Our target is promotion, says Dover Athletic boss Nicky Forster

DOVER ATHLETIC player-manager Nicky Forster says his side will get better as the season goes along.


The Whites have been made second favourites – behind big-spending Eastleigh – to win the league by sponsors Blue Square Bet and 38-year-old Forster says his side are fit and ready to go.

Dover Athletic finished in a disappointing seventh-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table last term and they welcome Farnborough to Crabble on Saturday, before travelling to Sutton United next Tuesday.

Farnborough finished seventh-from-bottom last season, whilst Sutton finished in fourth-place and were defeated 2-1 on aggregate by third-placed Welling United in the play-off semi-finals.

When asked about his side’s pre-season preparations, Forster said: “It’s been exactly how it should be – players finding their fitness, their form.

“It’s an important time for the players to get to know eachother, to bond, to condition themselves physically for the whole season.

“It’s a long season. It drags through to gone May. There’s a lot of games you play before the end of it.

“I expect us to get better as the season goes on and we settle down. Everyone’s jostling for places and desperately trying to impress. There’s some very promising signs and we’re looking forward to the season starting.”

Forster is looking forward to playing for points against Farnborough on Saturday.

He said: “Pre-season is vital, not only for fitness but also conditioning and injury prevention in the latter stages of the season.

“The players want to play games so when they come in after a break they want to get the balls out and start playing.

“What they really want to do is play competitive games and there’s nothing like playing first-team football and when something means something, the result depends on it.”

Looking ahead of the first-day clash against Farnborough, Forster said: “I think generally the first game’s generally tight.  Although we should be up to 100% and full speed the games are a little bit edgy, generally a little bit cautious.  Teams are preferring not to get beaten rather than desperate to go out there to win them.

“Having said that I want us to be positive and try and go out there and win the game obviously.”

Lingfield-based Forster makes the short trip to Gander Green Lane to play Sutton United next Tuesday.

He said: “Very tough game, but having said that I don’t expect any easy games.

“I think that the Farnborough game will be a tough game as well. We will go into the game as favourites to win so that puts added pressure on you.

“I think in different ways both are tough games.”

Once again, Dover Athletic are the team to beat in their division as they bid to seal promotion at the end of the season.

Forster said: “Everyone seems to want to come and beat Dover but we have to get on with that.  We have to be professional in our approach and we’ve got to perhaps be patient at times, not only within games and within the season itself.

“I understand this is a work in progress and we’re pushing in the right way.

“Our target is certainly push in the top five and push for promotion from there.”

After taking over from Martin Hayes on 27 September 2011, Forster says he has learnt a lot during his first season in charge of a part-time outfit.

“I learnt a huge amount, not only about individuals’, but also about the players’ themselves, the league as well and other players within the league and how you need to approach the league.

“I’m far better off this time around than I was when I first took over.

“One thing that came out is realising these boys are hugely dedicated.  They love their football and they come in every week really trying hard and be a winning team.”

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

Dover Athletic  v  Farnborough
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 18^th August 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Crabble, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB