The Official website of Dover Athletic Football Club

| League Sponsor:

The Official website of Dover Athletic Football Club | DENNIS HAMMOND

The Team

Other Teams

Club Info

Commercial

Links

Dover Athletic is an
FA Community Club

Webteam Blog
The news, views and thoughts of the doverathletic.com webteam, in one little blog

DENNIS HAMMOND

Justin Allen |

05 Sep 07

DENNIS HAMMOND was, without question, the nicest person I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at Dover Athletic.

And, judging by the warm tributes paid to this great person since he lost his brave battle against the terrible Motor Neurone Disease this week, I am not the only person who holds this view.

How could anyone not like this man? His enthusiasm for football and, especially, Dover Athletic was amazing.

Dennis and his much-loved wife Marion were more than just part of the furniture at Dover Athletic, as it was often joked at Crabble. I’d go as far as saying they were Mr and Mrs Dover Athletic.

Quite often, when I used to call the ground to reach somebody, usually it was Dennis who picked up the phone. He was always there and often I’d forget what I was initially calling about because we’d end up chatting for ages about the Whites. He gave so much of his time to the club - because he wanted to help it become successful.

The last time I spoke to Dennis properly was a couple of seasons ago. It was in the boardroom after a game and we were reminiscing about the good old days. Sharing memories of the Chris Kinnear glory days and how close we once came to making the Football League.

From the day Chris took over as manager to the day we shocked non-league football by signing David Leworthy.

You could sense the intense pride in his voice as we looked back. But he wasn’t proud because he was part of that board of directors that took us to the pinnacle of the non-league game. It was because his home-town club had done him and all of us proud. It never occurred to him that he played an integral part of that success.

But that was Dennis down to a tee. He was selfless – always putting others before himself. And, in particular, putting Dover Athletic before himself.

I did not see Dennis during his illness – and he is now at peace from a terrible disease, which I can only hope they find a cure for as soon as possible to prevent further people from suffering.

For me, I am glad not to have seen him that way – because that would have broken my heart.

This morning, I was browsing the home page of our site. My wife Yulia saw the picture of Dennis, and said to me: “He always smiled, didn’t he?”

Yes, he did – and I bet he is still smiling down on all of us now.

God bless Dennis. You will never be forgotten and I, among many others, am grateful for every thing you've done for our club. You've done us all proud.

Back to blog front page |

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or policies of Dover Athletic Football Club Ltd, its board or officials.

Staff Profile

Justin Allen
Editor

Profile:

Has been a Whites fan since he was a kid and covered the club as a journalist when he was sports editor of the East Kent Mercury between 1996 and 1999 Justin now lives in Hove and works on the sportsdesks of The Sun and News of the World. He also is a judge on the Kent Journalist of the Year panel. Brings you the news throughout the week and steers the website operation.

Site by: BaginsMedia