Kentish Football 
Dover Athletic launch new clubhouse appeal
Dover Athletic today launches its campaign to build fans a brand new Centre Spot clubhouse, writes Justin Allen.
The Ryman League Division One South club has received planning permission from the local council to build a £200,000 complex to replace the current building.
Chairman Jim Parmenter revealed Dover Athletic need to raise £150,000 by the end of the season if building work is to begin next summer.
He said: "This is a very exciting project, which will give our fans a superb facility and increase Dover Athletic's potential to increase its revenue streams significantly.
"The current facility we have has seen better days and is getting very expensive to maintain. Also, because it's very small and old, it's not an attractive venue - which handicaps our chances of pulling money in from social and business functions."
Centre Spot 2008 - the name of the project - will result in a complex measuring 30metres by 16metres - that is 50 per cent bigger than the current clubhouse.
The one-storey brick-built facility will also be able to comfortably sit up to 200 people for a banqueting function, perfect for wedding receptions, parties, business conferences and many other events.
And, furthermore, the clubhouse will be more spacious so fans can enjoy refreshments before, during and after a match in a far more welcoming environment.
There facility will have a far more spacious bar, large flat-screen television and a top-of-the-range sound system.
The foundations of the building allow the club an option to build a second storey at a later date - which is being pencilled in to happen if the club makes giant strides up the football pyramid in the next few years, to increase the clubhouse's potential further. This would, of course, be subject to receiving planning permission.
Vice-chairman Roger Knight said: "After years of paying off debts, finally we're raising money for something which won't be going down a black hole. It'll be going towards a super facility which our supporters can be proud of.
"We've set up a separate bank account, which will hold all funds raised for the Centre Spot - and that will mean we can earn some interest on the capital, which will go towards this project."
The Supporters Trust have also pledged their support to Centre Spot 2008 and are set to announce a whole host of other fundraising initiatives.
www.doverathletic.com will keep a running total of the funds raised to keep everyone up-to-date with the campaign's progress. This can be found on the home page.
Director Chris Oakley says the facility will have a first-class kitchen, which will enable top-quality chefs to cater functions.
Chris, a top-rate chef in his own right who owns Wallett’s Court in St Margaret's, said: "The new clubhouse will be able to incorporate a kitchen where top-quality food can be made to offer quality catering for functions.
"I am even going to have an input into the kitchen's design. The facility really is going to be fantastic and will help this club progress."
The club's main fundraising scheme gives fans the chance to help us build the clubhouse by donating money - and having their name listed inside the building.
Dover Athletic will be displaying a large quality roll of honour board inside the new complex. And fans have their chance to have their name added, in recognition for their fundraising efforts.
There will be five categories listed on the board, with different price levels.
The donations will be listed as follows: £25 Supporter, £50 Bronze Supporter, £100 Silver Supporter, £250 Gold Supporter, £500 Platinum Supporter.
Each band will have a different standing on the wall display - in terms of its size and colour. Futher details will be released soon.
Supporters can make a one-off contribution to buy their level (as per the pricing structure) or they can continue contributing until they get to their desired level of supporter (normal, bronze, silver, gold or platinum).
Payments can be made by Standing Order (you can fill out the form once and make contributions every month/week) or by cash/cheque.
There will be an information form, which will have a standing order form included and a ‘pay in’ form, for cash and cheques, which needs to be handed to Paul or Debbie Harrison on matchdays. Alternatively, you can post it to Centre Spot 2008 Appeal, Dover Athletic Football Club, Lewisham Road, River, Kent CT 17 0JB.
A pay in form still needs to be completed every time a payment is made. Standing orders only need to be submitted once.
If you wish to make a donation via PayPal, there is a £1 charge for each transaction, so please add £1 to your donation. There is a PayPal link on the home page. You must then email us at info@doverathletic.com to confirm your payment.
Supporters who haven’t paid for a Platinum membership as a one off payment, they can continue contributing until the Centre Spot is built, at which point we will count up their contribution and apply the correct level that has been achieved.
Each person will then be sent a form to fill in including space for the message etc they want on the wall.
THE Supporters Trust are backing the club's plans for a new Centre Spot facility - and the message to fans is clear: "Let's make this happen."
After years of fighting debt, supporters now have their first chance for years to benefit from their fundraising efforts and build a clubhouse to be proud of.
The proposed new building at SeaFrance Crabble will be longer and wider than the current clubhouse, boasting improved facilities to benefit the club and supporters. It will require significant finance to complete the project and fresh fundraising initiatives will be a key part of the Trust's involvement.
The club has clearly made big strides off the pitch in the past few years and the Trust have played a big part, donating a vast amount of money to the club through its fundraising events and members' generosity.
Trust representative Paul Harrison told www.doverathletic.com: "This will be the Trust's main project this year. Previously we have donated funds towards paying off the overdraft and helping with the club's general running costs.
"We're looking to get involved in the club's "roll of honour" scheme, which will help raise much-needed funds to make this project happen.
"But we are going to need to give this a big push to make this happen. We want to make these efforts as successful as when everybody rallied round to save the club in its darkest hour three years ago.
"All funds we raise will go into a central pot of money. We're not doing this independently from the club - as everyone is joining forces to work on this exciting project together for the benefit of Dover Athletic and its supporters.
"But with a project such as this we need some fresh fundraising initiatives, with ideas and help from new people. We welcome input from all supporters, whether members of the Trust or not."
If you have any suggestions for Paul or if you would like to offer your help in supporting the Trust, please e-mail Paul Harrison: paul.harrison410@ntlworld.com
Paul added: "This year's Christmas Raffle will be open to all supporters, not just Trust members. Tickets will be made available at first-team home games in the coming weeks. All monies raised will go to the clubhouse venture."
Club chairman Jim Parmenter has stated that around £150,000 needs to be raised to make the project viable. The total cost of the complex will be nearer £200,000 - but Dover Athletic are dependent on fans getting behind a campaign to raise money for the project.
Paul Harrison said: "Such a facility would provide revenue for the club as a business and it would also make it possible for the club and Trust to host more events, such as the Summer Ball, on its own premises. Holding functions at other venues, due to the limitations of the current Centre Spot facilities, costs the club revenue. The Trust will benefit too from being able to host different types of fundraising events.
"You only have to look at a club such as Leyton, in Ryman Premier, to see the benefits of a clubhouse facility that can be hired out. Leyton survive despite attendances of less than 100 due to the modern bar and function rooms at their ground.
"We also hope that it would encourage more people to use the clubhouse on matchdays, creating a social club environment before and after the game."
On the pitch, Andy Hessenthaler’s Whites welcome Brackley Town tomorrow, a side that’s fourth in the British Gas Business Premier League table, in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy – www.kentishfootball.co.uk 's Chosen game.
Article courtesy of www.doverathletic.com
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