Manager Chris Kinnear FA Cup Third Round Kent Senior Cup Second Round | Conference Premier 8th FA Trophy Fourth Round | |
Ground Crabble Athletic Ground | ||
The 2014–15 season was the thirty-second season of competitive association football played by Dover Athletic Football Club, a professional football club based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. Their promotion via the Conference South play-offs in 2013–14 meant they played in Conference Premier, after twelve years away from the division. The season ran from 1 July 2014 to 25 April 2015.
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Chris Kinnear made five signings in his second summer transfer window as Dover manager. After a poor start to the season Dover made a late surge for a play-off place but failed to reach one as they finished in eighth position in the twenty-four-team 2014–15 Conference Premier. Dover were eliminated from the 2014–15 FA Cup in the third round by Crystal Palace, and from the 2014–15 FA Trophy in the fourth round by Bath City. Dover also took part in the 2014–15 Kent Senior Cup and were knocked out in the second round by Folkestone Invicta.
Thirty-one players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were fourteen different goalscorers. Defender Richard Orlu missed only three of the fifty-nine competitive matches played over the season. Stefan Payne finished as leading scorer with twenty goals, of which fifteen came in league competition, two came in the FA Trophy, two came in the Kent Senior Cup and one came in the FA Cup. At the end of season awards Tyrone Sterling won the Supporters Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.
Background and pre-season
The 2013–14 season was Chris Kinnear's first full season as Dover Athletic manager, having taken over the role in January 2013. Dover finished the season in the fifth and final Conference South play-off place. Dover beat Sutton United Town 4–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final. Ebbsfleet United were then beaten 1–0 in the 2014 Conference South play-off Final at Stonebridge Road, which meant the club was promoted into the Conference Premier, returning to the non-League top flight after an twelve-year absence.
Released following the end of the season were Moses Ademola, Terrell Forbes, Elliott Charles, Ashley Carew and James Rogers. Michael Bakare, Michael Kamara and Sam Long also left the club after departing for Tonbridge Angels, Dulwich Hamlet and Bromley respectively.
New additions in defence ahead of the season's start included goalkeeper Andy Rafferty from Hartlepool United and defenders Matt Lock from Chelmsford City and Sean Francis from Bishop's Stortford. Midfielder Christian Nanetti signed from Havant & Waterlooville and forward Stefan Payne signed from Hornchurch.
In the pre-season campaign Dover participated in ten matches. This comprised four home games, against Margate, Faversham Town, Colchester United and Gillingham, and six away games at Canvey Island, Tonbridge Angels, Erith & Belvedere, Sevenoaks Town, Kingstonian and Chatham Town. The match against Erith & Belvedere was abandoned after 80 minutes, with Dover winning 2–0, due to a serious injury to club trialist Tambeson Eyong. The club completed the pre-season unbeaten, winning eight of the completed fixtures and drawing the other.
Summary and aftermath
Dover mostly occupied the bottom half of the table before the turn of the year, and dropped as low as twenty-third in September 2014. On the final day a 0–0 draw with Forest Green Rovers gave Dover an eighth-place finish, three places outside the play-off places which Dover made a late surge for. Richard Orlu made the highest number of appearances over the season, appearing in fifty-six of Dover's fifty-nine matches. Stefan Payne was Dover's top scorer in the league and in all competitions, with fifteen league goals and twenty in total. Two other players, Nicky Deverdics and Tom Murphy, reached double figures.
After the season ended Barry Cogan, Nathan Elder, Connor Essam, Sean Francis, Yado Mambo, Adam Mekki, Jake Reid and Craig Stone left Dover to sign for Dartford, Tonbridge Angels, Leyton Orient, Bromley, Hayes & Yeading United, Tranmere Rovers, Maidenhead United and Eastbourne Borough respectively. Dover's summer signings included defenders Jaydon Gibbs from Aldershot Town, Jaydon Gibbs from Aldershot Town, Jamie Grimes from Kidderminster Harriers, Sam Magri loaned from Queens Park Rangers and Matt Young from Sheffield Wednesday, midfielder Naby Diallo from Bath City and strikers Ricky Miller from Luton Town and Duane Ofori-Acheampong from Torquay United.
Results
League positions are sourced by Statto, while the remaining information is referenced individually. Dover's score is listed first in the score columns.