Vanarama's National League fan preview - Dover Athletic

League sponsors Vanarama have been getting the fans’ perspective ahead of the new season - which kicks off this Saturday.

What can Dover fans look forward to this year?
Thankfully we are looking forward to another season in the top tier of Non-League football and being part of a very competitive National League for the sixth-consecutive season. For us at Dover in particular, we are going into our first full season as a full-time outfit.

Andy Hessenthaler certainly revitalised the Dover squad to say the least last season – can you carry that momentum forward and push on a bit this season?
Yes hopefully, whilst we have seen nine new signings arrive, the aim has to be to continue where we left off last term. We ended last season joint-top of the form table with Solihull so we’ll be looking to continue that great form.

There’s been some shrewd business over the summer with a lot of National League and Football League experience coming in. Is that what you were missing last season for the most part? If not, what was it?
Yes, last summer we were training in the evenings on, what was essentially, a part-time basis that arguably limited the pool of players available to us. However, the transformation to full-time has allowed us to attract a more experienced and a higher calibre of player this summer.

What is your standout piece of transfer business?
Stuart Lewis’ arrival from Kent rivals Maidstone United in January was arguably the best signing over the past few months. He played a key contribution in helping us steer clear of relegation and the survival battle we found ourselves in.

What will have changed from last term for Dover?
Hopefully we’ll start well and not find ourselves embroiled in another relegation fight. I’m confident we will be nowhere near any such danger this time around.

If you had to warn everyone about one of your players, who would it be?
Nassim L’Ghoul, the most recent of our signings, has joined us from Welling United. He has looked good in pre-season and Welling fans say he will play in the EFL before long so I can see him being one of our standout players this season.

And what teams should we be looking out for?
Chesterfield and Barnet will both be very strong but given the signings AFC Fylde have made, and depending on whether they can hold on to Danny Rowe, then I believe the title may end up in the hands of the Coasters this season.

What road trips are in the diary as a definite day out?
It has to be Meadow Lane, Notts County. They are arguably the biggest club in the division this season and it is a ground I have wanted to visit for some time so that will be the most anticipated away day of the season for us and for most other sides I’m sure.

What game do you want to win the most?
Notts County! Again, for the same reasons above, they are the side that every side will want to beat this season.

What opposition player makes you wish you had them in your ranks?
Danny Rowe for the simple fact that he’s a prolific goalscorer and has been the National League top scorer for the past two seasons with more than 50 goals! Wrexham’s Shaun Pearson would be another – he’s a very consistent performer who, like Rowe, has made the National League Team of the Year for the past two consecutive seasons.

Who has the capability to spring a surprise?
Bromley. They have made a lot of impressive signings this summer and completed their transfer business early on which has given them plenty of time to bed in during pre-season. They have just unveiled their brand new all-seater stand too so there’s a lot to be excited about.

Predictions time! Where will you finish this season?
Like Bromley, we also did our transfer business early and the squad have had several weeks to get to know each other and to play together throughout the whole of our pre-season campaign. Plus, there are a fair few sides in the league who have, as yet, failed to do much business at all and may well struggle. This gives me reason to be very optimistic of a top-half finish at least but to hopefully challenge for one of the play-off places.

Vanarama have recently launched the National League Club Reward scheme to help fans back their club’s budget. Every time a fan takes out a brand new van lease with Vanarama or a brand new car lease with Motorama their club will earn £100 and you will receive £30 cashback.

For the latest van leasing deals head to Vanarama.
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