Dover Athletic defender Dave Clifford has been handed a contract until the end of the season after impressing Clive Walker since stepping into the first-team, writes Justin Allen - www.doverathletic.com Dave, 21, will put pen to paper on a deal which will secure his services until the end of the season before Whites play Hastings down at the Pilot Field on Tuesday night. He said: "I'm thrilled to be handed this contract. It's really great that Clive (Walker) and chairman Jim Parmenter believe in me enough to give me this opportunity. "I've been pleased with my performances these past few matches and am so happy that they've impressed Clive. It's always a player's aim to get into the first team and I'm chuffed to have broken into the side. "Now I just hope to do enough to keep my place in the team and continue to impress everyone because it's been a great experience for me to be playing for Dover Athletic." Dave, who is naturally a right back, was drafted into the side to play at left-back as an emergency measure after Daniel Braithwaite was injured in the FA Trophy match against Dartford. Since then he has produced four very assured performances that have not only grabbed the attention of the club's coaching staff but also the Crabble faithful, earning him rave reviews. The defender joined Dover from Corinthian at the start of last season after being invited for a trial by reserve-team boss Gary Whittle. He said: "I was at Corinthian playing alongside Gary in defence. He was a centre-back there and I got to know him quite well. Then he joined Dover to take charge of the reserves and gave me a call, inviting me down to the club's trials. "There were loads of players down at Crabble and I was obviously very impressed by the set-up. I decided to sign up for Dover's reserves and been here since." In fact, Dave broke into the first team last season under the caretaker-management of Whittle during what was a traumatic time for everyone at the club. Dave said: "It was a bad time to come into the team last season. Everything seemed so poorly co-ordinated at the club and the financial problems were dominating everyone's minds. "Coming in now is a lot different. The club is much better run - and that's because Clive and Jim are in charge of things, and they're very professional and know what they're doing. "Clive, especially, is a different class. I've never come across anyone like him as a coach - he really is very, very good and in the short time I've worked with him feel that I've made some progress as a player." Clive's men celebrated their 5-1 win against Lymington and New Milton on Saturday, knowing that they had gone top of Ryman One for the first time this season. And Dave, who has been training with the first team all this season, believes it is the manager who deserves the credit. He said: "What I like about Clive is how he tells you what you've done wrong in a match. He always takes time after a game to pull you to one side and tell you what things could've been done better. "He really does know what he talks about and I can see why everyone respects him so much. One thing's for sure, no-one would dare answer back to him! "I'm like any other young footballer. I want to be a professional footballer but that may never happen. However, I want to play to the best of my abilities and at the highest level possible. That would be great if it could be here at Dover, because the set-up at this club is unbelievable." Whites fans have made a big impression on Dave, who admitted he had goosebumps when seeing a crowd of more than 1,200 at Crabble for the derby with Tonbridge last Tuesday. He said: "We've got windows in the changing room and before the Tonbridge match I had a look out at the ground - and could see the place full of fans. It was spine-tingling. "I saw a load of Dover fans at a service station on their way up to the Met Police game. I've never come across such a passionate and fanatical support. They're always wearing the Dover shirts and travel around to watch us every game. "When you go out there on the pitch, especially at home, you don't want to make a mistake - because you don't want to let those fans down. You understand how important this club is to people and that really gives you extra motivation to go out there to perform for them. "Jim is always telling the lads, 'get us out of this league'. Everyone wants to achieve this because it's clear that Dover Athletic can be at a much higher level - and was for many years." Clive admits that Dave's good form has saved him a few quid in the transfer market. The Whites boss thought he may have to go and sign a replacement for Braithwaite. He said: "The lad has done alright and I've known about him for a little while. He's stepped up well and, although he has a lot to learn about football, I've no complaints about any of his performances so far." Mr Parmenter added: "I think we may have uncovered a little gem in Dave Clifford. We're very happy with the progress he's been making and with a bit of luck he'll grow into a first-team regular. We've offered him a contract until the end of the season, with an option for an extension at the end of the season. "The ball is in his court. If he continues to progress, then there's no reason why we won't be handing him another deal in the summer." Meanwhile, the club have received some good news about Craig Cloke. His injury is not as serious as first feared and the defender could be back before Christmas. Clive said: "He's only chipped a bit off his tibular bone, which is nothing really. The lad could be back before Christmas." Hastings United v Dover Athletic Ryman League Division One Tuesday 1st November 2005 Kick Off 7:45pm at The Pilot Field