Weekend double-header helps bring feel-good factor back to Dover Athletic, says coach Mike Sandmann, as legends Clive Walker and Ricky Miller make Crabble returns

Mike Sandmann reckons a busy weekend for Dover was a step in the right direction towards bringing the feel-good factor back to the club.

Whites continued their pre-season preparations last Saturday, marking their first home friendly with a 5-1 win against Ramsgate through goals from Luke Baptiste (2), George Nikaj, Archie Hatcher and the newly-signed Eniye Amgbaduba.

The next day, popular Athletic faces returned as boss Jake Leberl’s “legends and staff” side took on Warren Dyer’s “supporters squad” at Crabble - the former 11-1 victors - before many stayed to watch England’s Euro 2024 final 2-1 defeat to Spain.

“It was a really positive weekend,” said coach Sandmann, part of Leberl’s backroom staff, who returned to old club Margate to oversee a 2-1 victory as a trialist and Jeremiah Gyebi netted last Tuesday.

“We had another pre-season game on Saturday. It was our first one at home.

“Some of the supporters got to have a look at some of the new boys for the first time. Then, Sunday was a really nice event.

“After the match, we watched the England game. It’s a little bit disappointing that the result didn’t top it off for us.

“But we want to get that feel-good factor back at the club and Sunday was a positive step in the right direction.”

Clive Walker, who had three spells in charge of Dover, joined Leberl in the dugout for Sunday’s game.

Sandmann said: “Having Clive there was amazing.

“I’ve known Clive since I was a little boy. He’s such an iconic figure, not just at Dover, but in non-league football in general.

"He’s a total football person - as is his wife, Wendy.

“The supporters were really good. It was good fun, played in the right spirit and it was nice to see so many people supporting it.

"We’re very aware that