CHAMPIONS: Dover Athletic win promotion and chairman vows: We're on our way back!

CHAIRMAN Jim Parmenter is looking forward to many lucrative Kent derbies in the Ryman Premier League next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dover Athletic sealed the Ryman League Division One South title today following a nervous 1-0 win over Burgess Hill Town - a side unbeaten in their last eight games.

A crowd of 1,154 will be celebrating long into the night courtesy of James Dryden’s 19^th goal of the season with sixteen minutes remaining of their 39^th league outing.

The former Folkestone Invicta striker sent a bullet header past Chris May which flew into the net following Matt Fish’s cross.

The final whistle brought joyous scenes at Crabble as many fans swamped their heroes out on the pitch and all directors were on their feet in the directors box saluting the players that brought the first title to the club for 15 years before the champagne started the flow upstairs - and the beers drunk inside the Centre Spot.

Pubs in the town will be doing a roaring trade tonight as Dover Athletic return to the Ryman Premier League following a three year absence.

Fans have been rewarded for sticking by their beloved club, despite financial ruin, three relegations and two play-off heartbreaks.

But the management team of former Gillingham star Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare have led the Kent giants to the title in their first season in charge.

“It’s a great time for this football club,” Mr Parmenter said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“It’s not won anything meaningful for fifteen years this football club and the fans have had many disappointments, some relegations and it’s taken us three years and we’re finally on the way up again.”

Fans will be flocking through the Crabble turnstiles to watch numerous local derbies next season.

Mr Parmenter said: “Lot’s of local derbies, lot’s of good football and lots of friends to re-introduce ourselves to and we’re really looking forward to it,” said the chairman.

“I think the more Kent clubs that are in the Ryman Premier the better for the League.”

Mr Parmenter, who saved the club from extinction when he took over three and a half years ago, will tie Hessenthaler to an even longer contract soon.

The 42-year-old’s present contract expires at the end of next season.

The chairman said: “We’ll be sitting down very soon to talk about, he’s always got a contract which is into next year but we’ll be talking next week about extending that and he’s quite happy to do that.

“I would anticipate that Andy will be the manager of this football club for many years to come.”

Too drunk to remember? You can relive the day that Dover Athletic clinched the Ryman League Division One South title by visiting Dave Shirley’s website at www.dafctv.co.uk

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com