Langley - we need your support!

RICHARD LANGLEY - the head coach at Ryman League Premier Division side Dover Athletic, has asked the club's supporters to turn out in numbers to help the club's financial difficulties - and watch many talented youngsters at The Hoverspeed Stadium, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dover got off to a good start on the opening day of the season on Saturday when they defeated Slough Town 3-1.

Rob Smidmore's 44th minute opener and a second half brace of well taken goals from Chris Wright saw them beat off the Berkshire side - who had faced Dover in Conference football not so long ago.

Wright received praise from Langley, and  was a number of many youngsters handed their first team debuts

The young players have been thrown in at the deep end, as the club's finances are tight as they have three years of debts to pay off to the Creditors Voluntary Arrangement, which was set up two years ago.

Speaking about two-goal hero, Wright, Langley said: "He has been at the club four years.  I've had him at under sixteen, under eighteen and the reserves.  He made his full debut for the club today - although he has taken part in the pre-season friendlies, and done tremendously well, with two well taken goals."

In fact, the attendance figure at The Hoverspeed Stadium was 637, but visitors Slough Town's travelling contingent were more vocal in the first half, but were stunned in the second half when Dover's youngsters taking their chances, and chance after chance for Slough went begging.

Langley added: "There has been a lot of misapprehension, because rightly or wrongly, decisions had to be made about finances.  

"We've got a very young side, the side that finished today's game has an average age of 21 - they can only get better and better and we've always said that the fans have to be patient."

He admitted: "We are going to lose games this season - we may get hammered in a few games but the important thing is the supporters have hopefully see what our youngsters can produce."

The former reserve team manager added: "Can we produce it for a little bit longer, with a little bit more quality at times?" 

Langley, however, has asked the fans to get behind his young players from the very first whistle, as they were rather quiet in the first half.

After losing five out of six pre-season friendlies, and with so many young faces in the side, the fans maybe took time to look at their new-look team, as many big named players were forced to leave the club during the summer due to the financial difficulties at the club.

Langley said: "The fans were certainly quiet in the first half.

"There aren't any star names here, we haven't got the money to go buy ex-league players.

"We've got to produce our own players, with the 3-4 experienced ones we were fortunate enough to keep.

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating - so hopefully the next home games (against Worthing on Tuesday 24 August and Braintree Town - Saturday 28th) we can get another 100 through the turnstiles - the more we get through the turnstiles gets us out of that financial situation that little bit quicker.

"Be patient - we will get better and better every game - we just need as much support as possible - keep coming and encourage the lads - just please don't wait until the first goal to show your appreciation!"

Dover face a daunting task at full-time outfit Billericay Town in their second Ryman League Premier Division game on Tuesday.

However, Langley will not be in the dug-out as he is having an operation on his knee.

Langley admitted: "Billericay is a difficult game - they are taking it very seriously, they were down here watching us - I believe they are full-time so it's going to be a very difficult first away game of the season.

"However, the important thing is we got three points from our first home game of the season - it's the first rung of the ladder so to speak."

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