It's time for Dover to get to Wembley, says Hessenthaler

Wednesday 27th January 2010

DOVER ATHLETIC boss Andy Hessenthaler has a dream - to lead the club out at Wembley Stadium in the FA Carlsberg Trophy final at the end of the season, writes Stephen McCartney.

But before the highly-respected 44-year-old starts marching to the arch, the Whites travel to the best side in non-league football on Saturday in the last sixteen.

Stevenage Borough sit proudly at the top of the Blue Square Premier table, one point clear of Oxford United, whilst Hessenthaler has guided the Kent giants to third place in Blue Square South, after clinching back-to-back titles.

Last weekend, Dover were defeated 2-0 by full-time side Woking, therefore dropping down a place, but they were by far the better side at Kingfield Stadium, so confidence will be high going into the third round clash.

Stevenage Borough, meanwhile, are the current holders and destroyed the dreams of then holders Ebbsfleet United in last season’s semi-finals, en-route to winning the Trophy again at Wembley Stadium.

But if any man can bring Wembley glory back to Kent it’s Hessenthaler, who has fond memories of the old Wembley, whilst playing there for Gillingham.

“We haven’t been successful in the cup over the time that I’ve been at the club, but we’ve had success in the league and we’ve still got a great chance of getting promoted this year through the play-off’s,” Hessenthaler told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“If we did get there, we’d be doing it the hard way because we’ve had one tie at home, which was Dartford. We’ve gone to Fleetwood and won and now we’ve got Stevenage and get a result there and I think we can all start believing.

“That would put us into the quarter-finals, you never know there but there’s no pressure. They’re massive favourites, they’re top of the table in the Conference Premier.”

Playing against Stevenage Borough on Saturday will give Hessenthaler a guide as to how his side would perform at that level - the target Hessenthaler has been set.

He said: “We’ll be able to gauge where we’ve got to get to, where we are at the moment because Stevenage are a good side and have some good players.

“I don’t go there with any fear whatsoever. Any of my players shouldn’t fear them. On our day we’re more of a match for anybody, any team around.

“I think Stevenage won’t treat us lightly, they’ll know what we’ve been doing over the last two and a half years and where the club’s going and they’ll look at our squad and I’m sure they will do their homework.”

Hessenthaler was summerising for BBC Radio Kent when Ebbsfleet United (FA Carlsberg Trophy) and Gillingham (Coca-Cola League Two play-off final) toasted success at Wembley in the last two years.

But he wants to ditch the microphone and experience it all for himself, emulating Liam Daish and Mark Stimson.

“It would be lovely to take Dover to Wembley,” he said. “I’ve been there twice at the old Wembley. I’ve been to two Trophy semi-finals for Dartford when I played, so maybe it’s time for Dover to get to Wembley. You never know!”

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

Stevenage Borough v Dover Athletic

FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Round

Saturday 30th January 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG2 8RH