A National League South club’s new co-owners have set their sights on the EFL with ambitious plans revealed when talking to the media.
On the 23rd of June, Villares and his wife Debra Tucker, who are from New Jersey in America, became major shareholders of Dorking Wanderers.
The US investor, who acquires a sizeable ownership stake, is looking at getting the club promoted to the EFL within five years.
Dorking’s founder and chairman Marc White, said as per the club website:
“I genuinely feel we have been so lucky to find Frank and Debra. They have a huge love for this game and for this club, and their ambitions, family-first attitude and personal mantra – ‘Why not us’ – are essentially what Dorking Wanderers was built on.
“From the moment I met them I knew these were people we wanted to be a part of our journey. I’d ask every Wanderers fan to give Frank and Debra the warmest of welcomes – these are exciting times for our club and with Frank and Debra alongside us, we’ll realise our ambitions.”
Villares said, as per the club website: “From the moment I first got involved with Dorking Wanderers in 2024, I felt something here I hadn’t found anywhere else. Debra and I looked closely at a number of clubs, and we kept being drawn back to this one – because of the people, the story, and a culture that genuinely matched our own. We’re not here to change what makes this club special. We’re here to back it, build on it, and help take it as far as it can possibly go.
“And we want to bring America with us. There are millions of fans across the States who love this game but have only ever watched it from a distance – Dorking can be the club they call their own, the one they can actually touch, feel and experience as we climb the pyramid together.
“We’re looking forward to meeting Wanderers fans over the months ahead. This is your club, and it’s a privilege for Debra and me to be part of its future.”
He said in another interview, as per GetSurrey: “Our involvement is going to be helping the Dorking-America kind of growth over here.
“This is obviously what we’re going to be most of the time. So we’re scouting a couple of venues to do watch parties, trying to get the fans going a little bit.
“We’re doing a little podcast next week. I think there is an interest, right? You see bars that are packed for Premier League games, so I think there’s an opportunity because while these fans might follow Premier League clubs, they’re never going to get the behind the scenes look there.
“You’re not going to have a conversation with Marcus Rashford after the match. You’re not going to be able to talk to Pep [Guardiola] and get his take on how Man City played.
“We’re looking at whether we could have people watch the game and then FaceTime with Marc at half-time or after the game. Just give them a real taste and a feel for it.
“With this level of sport, you can touch it and feel it a lot more than the higher end of the sport. I definitely think that is something that audiences here might be interested in and could help grow the fan-base.
“I mean, we saw it with Wrexham, although that’s a different level, because obviously it’s got a couple of famous people involved. We’re no Ryan Reynolds or Rob McElhenney but we could definitely bring some fans into the mix.
“Debs is going to start spearheading that a little bit and we’ll take advantage of getting on social media and things like that.
“But other than that, we’ll be pitching in where we can, especially with the commercial side, trying to get a few sponsors in.
“For me, it’s the passion. If I bought a minor league baseball team or a lower level hockey or basketball team in the US, there’s not a big fan-base for it. There’s not a lot of passion for it. It might be something to do on a Friday night or Wednesday night if you got nothing else to do, go take the kids and watch it. But nobody really cares as much if they win, lose, draw, whatever.
“But here, you’re talking about sixth tier football, and I even saw some clubs in the eighth tier, and it’s just the passion the fans have, the community involvement, the way everybody’s into it. It’s like a church. There’s churches on Sunday, but there’s another church on a Saturday. And I was like, that’s what I want to be a part of.
“That’s fun to be a piece of that and to own a piece of that.
“The one and only is getting to the EFL. That’s probably the dream of most non-league teams and I think that’s kind of what we’re talking about.
“I’m not saying ‘let’s get Dorking Wanderers into the Premier League’ because that’s a big stretch, right? That’s a big goal to take a team from a town all the way to that level.
“But to get to the EFL is definitely a very doable goal. I don’t think there’s a time frame on it, but I’m very big on vision boards. So I’ve got a picture of us holding the trophy at Wembley and all of us celebrating at Wembley, our promotion to the EFL. I think the year on it, which was just coincidence, is 2031. So I don’t like to put any pressure on Marc, but that’s what Chat GPT drew up. So I can’t help it.
“I think it’s doable. But, you know, listen, we’ve got to get to the National League first.”
Social media users react as the National League South club’s new co-owners set their sights on the EFL with ambitious plans…
Eric Asquith: Not only is Dorking Football Club well respected in grass roots football but Dorking itself is the jewel in the crown and where else would you want to watch your football? Well done Marc and now Frank and Debra for sharing the foresight a few of us have had with regards to the future and have suffered the ups and downs literally!!!!! Obviously there will be turbulent times along the way such as ground capacity as we go up the leagues but I am sure that has already been thought of so lets all get behind the club and owners in the early years and hitch a ride on the rainbow!!!!
Tim Knightley: Looks like it could be another exciting chapter in our little Towns history.. Welcome Frank and Debbie!
Adam Richardson: The new Wrexham
Chris Turner: Great news, welcome to the club.
Anthony Birch: Look forward to seeing what the future holds
Steve Chandler: Welcome to The Wanderers, look forward to hearing and seeing your plans both on and off the pitch , let’s make this a key moment in the Clubs history
Terry Dunn: Welcome to Dwfc 🔴⚪️ army to you both. You won’t get involved with a club like us. See you on the bank when you’re over. We are as one . All the staff from cleaner to owners sponsors management players and supporters. Dwfc 🔴⚪️ army .
Paul Blundell: Good luck Dorking and your team of directors. Marc has always been a breath of fresh air and as an Aldershot supporter I amongst many have always enjoyed watching their set up.
Libby Oliver: Great news and exciting for all 🤩xx
Phil Somerville: Why not. Good luck guys, fantastic ⚽️❤️👍
