

Michael Gyasi is back in the squad after not being eligible to play against his parent club, King’s Lynn Town, last Saturday.

Will Moses is also back after missing last week through injury, but Koby Arthur (groin) and Kieron Agbebi (knee) miss out.

Unfortunately, young England under-18 forward Noah Carney has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a broken metatarsal.

Marshall Wratten is now back in training following his hamstring injury, but Ryan Hanson, TJ Bramble (back), James Caton (hamstring),  Alex Green (ankle), Seth Twumasi (knee), and Travis Gregory (knee) all remain on the injured list.

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 3pm but if you are unable to attend, BBC Radio Kent will be providing commentary HERE

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for this game can be purchased at the turnstile only.

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s free with paying adult

P&O Ferries employees who were made redundant last month, together with their partners and children, can get in for FREE.

All the details can be found HERE

PROGRAMME

You can download your digital matchday magazine for the game HERE

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Aldershot Town v Boreham Wood
Barnet v Solihull Moors
Bromley v Dagenham & Redbridge
FC Halifax Town v Woking
King’s Lynn Town v Yeovil Town
Torquay United v Notts County
Wealdstone v Chesterfield
Weymouth v Grimsby Town
Wrexham v Eastleigh
Stockport County v Southend United

 

CLUB SUPPORTS SACKED P&O FERRIES STAFF

The club, like so many other residents of Dover, were shocked and saddened by the news that P&O Ferries had sacked 800 workers, including 600 from our port, last month.

As a small goodwill gesture to show our support for the town and its people, the football club would like to offer FREE tickets those former P&O Ferries employees affected to our five remaining home games at Crabble this season.

Partners and dependant children are also included for free in this offer, which starts with the visit of Maidenhead United this Saturday (3pm).

Chairman Jim Parmenter said: “When you hear of events that have such horrible impact on the lives of individuals, their families, and our town collectively, it can leave you with a sense of helplessness.

“We wanted to do something which we hope will bring some enjoyment to the families affected at this difficult time and to demonstrate our support to the community.”

Proof of redundancy from P&O Ferries, whether it be email, letter, or P45, together with photo ID is required to secure the free tickets.

There will also be a designated turnstile for those wanting to take this offer up.

VIDEO: PLAYER REACTION

Teenage midfielder Luke Baptiste spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after his Man-of-the-Match performance in what was only his second start for Andy Hessenthaler’s side in the National League draw against King’s Lynn Town at Crabble.

VIDEO: MANAGER REACTION

Andy Hessenthaler spoke to BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Gerrard after the 1-1 National League draw against King’s Lynn Town Town at Crabble on Saturday.

Koby Arthur put Whites ahead with his fourth goal of the season in the 28th minute before Josh Barrett, who scored twice against Dover at The Walks in December, equalised in the 65th minute.

 

 

CALL TO ARMS FOR ACADEMY DUO

Andy Hessenthaler has added two more of our Academy players to his squad ahead of today’s National League clash with King’s Lynn Town at Crabble (3pm).

Forwards Jack Nelson and George Nikaj, who are both 18, will join their Academy team-mates Harrison Byford, George Wilkinson, Kieron Agbebi, and Luke Baptiste in the matchday squad.

Nelson has been in the Academy set-up for two years and he’s the leading scorer for them.

He scored five goals in an 8-0 win at Weston-Super-Mare for Academy manager Mike Sandman’s team last month.

Nelson has also played for Larkfield and New Hythe in the SCEFL League this season, scoring seven times in their last six matches.

Dover resident Nikaj (below) made his senior debut as a second-half substitute in our Kent Senior Cup tie at Dartford last month.

MATCH PREVIEW – DOVER VS KING’S LYNN TOWN

Manager Andy Hessenthaler’s squad is back in action at Crabble on Saturday when they host King’s Lynn Town (3pm).

The Linnets are currently third-bottom, seven points behind the team above them, Aldershot Town, but they will head to Crabble on the back of a 2-0 win against high-flying FC Halifax Town at The Walks last Saturday.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US?

You can read the King’s Lynn preview of the game  HERE

You can watch their manager Tommy Widdrington’s pre-match interview HERE

LAST TIME WE MET

Josh Barrett’s double, a goal in each half, secured King’s Lynn all three points after a 2-1 win at The Walks last December in what was Tommy Widdrington’s first game in charge.

Maidstone United loanee Alfie Pavey was on target for Andy Hessenthaler’s side in a game that saw the hosts end a seven-game losing run in the National League.

LEADING SCORER

Wycombe Wanderers loanee Malachi Linton leads the way with eight goals in the National League this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

26/03 King’s Lynn Town 2-0 FC Halifax

22/03 King’s Lynn Town 0-3 Stockport County

19/03 Aldershot Town 0-3 King’s Lynn Town

TEAM NEWS

Michael Gyasi, who scored a hat-trick in the 6-5 defeat at Wrexham last time out, is not eligible to play against his parent club.

Will Moses (groin) also misses out and joins Ryan Hanson, Marshall Wratten (hamstring), TJ Bramble (back), James Caton (hamstring),  Alex Green (ankle), Seth Twumasi (knee), and Travis Gregory (knee) on the injured list.

Teenage forward Noah Carney is also away on England under-18 duty.

COVERAGE

The game kicks off at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, BBC Radio Kent will be providing commentary HERE

We will also have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for this game can be purchased at the turnstile only.

If you are a National Lottery player you will be able to buy one ticket and get one FREE for this game only.

All the details can be found HERE

Prices are as follows:

Adults – £18

Over 60 – £15

Under 18 – £9

Under 11s free with paying adult

PROGRAMME

You can download your digital matchday magazine for the game HERE

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Aldershot Town v Eastleigh
Barnet v Yeovil Town
Chesterfield v Grimsby Town
FC Halifax Town v Wealdstone
Solihull Moors v Maidenhead United
Southend United v Notts County
Boreham Wood v Woking

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE TICKET OFFER!

If you are a National Lottery player you will be able to buy one ticket and get one FREE for Saturday’s game against King’s Lynn Town at Crabble (3pm).

This offer is part of The National Lottery Football Weekends and is open to every paying adult who presents a valid legible National Lottery ticket upon purchase of a full-price match ticket to a game.

Conditions for the offer are as follows:

  • There will be a maximum of 500 free tickets, sold on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • General admission ticket prices are as per normal but it’s one adult who pays and one person gets in for free. Both people must be together at the turnstile and entering the ground at the same time to claim the offer.
  • We will only be doing it through a single turnstile so there may be a queue, especially approaching kick-off. Please allow enough time to get in the ground.
  • To take advantage of this offer, you MUST show proof of a valid legible lottery ticket purchase either the physical Lottery ticket/scratch card or have the app open showing the ticket as we need to record the ticket reference. We also need to record the supporter’s name.
  • When showing a physical ticket/scratch card, it must be the actual ticket and not a photocopy or picture.
  • Payment for the general admission ticket being purchased MUST BE MADE BY CASH as card payments are not being accepted in connection with the offer.
  • The buy one ticket and get one free offer doesn’t apply to the additional charges when choosing to sit in the stands as these are still payable.
  • The offer only applies to Adult & Over 60 tickets as you have to be over 18 to purchase a lottery product. The free guest can be under 18.
  • The offer is also available to Season ticket holders, with proof of a valid legible National Lottery purchase. They will also need to enter through The National Lottery buy one ticket and get one free turnstile at the same time as their guest rather than turnstile eight as per normal.
  • This offer is not valid for any other match.

We look forward to welcoming as many fans as possible to our game.