Dover Athletic release Ollie Schulz from his contract by mutual consent

DOVER ATHLETIC have confirmed that central defender Ollie Schulz has left Crabble after the Conference South club terminated his contract by mutual consent.


Schulz joined the club in 2008 from Ramsgate, where he had caught the eye for several years in the Rams’ rise from the Kent League to the Ryman Premier League play-offs.

He was a key player in Dover Athletic’s Ryman Premier League title-winning side and their first season in the Blue Square Bet South.

Last season he made 34 appearances, enjoying mixed fortunes on the pitch.  He was part of the team which shocked Gillingham and Aldershot Town in The FA Cup, the club reaching the third round for the first time, under previous manager Martin Hayes.

This season, he has found playing opportunities limited, making a total 14 appearances in League and Cup and was an unused substitute for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to play-off  chasing Welling United, which ended Dover Athletic’s ten-match unbeaten run.

A club statement, published on www.doverathletic.com said: “The club would like to thank Ollie for his services to Dover Athletic over the past four years and wish him well for the future.”

Nicky Forster, whose side are presently in seventh-place in the Conference South table, ten points adrift of fifth-placed side Sutton United, travel to Ryman League Division One South side Hythe Town tonight to see if they can reach the final of the Kent Senior Cup Final for the first time in seven years.

Hythe Town have reached the final just once, twenty years’ ago, when they were defeated 3-1 (after extra time) by Bromley.

Bromley were managed by George Wakeling (who alongside Billy Smith watched Tonbridge Angels’ 1-1 home draw with Boreham Wood at Longmead Stadium last night) at the time.

Dover won the silverware on seven occasions, but once as Dover Athletic (in 1991), although the Whites have reached the finals in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2005.

Hythe Town, meanwhile, who are looking forward to arguably their biggest midweek game at Reachfields Stadium, have confirmed that normal admission charges are in place for the visit of Dover Athletic:

Adults: £7.50
Concessions: £4
Under 15’s: £2

Hythe Town boss Scott Porter, who guided the club to the Kent League title and the first round of The FA Cup last season, said his club hope to attract a bumper crowd of 800 tonight.

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com  

Hythe Town  v  Dover Athletic
Kent Senior Cup Sponsored by Portablefloodlights.com Semi-Final
Tuesday 28^th February 2012
Kick off 7:45pm
at Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6JS