Who are we?

DAVE MARCONI

Not related to the Marconi who invented the radio, Dave likes to drink Newcastle Brown Ale. Dave likes to kick the football with his left foot. Dave likes to tell Skins exactly where to stick it. Dave likes his dad who played football very well but now prefers to ride his big motorbike. Dave likes his wife and his son very much. Dave likes but Dave doesn't always get...

JUSTIN 'THE LORD' LUCHFORD

Last seen skipping off into the sunset with a tall blonde and handsome man...

RORY 'LEGGY BLONDE' MARTIN

Just take one look at those lovely long legs...Now take another look!
Seen here in his natural environment 'der biergarten', Rory is on his way to Legend status with his 'got to be seen to be beleived' skills. From his hunting ground in the left back position with the ball at his feet he will turn and turn again advancing attackers. Wihout the ball he his a danger to all within the reach of those long legs, sledge hammer knees, sharp elbows and magnificent manhood.
Rory had his promising athletics and long distance cycling career sadly cut short due to an unfortunate incident involving a 'scandal' in the late 90's. A laboratory official was quoted as saying 'Mr Martin's test results proved that there were no performance enhancing substances in the sample provided, but the distilled residue really does smoke quite nicely, anyone fancy a curry?''


JASON OLIVER


Jason 'J' Oliver - Anchorman of the squad. At home in the centre of the park as either a midfield general or solid centre back and plays with authority and experience. J is a great communicator and coaches less experienced players throughout the game. Off the pitch J is a devoted family man and entrepreneur whose high local profile and dipomatic skills may one day see him enter the world of politics. Unbeknown to many there is also an artist in Jason, he has a keen eye for beauty and has amassed a collection of artworks over time. If he ever asks you back to admire his etchings be sure to accept or prepare to miss out on a magnificent display...


BEN LEBERL
 
 Club Captain and another upon who the term ‘Hope Inn Legend’ can be easily bestowed. Winner of Player of the Year and Defender of the year on a regular basis and proudly lifted the Tom Donnelly Cup for the first time in 1997 and again 10 years later in 2007. Never afraid to voice his opinion like a latter day Alf Garnett and will always offer a word of(dis)encouragement when he feels it is required. Has developed into one of the best centre backs in the Dover League during his time at the club although when he scores the initial delight from his team mates is always quickly followed by a strange sense of regret knowing that the goal will be recounted to them on numerous occasions in the finest detail.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 
DANNY SKINNER
 
Danny Skinner or “Skins” to his mates is another player who has gained legend status in the deal league but has decided to see if he can really cut the mustard in the Dover premier. A key member of the former Victoria Park team along with John Muir and Dave Marconi, Danny is a goalkeeper with handling skills similar to our England  NO 1, and if it was not for injury as a youth he could have been a contender for the 2006 world cup. However their loss is the Hopes gain and his acquisition is hoped will bring some stability to this promising squad.

 
 
 
BRIAN FIELDING
 
Victorious member of the 1997 & 2007 Tom Donnelly Cup winning sides. Bri' has established himself as a solid central midfield player His mild-mannered guy image off the pitch disgarded as soon as he crosses the white lines - strong in the challenge-he likes to start a melee and walk away while everyone else does the fighting and arguing for him.
  
 
 
DAVE FIELDING
 
  
 
 
STEVE SMITH



Hope Inn Legend and all time top goalscorer who has recently made the transition from centre forward to centre back (a la Dion Dublin) only to return to his favoured position up front (a la Paul Warhurst) in the recent heartbreaking Cup defeat against the Gate. Nobody loves the club more than Steve and he has recently addressed the club’s lack of youth policy by creating a son Owen. Opened the scoring in the 1997 final from a ridiculously huge puddle in the penalty spot at
Crabble.

