It would be nice if those two-and-a-half-thousand fans' return, says Dover Athletic chairman

DOVER ATHLETIC chairman Jim Parmenter invites the fans’ that flocked through the turnstiles during the club’s epic FA Cup run last season to Crabble on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Blue Square Bet South club welcome Bath City in the Fourth Qualifying Round knowing that they are just one win away from a return to the First Round.

Mr Parmenter recalls the day when Dover Athletic took 2,500 fans to Priesfield Stadium in the First Round last November to watch the heroic victory over Andy Hessenthaler’s men.

“It will be nice if some of those two-and-a-half-thousand that turned up to the Gillingham game can turn up on Saturday and support us to see if we can get there again,” said Mr Parmenter.

Bath City are rooted to the foot of the Blue Square Bet Premier table, but despite being one division below, Dover Athletic have the quality to progress through to Sunday’s (1:30pm on ITV1) draw.

“They’re all big games aren’t they, but as we know about the Cup, you never know,” said the chairman.

“We’re obviously looking forward to it.  It’s good it’s a home draw.  We hope the crowd get there and support us and I think we’ve got a good chance.

“We’re close to possibly getting to the first round but we’ve got to be on our mettle.  We’ve got to play well on Saturday and I think it’s possible to win that game.  If we do we go into the hat and we might get a big League club at Crabble in the next round and then we go from there.”

And with £12,500 in prize money up for grabs for the winner, Mr Parmenter said: “The FA Cup is vital for the club. The more we get through the rounds the more money there is about for the playing squad for the following season, it provides the income to pay for the players.  Whilst we’re not reliant on it, the more money we make on the Cup the more we can spend on players’ next year.

“We never count our chickens.  I’m sure Nicky (Forster) will approach it in a professional manner and I think we’ve got a reasonable chance of getting somewhere in that game.”

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

Dover Athletic  v  Bath City
The FA Cup with Budweiser Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 29^th October 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Crabble Athletic Ground, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB