Chris Kinnear Interview: Dover Keep Me Young!

Kinnear reaches the milestone on Saturday when he takes his side to Leyton Orient, a club who could do with a man of his expertise right now.

The PE teacher of course was in charge of the club for a decade before returning, at the helm from 1995-1995 before coming back to where he loves. He was back to people who love him.

Having taken Athletic to new heights since coming home, the 63-year-old has rolled back the years. It seems like he'll be there for quite a while yet.

“I’m really am enjoying it as much now as I did when I first started here all those years ago," Kinnear said. "Age doesn't come into it - football keeps your full of life, especially when things are going alright.

"It’s great to be where we are, we’re loving every minute of it as you would expect. Goes like that when you're top, doesn't it?

“After ten games we said let’s see where we are after 20 games, and now we’re nearly at 20 games and we’re still up there!

“But if we can’t finish first we’ll try to finish second, if we can’t finish second we’ll try to finish third. That’s the attitude we go in with. We don’t think we’re something we’re not, we’re just proud to be where we are and doing what we’re doing.”

That’s not to say the Crabble club don’t have ambition.

They may not have the League history of some in the division, but they want to start creating some.

They've got a long way to go of course, and face a big few games in the club's season. We could know a lot more by Wednesday morning.

First this weekend it a game at managerless Leyton Orient before a very tricky date with another of the league's wise old bosses, Dagenham's John Still welcomes the leaders to East London.

“The club really wants to be in the Football League,” Kinnear said. “It would be incredible for Dover if we could achieve that. The supporters would love the journey.

“I have said to the lads they need to enjoy it, but it’s not very often that you get to sit at the top of any division. So smile and play!

“We’ve got our own expectations. We have been as consistent as anyone has over the past five years but we have to keep that consistency now.

“I’m proud of the players. We weren’t great in the first half on Saturday but we stuck at it.Eastleigh have a lot of experienced players, former Premier League players. We did what we have done so often and long may that continue.”