*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
George Dover
Appearances: 29 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 13th May 1929
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1952/53
Season of last appearance: 1953/54
Also played for: Wisbech Town, Tottenham Hotspur (0), Brighton & Hove Albion (0) and Betteshanger Colliery Welfare
Tough-tackling player born in Dublin who played his first football in Ireland before moving to England as a youth.
Towards the end of World War II George joined the RAF and he spent some time playing for Wisbech as a guest before being posted to the Far East.
During his tour of duty George played football for the RAF and whilst in Singapore he spent two seasons as captain of the Combined Services football team that included army, navy and air force personnel.
After being demobbed George had the option of signing for either Tottenham or West Ham but opted to join Spurs. However with the likes of Bill Nicholson and Alf Ramsey on the Londoner's books George couldn't break into the first team and he was loaned out to Brighton.
In November 1952 he left the Seagulls and signed for Margate as a full-time professional. George made his debut in a 5-1 win over Faversham at Hartsdown Park on 15.11.52 and went on to make 24 appearances during the 1952/53 season. On 10.1.53 he caused an outrage by being sent off in a game against Ashford at Hartsdown Park. In a brutal match that featured around 75 free-kicks George fouled ex-Margate player Ted Wells and received his marching orders. At the end of the game Wells was surrounded by angry Margate fans and the police had to intervene to allow him to get to the dressing rooms.
The incident led to an FA hearing at Chatham and George received a 14 day suspension after two hours of debate. To underline how rare and serious sendings off were at the time George was accompanied at the hearing by manager Almer Hall, club secretary Alan Kay and goalkeeper Peter Peters who was there as a witness. In its end of season round-up the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that George had "played some lion-hearted games" during the campaign.
The 1953/54 season was one to forget for George as he only made five first team appearances, mainly due to suffering a cartilage injury in October 1953. He was transfer-listed at the end of the campaign and joined Betteshanger prior to the start of the 1954/55 season. However George was still hampered by his knee injury and in October 1954 he was released.
After leaving Betteshanger George retired aged just 25 and started working for a clothing business owned by one of Margate's directors. George stayed in that line of work for the rest of his working life.
In later years he moved to Norfolk where his wife hailed from and he was still living there in 2011 aged 82. At that time George suffered from arthritis in his knee which may have been the result of the cartilage injury he picked up whilst playing for Margate.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1952/53 (MFC) |
24 (43) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (11TH OF 17) |
PR |
2R |
RU |
JW |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1953/54 (MFC) |
5 (40) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 16) |
2QR |
1R |
W |
1R |
|