By Matt Badcock
Mitch Walker rejected a move to the Football League to stay with Dover Athletic – and the keeper says the Whites are aiming high again.
The 26-year-old, considered one of Non-League's best stoppers, has signed a one-year deal for a seventh season at Crabble.
It is on the back of one of his best seasons that saw 18 clean sheets and the supporters' player of the year award.
Walker had interest in the summer and had talks with League Two Bury but decided the move wasn't right when he considered his family and work commitments.
“The reason I've been with Dover for so long is because I enjoy my football down there,” Walker told The NLP. “It's a good club. I won't lie, I did have offers in the summer.
“There was one from Bury I had to really give some thought to. I went up and spoke to them last week and we were close to getting something sorted but it had to 100 per cent right for me to move to the north-west of England being from the south-east and unfortunately it just wasn't right.
“But I'm certainly looking forward to the new year with Dover and cracking on. The thing I enjoy is it's a very well run club, very ambitious, and every year we seem to be at the top end of the table. There's lots of teams who, every single year, would love to be in our position and I'm hoping to have more of the same this year.”
Walker, a former regular in Paul Fairclough's England C side, has featured in the Football League with Brighton & Hove Albion and says he wants to play there again in the future – the better if it's with Dover.
“My gut was telling me to stay at Dover and, touch wood, my gut has normally been right and has looked after me in my life so I thought I wouldn't go against it,” he added.
Fresh faces
“I'm still very ambitious and I hope I do play in the Football League again in the near future. It's something I want to do and when I look back when I've retired I'd like to be able to say I had a really good run in the Football League.
“But this wasn't right and if I can be part of the Dover team that makes the jump into the Football League, then great. I don't think you'd find a much better achievement in the south east of England.”
Kinnear's side missed out on a place in last season's play-offs on goal difference and Walker says breaking back into the mix has to be the target.
“I think most teams in the National League are aiming for promotion so we all know how difficult it is because only one team goes up automatically,” Walker said.
“But if you do get yourselves in the play-offs, I always believe you have a very good chance of getting promoted whether you come second or seventh. Dover's ambition again this year is to obviously be pushing.
“Out of the four years the club has had in the league we've finished eighth, seventh, sixth and fifth – a fourth, third, second or first would do nicely this year! But we know how difficult it will be.”
As ever, Dover have had to contend with players moving on. Mitch Pinnock has joined League One side AFC Wimbledon, while Ryan Bird has signed for Maidenhead United and Boreham Wood have snapped up defenders Manny Parry and Femi Ilesanmi.
Striker Inih Effiong has arrived, while Kadell Daniel is staying and the club have also secured the permanent signature of defender Kevin Lokko from Stevenage following a loan spell at the end of last season.
And Walker says Kinnear has all the know-how when it comes to assembling the right squad.
“He's been managing longer than I've been alive!” Walker said. “Every single year he puts a very competitive squad together and I'm sure this year will be no different.
“I wouldn't say it's a challenge no other club in our league, or across the leagues, face. It's a common thing most years in clubs that people leave and you have to have a reshuffle. That's part of football. Sometimes bringing in fresh faces can brighten the place up.”
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper which is available every Sunday and Monday
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