Page 28 - Yate Town FC v Dover Athletic FA Cup 191021

that secured Bromley’s play-off spot after beating Notts County 1-0 last month. The
Lambeth-born frontman is no stranger to Hess, having spent three years with the Spitfires,
including when our manager was there.
Williamson joined Eastleigh from Cambridge United in August 2017 and scored 19 times in
102 appearances. The 32-year-old arrives at Crabble with a wealth of Football League
experience. Apart from his time with Cambridge United, he’s also played for AFC
Bournemouth, Port Vale, and Gillingham.
Aaron Cosgrave
Forward who arrived on a season-long loan from League One side AFC Wimbledon in July.
The 21-year-old, who came through the academy ranks at Colchester United after being at
West Ham United as a schoolboy, will wear the number 11 shirt for manager Andy
Hessenthaler’s side this season. He joined the Dons earlier this month after impressing their
manager Mark Robinson while spending time with his club at the end of last season.
Travis Gregory
Winger who earned himself a contract after impressing in pre-season ahead of the 2020/21
season. He spent time in the youth ranks at both Chelsea and Rangers.
Gregory, 25, has spent the past two seasons with Leatherhead, scoring six goals in 28
appearances last season.
Matthew Bentley
Forward who joined us in September 2021. He made his debut as a second-half substitute
in the 0-0 draw with Solihull Moors in the National League clash at Crabble. The 23-year-old
Londoner originally trained with Andy Hessenthaler’s squad before the national lockdown
last year before heading back to university in the United States. He played for the Missouri
State Bears and then Minnesota United.

MANAGER – ANDY HESSENTHALER
Whites’ Gaffer was appointed manager for a second time in
October 2018. A combative midfielder on the pitch for the likes of
Watford, Gillingham and Barnet, Hessenthaler had great success
as Athletic’s player-manager between 2007 and 2010, winning
back-to-back promotions to take Dover from the Ryman South
division to the Conference South. After ending the 2009/10 season
as runners-up in the second tier of non-league, Hessenthaler
returned to Gillingham as boss for two campaigns, steering the
Gills to two consecutive eighth-place finishes in League Two. A
third stint at Gillingham followed two seasons later, this time as
assistant manager, a similar role he held at Leyton Orient the
following year, before being made manager at Brisbane Road in
2016. Dismissed by the O’s later that same year, it wasn’t long
before Hessenthaler was back in football, joining Eastleigh before
the start of the 2017/18 season, initially as assistant manager,
before taking over from Richard Hill as boss just eight months after
joining the club. Hessenthaler left the Spitfires 15 games into the
2018/19 campaign to return to Dover following the departure of
Chris Kinnear.
COACH – NICKY SOUTHALL
Returned to Crabble with Andy Hessenthaler as first-team coach, in October 2018. Southall, who
featured 31 times for Dover as a player between 2008 and 2010, played in the top four divisions of the
English football pyramid, including 20 appearances in the Premier League for Bolton Wanderers. The
Middlesbrough-born midfielder started his professional career with Hartlepool United and scored 24
goals in 138 appearances for the County Durham side, before transferring to Grimsby Town for £40,000.
After 55 appearances for the Mariners, he moved south to Gillingham and made over 200 appearances
for the Kent side, before returning north to sign for Premier League club Bolton. Southall returned to
Gillingham in 2002 for a second spell and signed for Nottingham Forest three seasons later. A third stint
with the Gills came next before the midfielder was signed by former teammate, Hessenthaler. Southall
took the reins as player/boss of Whitstable Town in 2012 and was then assistant manager at Maidstone
United.