Kentish Football 
Dover Athletic ready to produce another FA Cup giant-killing
Thursday 25th November 2010
DOVER ATHLETIC are just hours away from playing their biggest ever game at Crabble - and the Kent giants are just ONE WIN away from the THIRD ROUND of the FA Cup and a potential clash against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, writes Stephen McCartney.
All that stands in their way on Saturday is the expected cold snap - and League Two outfit Aldershot Town.
With bad weather on it’s way, the Blue Square Bet South club have enlisted supporters to help uncover the immaculate playing surface at Crabble from six o’clock Saturday morning, after the pitch was covered on Wednesday lunchtime.
Manager Martin Hayes told www.thefa.com: “"Obviously there's been a lot of bad and cold weather predicted. We've got the covers on now and there's about a dozen volunteers that are going to come in on Saturday morning to get them off.
"We just want to make sure the pitch is in good condition and that there are no problems at the weekend."
The club has hired some pitch covers to help protect the Crabble playing surface from the elements with temperatures forecast to dip towards zero towards the weekend.
But chairman Jim Parmenter says Dover Athletic need an army of volunteers to help remove the covers early on Saturday morning.
He told www.doverathletic.com: "We don't want to leave anything to chance. This is our biggest-ever home game and we don't want it falling victim to the weather.
"Everyone is looking forward to Dover Athletic playing in the second round proper for the first time in our history - and with weather forecasters predicting sub-zero temperatures, and possibly snow, we want to make sure we give our pitch the best possible chance of being passed fit for action."
Anyone who can help are asked to turn up at the ground on Saturday morning before 8.00am.
With the winner of the tie earning £27,000, Hayes believes the money could help propel his side out of Blue Square Bet South.
"It would get us a nice time share in Spain," he laughed. "But it's always nice to have extra revenue and the prize money from each round is a big bonus for us.
"The Chairman has always said that any Cup run money would go to strengthening the squad and get us up the pyramid and into the Conference."
And the Arsenal title-winning legend, 44, was quick to praise The FA Cup for the returns it gives to smaller teams, both monetary and the prestige the tournament brings.
"The FA Cup means a lot to non-League clubs," he added. "It's a chance for extra revenue, not only the prize money but you've also got big gates and hopefully we will have 5,000 there on Saturday.
"Everything about it is great, such as going to professional grounds and the players also get to be on television. I hope everyone enjoys a special occasion on Saturday."
Opposing manager Kevin Dillon revealed his Aldershot Town side are not underestimating their Second Round opponents, despite their own League Two status.
"We're approaching this game like we would any other," he explained. "It would be a dream to get through to the next round and a massive result for Aldershot.
"They're expecting 5000 so it's going to be a great tie. We'll look to use the hopefully positive result to help our league form and push on."
Dover Athletic sold their entire THREE THOUSAND allocation last Sunday - and the kind generosity of the local bus company will ensure home fans will be able to get to Crabble in time.
There will be an additional bus service (57F) in Dover before and after the game.
Supporters are encouraged to use the Stagecoach buses to help reduce traffic congestion around the stadium.
Stagecoach operations manager Ian Waterfield, who is a supporter of the club, has arranged for an additional service to run every half hour either side of the match.
Route 67F will run between Pencester Road and Crabble Stadium, in addition to the regular route 60, on Saturday 27th November 2010.
From 12.30 buses will run from Pencester Road to Crabble via the High Street, London Road and Crabble Hill. Further departures from Pencester Road leave every half an hour.
Dover Athletic advises supporters to arrive at the ground as early as possible on Saturday afternoon.
A return service from Crabble will be available from 17:00, 17.30 and 18.00, travelling via Crabble Hill, Buckland Avenue and Maison Dieu Road.
This service is for one day only.
Dover Athletic - who dumped Andy Hessenthaler’s Gillingham out of the FA Cup in the last round - will be hoping to pull off yet another giant-killing on Saturday.
The Football Association has announced that a new annual award will launch this season, recognising the team which achieves the most impressive giant-killing act in The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON.
The award is named after Ronnie Radford whose long-range goal for Hereford United against Newcastle United in 1972 brought about arguably The FA Cup’s most famous giant-killing.
Radford was a guest of honour for Hereford United in their comfortable 5-1 home win over Hythe Town last month - the first time that a Kent League side had reached the First Round for 53 years.
The FA’s General Secretary Alex Horne told www.thefa.com: “The giant-killing nature of The FA Cup is part of the competition’s unique magic.
“Perhaps the most famous giant-killing of all was Hereford’s triumph over Newcastle in 1972. Ronnie Radford’s spectacular goal on a mud-covered Edgar Street pitch – watched by the TV cameras and greeted with unbridled glee by 26-year-old rookie commentator John Motson - is a constant and wonderful reminder of that FA Cup magic.
“I am delighted to announce that we are instituting ‘The Ronnie Radford Award’ for the team achieving the most impressive giant-killing act of the competition in any one year. We see it as a further way of acknowledging the huge part played in The FA Cup by teams from the lower leagues.”
Radford added: “It is a real honour for me that The FA has chosen to use my name for this new award. It will be fantastic to see the achievements of the minnows of football recognised in this way.
“I would never have imagined when I scored that goal back in 1972 that it would still be shown on television almost 40 years later and recognised as one of The FA Cup’s most famous moments. I’m proud to have played my part in the wonderful history of The FA Cup and I look forward to seeing many more small teams upsetting the odds and earning their place in the spotlight.”
The Ronnie Radford Award will be voted for by fans online via TheFA.com from a shortlist of victories compiled by a panel of sports journalists. The winning team will be the guests of The FA at The FA Cup Final of that year – and be presented with the ‘Ronnie Radford Award’ on the pitch at half-time.
Dover’s clash against twelve place Aldershot Town on Saturday is my THIRTEENTH FA Cup tie of the season - can the Whites make it a fourteenth game, at a Premier League club?
ALL TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD.
COME ON YOU WHITES!
www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game - Let’s keep the dream alive!
Articles courtesy of www.thefa.com & www.doverathletic.com
Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com
Dover Athletic v Aldershot Town
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Round
Saturday 27th November 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Crabble, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB
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