With the structure for the National League South confirmed, we take a look at the six new teams joining us at Step Two for the 2025/26 campaign.
We continue with a look at a newly promoted team, with Dover Athletic making an instant return to the National League South after winning the Isthmian League Premier Play-Off Final.
2024/25
Having ended 2023/24 at the foot of the National League South standings, the Whites knew they had to rebuild going into the new season. Fourteen points from their first eight outings had them amongst the play-offs places.
Jake Leberl’s side then led the way by seven points after Boxing Day, and looked the team to beat at the top of the table. However, by the start of February they had slipped up – winning just seven points and losing four games at the start of 2025.
Dover eventually fell out of the title race altogether, and needed a 3-1 victory at Chichester City on the final day of the season to secure a top five finish.
Alfie Matthews then scored a brace in extra time to beat Billericay Town – who missed out on the title by one goal – in the semi-finals, before Ruben Soares Junior’s penalty and Matthews’ late effort saw the Whites beat Dartford in the Final, 2-0 in front of a 3,805 strong crowd at Princes Park.
The Manager
Jake Leberl rejoined the Whites as Assistant Manager back in November 2023 and took the reigns early in December following the departure of Mitch Brundle.
Leberl, a utility man who featured in defence and midfield during his playing days, had returned to the club, having been Assistant Manager for five years between 2013 and 2018. He was Caretaker Manager of the Whites following the sacking of Chris Kinnear during the 18/19 season.
The Whites boss had two spells at The Crabble as a player, as well as featuring for Dagenham & Redbridge and AFC Wimbledon.
Following the Play-Off Final win, Leberl had to be cautious about the club’s chances back at Step Two.
He said: “Of course we want to go up, but realistically the club’s not ready to go up just yet.
“The club’s really not ready to go up. We haven’t even thought about planning for next year. We thought we’d be in this league (Isthmian Premier). We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.”
The Stadium
Dover Athletic’s home ground since the club’s foundation has been the Crabble Athletic Ground, which was also the home of the former Dover club. The stadium forms part of a larger council-owned complex, and the earlier Dover club originally shared the lower pitch with a rugby club, but moved to the upper pitch in the 1950s, adding a grandstand in 1951, followed soon after by terracing and floodlights.
Dover Athletic continued to make improvements to the ground, although not in time to allow the club to take its place in the Football Conference in 1990. Subsequently, new turnstiles were installed and two new terraces and a second grandstand added. These improvements meant that the club was able to gain promotion after its second Southern League title in 1993. The stadium’s modern capacity is 5,745.
The stadium had further development in 2016, when a new family stand was built.
Head-to-Head
There have been three draws in the six league games between the two sides, including 1-1 draws home and away in 2023/24. Zak Emmerson was on target as Borough earned a point at The Crabble, before Jack Clarke’s deflected effort saw Adam Murray’s side claim a share of the spoils at Priory Lane in March 2024.
The Sports’ sole win over the Whites came in September 2022, where a Jake Hutchinson brace was enough to seal a 3-1 win at Priory Lane.