JAE DONNELLY


This midfield warrior is hard,double hard and then some. When he's up for it(on the pitch) there's know one better and indeed harder than Jae. Never shy of a 110 % two footed tackle, this fella knows how to get stuck in.
This player is so notorious, quality seasoned professionals have actually refused to play against him. Players like Roy Keane,Keith Weller, Robbie Savage,Patrick Vieira,Nobby Stiles, Bryan Robson, Bobby Robson, Mickey Walsh,Graham Souness,Vinnie Jones to name but 10. I could go up to 11 Spinal Tap style but I won't there's just not enough time or space, which is what Jae creates on the field with his quick thinking and precise passing and lovely haircuts..style and space.He always looks hot, the girls go mad for it. He likes to rise to the occasion. Everybody involved appreciates this!!
On and off Jae has been playing for The Hope Inn since the early 90's and won the Player Of The Year award in 2000 and was commended for 'pissing on team mates in showers' when ever he thought it was the right thing to do. Jae used to be known as Jay or Jason or Bell End.Jae decided that Jae would be much better than Jay and people respected him for this and always called Jae Jae and never Jay.I admit it was hard at first to remember to call Jae Jae and not Jay.We think nothing of it now and everyone just calls Jae Jae or Bell End.
Sadly Jae was plagued with an imaginary friend called Samson which many believe hampered his chances of FIFA world player of the year 94.His form plummeted and he knew that he had a massive problem. Past girlfriends have been known to become very jealous of Samson due to Jae shouting in his sleep "Samson! Samson! Samson! are you there?" At first he didn't believe it until one day he woke up with two girls beside him and they both confirmed that they had heard this strange cry out to this imaginary friend. He knew that Samson would ruin not only his career, but also his sex life if it wasn't dealt with quickly. Jae has learned how to deal with this problem and has come through the other side a stronger person.Sworn to secrecy all we know from Jae is that Atom Ant was very much involved in this miraculous turn around in Jaes life path. Back for 2005 its good to have a Samsonless Jae Donnelly on board, up for it and enjoying his football again.........Still a Dinner Lady though.

ED 'BONFIRE HEAD' WELLARD


Last night I dreamt that Wallets Court played Liverpool in a pre season friendly at Anfield.
There was a lot of excitement about touching the Welcome to Anfield sign on way out.
We had Henrik Larson playing up front for us. I chipped a through ball to him, sending him clean through on goal. One on one with keeper, he crashed it against post but netted the rebound.


TOM S'BONELO ALGERNON DODD


Self-proclaimed Samurai warrior & ladies-man. The opposition always find this man a handful, his mesmeric skills and pace often leave grown men in tears.


 DAVE 'BLADES' BLADON


Blades is a revelation! By all rights should be playing at a far higher level. Always cool under pressure and has stamped his mark on the centre back role in recent matches. His strengths are his dogged determination and his 'last man standing attitude' particulary on a night out in Deal!


DAN KERR


First of the 'Next Generation' in this squad - son of Rory 'crazy-legs' Martin this young man made his up-front debut in a home fixture against a strong Gate side. Helped secure a well-deserved draw. We look forward to seeing more of Dan in the future...


GAVIN OAKLEY



Oakley - International Adventurer and Right Back. Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on 14th September 07 - nearly died of Altitude Sickness (no really he nearly did!). Running across Holland in April (Because it's flat and he's not going up anything bigger than Bay Hill for a while). Planning to take part in the tougest foot race on Earth in 2010 - 150 miles across the Sahara in 6 days. Obviously going through some kind of mid-life crisis. Plays every game like it's the last game he'll ever play (because soon it will be!). See more of his exploits on
http://www.gavinoakley.com/.


JON MUIR



Jon 'Rocko' Muir is really quite nice, he married a lovely lady from 'Up-North' and has a penchant for Quiggin's Kendal Mint Cake (also from 'Up-North'). All in all a nice bloke, smells of mint a bit and is always willing to drink his friends 'under the table'. Always plays football with skill and confidence unless he's playing without it on that particular day, which doesn't really matter because he's such a nice bloke...