Dover Athletic – A new season, a new promotion and new challenges, but the heart of a local football club is unchanged and has never been stronger.
So Dover Athletic have earned promotion to the Conference after what can only be described as a roller coaster 2013 – 2014 campaign.
So with the new season looming, and lets face it there’s no real interest in the World Cup anymore! A lot of eyes are starting to turn to the new season. I consciously spent a year away from shooting the premiership last year and it occurred to me that I spent a fair amount of time last season on the touchline at Crabble covering The Whites for the KMG group. The last club I covered as many home games for in a season was Chelsea! and I have to admit I enjoyed shooting at Crabble more!
So as a small retrospective here are a few of my personal favorites form the games I covered:
First up was Dorcester in October, with a 1-0 win.
Ricky Modest on the attack
Theres nothing like a good FA cup tie and Dover most definitely had one of those against Oxford City. Without a doubt the goal of the season for me was the cool headed back heal of young Sean Raggett to make it 3 – 0.
Dover v Oxford City in FA Cup. Sean Raggett back heels the third goal!
The 2 – 0 win over Leamington in the FA trophy was next for me. Its hard to take pictures when half the flood lights fail in the second half but I did my best!
Nathan Elder (9) brought down in the Leamington box and gain a free kick that lead to the second goal. Dover v Leamington in the FA Trophy.
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- Nathan Elder (9) tests the Leamington Defence. Dover v Leamington in the FA Trophy.
After a string of away games early in the year and many, many wet days the first game I was at was Gosport in March and a 3 – 0 win!
My next was the 1 – 1 draw against Basingstoke
Liam Bellamy (7) shakes off a tackle. Dover Athletic FC, Crabble, CT17 0JB. Dover v Basingstoke in the Skrill South
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- Man of the match Sean Raggett (5) heads the ball home in the 90th minute only to have it disallowed. Dover Athletic FC, Crabble, CT17 0JB. Dover v Basingstoke in the Skrill South
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- Liam Bellamy (7). Dover Athletic FC, Crabble, CT17 0JB. Dover v Basingstoke in the Skrill South
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- Moses Ademola (14) challenged in the box. Dover Athletic FC, Crabble, CT17 0JB. Dover v Basingstoke in the Skrill South
As the title race started to hot up a 1 – 0 against Stains at home:
Moses Ademola (10) makes a surge forward
And so to the last league home game of the season against bottom of the table Whitehawk, safe to say not the shining moment of the season as it ran out 1 – 1, but there were a few highlights:
Tom Murphy (11). Dover v Whitehawk in the Skrill South.
So that was was I did for the season 2013 – 2014. I wont go into the comings and going and whats good and whats bad for that head to Dovers website, its very good and full of information. Hopefully I’ll be back for the new season…. so watch this space
