A Dover summer

We couldn’t write abut our new clubs prior to our AGM, so over the next couple of weeks we’re going to catch up on their signings and other news 

Dover Athletic return to us for the first time since winning the title in 2009, and we’re sure they plan for a short stay. 

Amongst their signings are the following, including a few familiar names.

Defender Jerry Gyebi spent time in our Premier Division last season, playing for both Hastings United and Dulwich Hamlet in brief spells. He previously played youth football with Yeovil Town, and then did some globetrotting, playing in Slovenia for NK Ankaran, and in Sweden for IFK Mora, before a spell at Enfield Town which saw him play six times during the rather short 20-21 campaign and thirty nine times during 21-22. He then spent time with Hungerford Town in National League South before his move to Champion Hill.

Harrison Pont, a defender, spent last season with Herne Bay, where he made forty appearances and scored five goals. He ended the 22-23 season as part of Phoenix Sports successful bid to return to our ranks, and was previously with Sittingbourne, where he made thirty four appearances- the last of those in goal, replacing the injured Harley Earle and saving a penalty as the Brickies defeated Faversham Town- from Adebayo Akinfenwa, no less! Prior to his time as a Brickie he played for Margate, Canterbury City, Hollands & Blair and was a graduate of the Dover Academy as well as playing youth football for Gillingham.

Joe Tennent, Luca Cocoracchio and Mitch Walker you’ll remember from Whitehawk last season- indeed they were an integral part of a fine defence.

Joe joined the Hawks last summer from Three Bridges, and went on to play fifty three times. Joe made thirty two appearances for Three Bridges during the 22-23 campaign, after returning to the club for a second spell. He moved back to Jubilee Field after starting the campaign with VCD Athletic, where he played ten times.

In Joe's previous spell at Bridges he won the Players Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year Awards, attracting the attention of then Premier Division side Worthing in the process. He became a Mackerel Man for a while, and moved on to- then- fellow Premier Division side Leatherhead. A move to Cray Valley PM followed, and he has also spent time with Sevenoaks Town before picking up a nasty injury which called time on the 21-22 season.

Luca made fifty three appearances alongside Joe, after joining the Hawks midway through the 22-23 season and playing a big part in their promotion win. The centre back came through the ranks at Worthing, until he was snapped up by neighbours Brighton & Hove Albion, where he played for the Under 18 side. He returned to Worthing a couple of years later, and spent some time out on loan at Haywards Heath Town- although he managed only to play twice before the pandemic ended the 2020-21 campaign, with one win, one draw and one goal from his time at Hanbury Park. He was an important part of the Mackerel Men's Premier Division promotion-winning squad, making twenty seven appearances. The 22-23 seasonal saw him have some loan time at Horsham, making ten appearances for the Hornets.

Goalkeeper Mitch Walker was another star for the Hawks last season, playing fifty five times. He came through the Academy at Brighton & Hove Albion and graduated to the first team squad, and had loan spells at Eastbourne Borough and Welling United before becoming the first line of the Dover defence. He remained with the club for seven seasons, making close to two hundred and fifty appearances, most of them in the National League. Aldershot Town was his next port of call, and he was one of the first names on the teamsheet for three seasons until suffering serious injury. He spent some of the 22-23 season, whilst injured, coaching at Tonbridge Angels.

Finally, striker Eniye Amgbaduba is the latest arrival. Eniye spent some of last season with SCEFL side Fisher, and indeed made fifty three appearances in total after joining the club in July 2022, and was previously with Canterbury City. He moved on to Whitstable Town just before Christmas, and has previous experience with Welling Town and Herne Bay, where he played three times during the 21-22 campaign.