Two key players jump ship from Dover

Over the last 24 hours it has been announced that Dover Athletic duo Manny Parry and Ryan Bird have found themselves new clubs for next Season.

First up, Boreham Wood Football Club have clinched the signature of defender Manny Parry.

The 24-year-old central defender joins the Wood on the back of a very successful campaign personally, after being named in the Non-League Paper’s Team of the Season.

Parry arrived at Dover from Braintree Town in June 2017, having made 23 appearances for the recently promoted Essex side.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Parry began his career with Millwall and Stoke City, before departing for then National League South side Maidstone United, whom he helped to promotion.

On joining the Wood, Parry commented: “I am delighted to sign for Boreham Wood, especially with how they did last season and after seeing the direction the club is going in – It looks like a great team going forward and I am delighted to be a part of it.

“As a player I think that I am good in both boxes, I’m good in the air, strong, and I think that I’m good at defending ‘one versus one’. Obviously, it is going to be difficult this year to replicate last season, because everyone will be looking at Boreham Wood as one of last season’s Promotion Finalists.

“For me though, I am just going to try to do as well as I can, as I know that the club will want to be up there challenging again.”

On capturing the big defender, Luke Garrard said: “I have spoken with Manny at length, and for me, he ticks a lot of my boxes – he is powerful, athletic, very, very strong and he scores goals from defence.

“He plays in a position I want him to make his own this year and he is comfortable with coming into our shape. I think that he could be a really, really big signing. He is coming into a settled group of players who are progressive, and he wants to be a part of that.

“He was named in the Non-League Paper’s ‘Team of the Year’ this season and that is a massive achievement. It shows how highly he is regarded at this level and I think that he has great quality.

“Just talking to him, I can see that there is a focus to him and a belief as to where he sees his future and hopefully we can all progress together.”

Ryan Bird turned down the offer of a new contract by Dover and days later has signed for Maidenhead United.

6 foot 4 inch Slough-born Bird was top scorer for Dover Athletic last season with 20 goals and he arrives at York Road with plenty of experience behind him.
Starting out in local football, his goalscoring exploits with Burnham earned Bird a big move to EFL outfit Portsmouth. Whilst at Fratton Park, he enjoyed loan spells with Havant & Waterlooville and Cambridge United whom he later joined on a full time basis. Bird enjoyed further tastes of EFL football at Yeovil Town and Newport County in between a spell at National Leaguers Eastleigh.

Bird arrives at York Road after a prolific season with Dover including a goal against Maidenhead in a 1-1 draw at Crabble last October.

It will be interesting to see who Dover can get to replace these key players.

For more from Dover Athletic please visit their website here