Thank fuck it is finally over.

This has felt like one of the longest pre-seasons in many a year and I cannot wait for the real stuff to start, beginning with Dorchester at home next Saturday. It has probably dragged on longer than usual as I've taken in all 8 friendlies, my first ever 100% attendance rate  for pre-season. And lets face it, after you've taken in a couple of them, seen how the decent the new players look, renewed acquintances with old chums and gotten back into the habit you just want the proper season to get underway.

I've had a lot of people ask me when my blog for the Arsenal game would be up and well, I've calmed down and mellowed a quite a bit since I vocally started calling all the Arsenal-shirt-wearing-tossers around me 'Cunts' last Wednesday.  I regret being so openly angry but lets face it, these type of people supporting another club who come 100+ miles away from our own town and were visiting our own ground for the first time ever are indeed wankers and they make me fucking sick. Talk about rubbing it in, and kicking us firmly in the balls right infront of us.

I expected to see quite a few Arsenal shirts but I was genuinely shocked when Russell dropped us off at the car park. The place was swarming with straight-out-of-the-packet Arsenal shirts, from people who live within walking distance from the ground. The Centre Spot was jam-packed and took ages to get served, purely because of the hordes of Arsenwipe fans gathered by the bar. Grrrrrrr. I felt ashamed.

I've never understood why people need to support Premier League teams when they have absolutely no connection to them. I know this may upset a few people  but I've never been able to understand the concept of supporting two teams. And Fish/Whoever else, before you start to label me as a hypocrite I no longer support Liverpool. They were my fixation before I started going up to Crabble and once I started to proudly see myself as a Dover Athletic fan I ditched them and could no longer give a shit about the club (although I would rather they finished about Manchesteryounited and Chelscum). Its the same with Russell. When he first started going up to Crabble in 2008 as an outsider introduced to DAFC by a college mate, he rapidly became infatuated with the club and quickly ditched his Man United allegience, which he would now view as cringeworthy. Good on him. People like me and Russell did not grew up with a big football heritage though; his Dad is a rugby fan whilst my father is a Plymouth Argyle fan but did not force me into following them. I like Plymouth Argyle and always look out for their results, but as someone who has only been to two of their games and barely know any of their players, I don't and can't consider myself as a supporter.

I may be ignorant without having had a big football background but it frustrates me that there are'nt more people that support their local football club. We're a great football club and a real credit to the town, but there are too many citizens of Dover that are prepared to shit on all things Dover. I've never understood the self-deprecating mentality of the Dover population. I know that some areas of the town are run-down, there are too many immigrants and the council have neglected the place for far too long but some parts of Dover are great. The football club being one big example of that. I may live in Herne Bay but I fully and proudly consider myself as a Dovorian. I can't wait for the day I live here.
So that is why it angers me that me there are so many people out there who love football but don't give a flying one about our club.  Its no wonder why there is only one football league club in Kent, as so many people venture for their football fix outside the county. And these Arsenal supporting citizens epitomize this. They stick their noses up at us and one fan on facebook labelled us as having a "small-town mentality" whilst genuinely non-trollingly asked me "You can't honestly tell me you only support Dover Athletic?". What an absolute tosser you are Paul Padfield, whoever the fuck you are. Enjoy your prawn sandwiches and mexican waves at the Emirates mate.

While I can't relate to and take the piss out of two club wankers like Phil Smith and Reg Harris, I respect them for being the genuine Dover fans that they are. Its just that the majority of newcomers that turned up at Crabble for the friendly on Wednesday will not return again unless another Arsenal reserve side come to town again. Thanks for the money though chaps!

As the football itself, they were really, really fucking good. They were so quick at closing down the ball that we had absolutely no time to think or pause in possession. Benik Afobe, who I had seen  play at the Emirates only 3 days previously, opened up the scoring as he blasted a shot from outside the box. Young English prospect Henri Lansbury, who has had various successful loan spells at Championship clubs, scored the second midway through the first half with a deflected shot that kept Hook stranded. Ex Gillingscum youngster Luke Freeman scored the third right before half time which I know little about, as I had fucked off to the bar before half-time in a bad mood, thus missing it. Steve Watt also unfortunately went off in the first time with a suspected dislocating shoulder, so a second half-riot from the Arse appeared to be on the cards.

But it was'nt. We 'drew' the second half 0-0 and probably had the better share of the chances. It was a shame we had come up against Vito Mannone as he collected every cross in front of him and looked unbeatable. We defended valliantly and looked strong going forward, we were just unlucky not to get a goal.  My mates' brother Tom Axford also came on as a subsitute for Phil Starkey and although he understandedly appeared very nervous, he also gave a really good account of himself with some nice passes. Overall a very nice workout for the Whites and gave us a real test, a complete contrast to the pub side we faced 4 days earlier!

Saturday brought a journey to The New Lodge, home of Billericay Town FC. The same ground had been the host of where I had been to my second ever DAFC away game, a 0-0 draw against Chelmsford on 1/1/04 who had been groundsharing there at the time. My third visit here was nothing really to write home about, a comfortable 3-0 win against the Ryman Premier side without really getting out of second gear. Champ had driven me, Russell and Fish to the game but nothing of note really happened, other than us listening to crap music and getting lost trying to find the ground. We spent the first 20odd minutes of the game blowing up and messing around with balloons that I had bought for Poundland a day prior. (You need something to entertain yourself in pre-season games as they're very dull.)

A Donovan Simmonds header, then a cool Luke I'anson finish after a great back  heel from Bricknell put us 2-0 before half-time, before Billy himself converted a penalty early in the second half after their gobby number 3 scythed down Harry Baker. We didn't play exceptionally well and Bill or Ricky had their share of chances but overall we saw the game out comfortably on their dreadful pitch (luckily we didn't pick up any injuries).  My only concerns ahead of our opener at Crabble next Saturday are again Ross Kitteridge, who had another shaky display between the sticks. Indications from Lee Hook training at half-time suggest that Ross will be a number 1, which would be unfair on Hook who has not put a foot (or a hand) wrong in our pre-season campaign. 'Georgous George' Purcell also needs to stop drifting out so wide and become more of a penalty area predator. But that can be worked on, he's a very good player. Overall we should be too strong for Dorchester next Saturday, a side widely tipped to struggle again. We also haven't lost on the opening day in 9 seasons so I would be very suprised if I curse that record here. Bring it on, bring it on, tell your friends to  come along. I can't wait.

Anyway, I'll be up with a full pre-season review soon so stay tuned and as always thanks for reading, it means the world to me! <3