Dover Athletic go that extra inch to clinch title

A ROUSING motivational video that Dover Athletic players viewed immediately prior to getting off the team bus at Tooting & Mitcham United last Saturday clearly had the desired effect, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dover Athletic assistant Darren Hare asked Dave Shirley, who videos a vast majority of the club’s matches, to produce the “Inches” video, based on the inspirational pre-match speech by Al Pacino in the film “Any Given Sunday.”

And the five minute DVD, which included highlights of the goals that the Ryman League Division One South champions-elect have scored this season, certainly had the players pumped up ahead of their title showdown at Imperial Fields.

Dover lad Craig Cloke was the hero when he headed home Matt Fish’s 17^th minute cross to seal the vital 1-0 victory to ensure the Kent giants enjoy a 13 point lead over Tooting & Mitcham United with just nine games remaining.

Dover Athletic certainly went that extra inch and because of it should be playing Ryman Premier League football next season.

Club director Dave Weber, who travelled to the game on the team coach, was certainly impressed.

“The impact was fantastic,” he told the fans’ forum at www.dovorian.co.uk. “It gave everybody a tremendous lift and then with the amazing support on the terraces how could we not win.

“It was just one of those fabulous days that you just don’t forget.

“We must all keep our feet on the ground with nine matches still to play but Saturday certainly didn’t do our cause any harm.”

Dave Shirley who produced the DVD added: “Hopefully it helped inspire the Whites to their 1-0 victory.”

View the Inches video, which contains strong language, at www.dafctv.co.uk.

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

Dover Athletic v Molesey
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 8^th March 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At SeaFrance Crabble Stadium, Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Kent CT17 0JB