Dover Athletic
Perilously close to consecutive relegations Dover Athletic survived on the final day by just two goals. Staying up was in their hands approaching the last game, a winner takes all showdown with Weymouth. The Kent side lost, but a superior goal difference over Dulwich Hamlet relegated the London club instead, as all three sides finished level on points. The Whites were comfortably mid-table by March and thirteen points clear of the drop, but only a win and a draw from their last eleven fixtures saw them slide towards the Isthmian Premier only to be saved by the bell. Dover Athletic were the lowest scorers in the division averaging less than a goal a game. Former Dartford winger Luke Wanadio top scored with ten, almost a quarter of the club’s total.
2022/2023 Season
National South: 20th
F.A Cup: 2nd Qualifying Round
F.A Trophy: 2nd Round
County Cup: 2nd Round
Top League Scorer: Luke Wanadio (10 goals)
Manager – Mitch Brundle
When an eighteen-month contract was signed by Brundle to take the Dover Athletic job, he became the youngest active manager in the United Kingdom. Now only 28 years-old, the former midfielder returned to the Crabble as a player, when the club were relegated from the National League, and five months later he took his first managerial role. He played over 100 games for the Whites during his two spells and represented several non-league clubs such as Braintree Town, Gateshead, Dagenham and Redbridge, Barnet, and Farnborough, where he helped the Hampshire club to promotion to the National South. A first full season awaits.
Summer Transfers
Mitch Brundle has had a tough time in his first summer transfer window. Although he has managed to secure the services of Peter Ojemen from Margate and Imran Kayani from Slough Town, the Dover Athletic boss thought he had signed Ade Shokunbi, Ricky Holmes and Myles Judd, will lose the goals from former Dartford winger Luke Wanadio and has seen another former Dart, Tyrone Sterling depart. Brundle has bolstered the squad though by adding Joshua Anifowose from Oxford United, Ifeanyi Allen from Carshalton Athletic, Nick Dembele from Aveley and Michael Olarewaju from Wingate and Finchley as well as a few academy graduates. James Dunne and Fuad Sesay have also recently signed from Welling United and Sheffield Wednesday respectively. Goalkeeper, Billy Terrell moves from AFC Bournemouth on loan.
| Transfers In | Transfers Out |
| Peter Ojemen (Margate) | Alfie Paxman (Ramsgate) |
| Imran Kayani (Slough Town) | Jordan Higgs (Tonbridge Angels) |
| Joshua Anifowose (Oxford United) | Luke Wanadio (Dulwich Hamlet) |
| Michael Olarewaju (Wingate and Finchley) | Lee Martin (Ramsgate) |
| Ifeanyi Allen (Carshalton Athletic) | Myles Judd (Hemel Hempstead Town) |
| Nick Dembele (Aveley) | Jake Goodman (Folkestone Invicta) |
| James Dunne (Welling United) | Tyrone Sterling (Margate) |
| Fuad Sesay (Sheffield Wednesday) | Joshua Ajayi (Erith and Belvedere) |
| Billy Terrell (AFC Bournemouth) | Stuart Nelson (Cirencester Town) |
| Archie Hatcher (academy) | |
| Henry Young (academy) | |
| Matt Holness (academy) |
Head to Head
Dartford wins: 16 / Dover Athletic wins: 11 / Draws: 12
Previous Matches
Dartford 2 – 1 Dover Athletic (10/04/2023 – National League)
Dover Athletic 1 – 3 Dartford (13/09/2022 – National South)
Dartford 2 – 1 Dover Athletic (08/03/2022 – Kent Senior Cup)
Dover Athletic 1 – 2 Dartford (13/12/2016 – F.A Trophy)
Dartford 1 – 1 Dover Athletic (10/12/2016 – F.A Trophy)
Dover Athletic 6 – 1 Dartford (17/01/2015 – National League)
Next Meetings
Dartford v Dover Athletic – Monday 28th August 2023
Dover Athletic v Dartford – Saturday 17th February 2024
Statistics
- Dartford have won six of the last eight league games against Dover Athletic (D1, L1). They have also won the last four matches in all competitions, a record run against the Whites.
- The Darts have won the last four league meetings at Princes Park with an aggregate score of 11-3
- The Darts have won just three times in the league at the Crabble in 10 attempts (D4, L3)
Match Highlights – 2022/2023
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