Dover Athletic Academy manager Mike Sandmann reflects on National League under-19 Alliance South title success

Mike Sandmann insists Dover’s Academy continue to punch well above their weight after celebrating their latest success.

Whites’ under-19s claimed the National League Alliance South title with a final-day 4-1 win over Woking last Friday.

They finished two points ahead of second-placed Dartford.

Academy boss Sandmann said: “It’s a really tough league, a really competitive league.

“If you look at the league table, there’s some good sides up there. You have Bromley, Welling and Eastleigh.

“In our geographical location, I think it’s more difficult for us. If you look at Bromley, Dartford and Welling, there’s probably about 10 Step 2 or higher teams in a 20-mile radius.

“For us, there’s only one so these boys do exceptionally well.

“It shows there’s a lot of talented players at the football club and in Kent. I certainly think we have punched well above our weight as an Academy.”

Goals from Tim Marapara, Mohammed Ali, Jake Lumby and an own goal secured Dover the trophy against Woking, two days after a 5-1 win over Bromley Reds.

League glory came after they reached the FA Youth Cup Third Round this term, too, narrowly losing out to Premier League Brighton.

Sandmann said: “They had two games last week against Bromley and Woking.

“Out of those games, they needed four points - and got six! This was a really good year.

“Obviously, they had a good FA Youth Cup run and Freddie Oliver is a regular in the first team.

“To top it off with being best in National League South is a fantastic achievement for the football club.”

It’s around a decade since defender Sean Raggett, now at League 1 Portsmouth, was the first to come through Whites’ Academy at Faversham’s Abbey School.

“We keep going from strength to strength,” Sandmann said.

“If I’m