Summary information about the Academy, The Abbey School and Dover Athletic FC
The Academy
Mission Statement
To provide elite football coaching of a professional standard to young players with ambition of progressing in the game with Dover Athletic, or other senior clubs, along with a structured academic / vocational educational programme that meets their learning needs
How the Academy Operates
What is an Academy?
An opportunity to be coached and train regularly throughout the week on your football whilst completing a Level 3 course of your choice.
It is the closest you will get to an apprenticeship at a Professional club
Key points
Comprehensive technical syllabus, covering all aspects of the game
Qualified coaching Staff to UEFA A standard
Games program linked to the Football Conference Youth League
Academy Manager with 10 years Youth Development experience in the Professional game at Gillingham and Crystal Palace
What can I study?
Anything you like from the courses in your available blocks (this means your studies will not interfere with your training)
An NVQ level 2 in coaching, teaching, instructing in the context of football, linked to 1st4sport level 2 coaching football
Who can apply?
Anyone with football ability to at least district level, who can display all the necessary attributes to improve to be the best they can be.
Only players from the age of 16 and 17 years of age as at 31st August in any season will be eligible to apply
Entry will be by formal interview and a practical assessment (trial). Testimonies from suitable people (PE teachers, club, district, County etc) are welcomed
Entry requirements
Open to any elite footballers from Year 11 or 12 in Kent in year 1.
Stringent entry requirements on ability and character
Students to apply using the Abbey School 6th form application forms
Entry will be accepted upon successful trial, subsequent interview and references.
Trials 2009
Trials for Dover Atheltic Football Academy will take place on Tuesday 5th May 2009 at 5.30pm at the Abbey School Sports Centre.
The School
General information
The Abbey School was opened in Faversham in September 1983 as a result of an amalgamation of the Ethelbert Road Boys School and Lady Capel School for Girls. The boys' site was decommissioned, and all students moved to the present site on the south side of the town. Buildings have since been extended in two phases allowing for suiting of departments, many of which enjoy refurbished accommodation to the benefit of the students.
The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club. In the 1989–90 season Dover Athletic won the Southern League championship, but failed to gain promotion to the Football Conference as the club's ground did not meet the required standard. Three seasons later the team won this title again and this time gained promotion to the Conference, where they spent nine seasons before being relegated. In April 2008 the club won the championship of Division One South and with it promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. The following season Dover won the Premier League title and gained promotion to Conference South.
The team usually wear white shirts and are consequently nicknamed the Whites. They have played at the Crabble Stadium since the club's formation. The club's best performance in the FA Cup was an appearance in the first round proper in the 2002–03 season, while the best performance registered in the FA Trophy, the national competition for higher-level non-league clubs, was a run to the semi-finals in the 1997–98 season.
Teams
Dover Athletic run many teams in several catergories, with the First Team being the most senior of the all. Dover Athletic's youth set-up includes some 38 teams raning from U12s to U18's.
In addition the newly formed Academy replaces the existing Reserve side. The U18 and Adademy management work closely with Andy Hessenthaler and his First Team, to provide a route, for players that are good enough, to reach the very top of the Dover Athletic 'tree'.