Eastbourne Borough aim for day to savour against Dover -on and off pitch

The Whites, freshly relegated from the National League have made only a modest start this season – which began with a forgettable visit to Worthing’s Woodside Road on August 6th. A hard core of about 20 Dover supporters – some of them actually banned from Dover home games – had, by all accounts, arrived on that day intent on causing trouble.

Worthing were taken aback, and have responded by tightening security for subsequent home games, including the Bank Holiday derby.

Kealy denies Borough and keeps Worthing unbeaten.

Meanwhile, with pro-active intelligence between the clubs, the Sports will be on alert at the SO Legal Community Stadium. “We are in close contact with our friends at Dover Athletic, who will also be sending some of their own stewarding staff on Saturday,” confirmed CEO John Bonar. “Nobody identified as a potential nuisance will be admitted to the ground. They would simply have a wasted journey.

Borough at Worthing – Nick and Lydia Redman’s pictures.

“We enjoy a fantastic atmosphere at our home games, with everybody enjoying the occasion. It’s in the very best tradition of non-league that – as we often put it – we always have rivals but never have enemies. We’re a big football family at the Lane and Saturday will be no different!”

The match at Worthing – which came two days after the Sports had won 2-1 at home to Dulwich Hamlet – itself was keenly contested, ending in a 1-1 draw.

Manager Danny Bloor’s focus is on the field, and not off it. The Kent club have been in freefall for the past two seasons, suffering relegation and points deductions, but they are bouncing back now.

“We’ve had Dover watched, of course, and we know they are a big strong physical side. They’ve had a couple of defeats, against Havant and Ebbsfleet who are two of the current front-runners, but Dover also chalked up a very fine 4-0 victory over Hemel Hempstead last weekend.

"We will probably be missing Charlie Walker and Brad Barry with injuries, as well as Greg Luer who is on the mend but not yet ready. Greg is a real miss. It’s like Manchester City missing Haaland or Liverpool without Salah! We had earmarked a different role for Greg this season, and he was superb at Oxford City, and then for sixty minutes of the Bath City game – which didn’t end well without him!

“Elliott Romain is due for a three-match suspension, after his red card at Worthing, but that does not begin until after the Dover game. But we will have prepared thoroughly and will be totally ready for 3.00pm on Saturday.”

The SO Legal Stadium has witnessed some cracking games already this season. Saturday could be another one – for the right reasons.