There is a burgeoning literature on the existence of a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, a slough of despondency that as the days become more frigid and fleeting drags many of us down into Bunyan’s allegorical bog. Over the last decade or so, a similar malady has often affected Dulwich Hamlet men’s team as the post-Christmas Season Seemingly Always Declines (or SSAD). And so it has proven again, with The Pink and Blues’ fortunes deflating quicker than a Chinese spy balloon with a Sidewinder up its fundament.
Towards the end of 2022, East Dulwich’s Finest were resurgent and flying high in the National Conference South (well just below mid-table). But yet again the early months of 2023 have seen The Hamlet’s prospects straiten somewhat and head down the Year of the Rabbit-hole. “Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end” as Alice might say. The Sons of Edgar Kail aren’t yet in the purgatory of the relegation zone. But they are near enough that stygian dotted line to give The Rabble a serious case of the dithers, the willies and indeed the whim-whams.
And yet precedent gives us succour that with February in the rear-view mirror The Pride of South East London will shake off this winter torpor, make like local boy Peter Frampton, and come alive. March sees us welcome St Albans (4th), Havant and Waterlooville (11th) and Oxford City (25th) to Champion Hill. So make sure you are there to witness the most inevitable and pleasing of revivifications.
Meanwhile, the women of Dulwich Hamlet are showing how it should be done by chilling out in the middle of the London and South East Regional Women’s Premier Division. Word is spreading that there are few if any better ways of spending a Sunday afternoon than watching The Daughters of Edgar Kail spice it up against the opposition. March sees the women play the pride of the A110 (Enfield Ladies) on Sunday the 19th. So why not head down to The Hill with the rest of The Pepper Army and have yourself some of that.
Finally it behooves us all at this time of the year to consider how we’re going to get ahead of the in-crowd and kit ourselves out in the local livery for the warmer months of this year. Well The Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust webpage at https://dhst.org.uk or indeed the Megacontainer on matchdays is there to give you the means to sate all your merchandise needs. Do you have an Adult DHFC Crest Pale Pink Pique Polo Shirt in Extra Large? You do, oh that’s wonderful!
Upwards The Hamlet