Dove Football Club

The first football club in Dover played a few friendlies in the 1888-89 season - little is known about this club, however, as the Dover Express did not give much coverage to football. A second club was then formed in 1891. It was known as Dover Association Football Club, as there was already a Dover Football Club in existence - they are now known as the Rugby Club! Anyway, various clubs have existed since then, all of which have been forced out of business due to financial problems.

The most recent Dover Football Club was formed in 1934 as an amateur outfit, and it was re-formed in 1947 as a semi-professional club. This club existed until 1983, when it was forced to close by an Inland Revenue demand for unpaid tax. As you probably realise, Dover Athletic F.C. is now in existence, but we are not concerned with the present club here.

DOVER F.C. was founded in 1934, and played until 1940, when the War brought an end to almost all football in Kent.

League Competitions

In 1946-47, the last season of the amateurs, the Dover side found itself rather out of its depth playing in the Kent League Division One. Despite the austerity of the immediate post-War years, it was decided to turn professional to try and compete on equal terms with the majority of clubs. Dover played in the Kent League until 1959, when the club was admitted to the Southern League. Playing in the First Division, we eventually won promotion in 1967.

We then played in the Premier Division until relegation in 1978. Despite winning the First Division (South) title the following season, we were not promoted, and spent the next three seasons in the Southern Division. The last season of Dover F.C. was 1982-83, when we struggled in the Southern Division, with a very young and inexperienced side.

CUP COMPETITIONS

Dover F.C. had its successes in various cup competitions, and just like its successor, had awful trouble in beating various lesser clubs. Dover reached the Second Round of the F.A. Cup once, and was knocked out in the First Round three times.

We won the Kent Senior Cup seven times, and the Kent Senior Shield once. Apart from that, it has been a history of 'so near, but so far', and as you know, Dover Athletic's record in this respect is no better.