dulwichhamletfc.co.uk dhst.org.uk
April might be the cruellest month. But not when The Hamlet has a cracking date for your diary. We’ll get to that in sprightly fashion, but first here are your fixtures for the month, the last of this league season.
We start on the road, with our Men visiting Cray Valley Paper Mills on Saturday 5th, then Bognor Regis Town on Saturday 12th. Our Women follow suit with a trip to AFC Sudbury on Sunday 13th.
The Men then travel local to Carshalton Athletic on the 21st, Easter Monday. Their league season concludes at home against Chatham Town on Saturday 26th; while the Women finish their campaign at Champion Hill the following day, hosting Real Bedford on Sunday 27th.
Meanwhile keep your eyes peeled on our progress in the remaining cup competitions, the London Senior Cup and the Capital Women’s Cup. At the time of writing, we’re tantalisingly close to the final of one if not both, and a trophy, if not two! Check the club site at dulwichhamletfc.co.uk for fixture news and get up for the Cup(s).
Now to that significant date for your diary. On Saturday 19th Canvey Island visit Champion Hill. That isn’t particularly special in itself – beyond the always pleasing chance to chant ‘you’re a peninsula!’ at the opposition – but what will be special is that this Easter Saturday sees a fundraiser and pre-party for our club’s centenary tour to Altona in Hamburg this July.
One hundred years ago DHFC headed out on an Easter tour to Germany, where one of the games was against Altonaer FC von 1893, founded in the same year as our Hamlet. Fast forward some 90 years and – thanks to a supporter from each side, as well as many others since – there began a lasting and lively friendship between our two great clubs. After four subsequent friendly fixtures in recent years, as well as supporters’ matches and a whole load of fun and games and pyrotechnics, the friendship today is as strong as ever.
The original 1925 game was played on Good Friday so this match takeover on Easter Saturday is mighty close to the centenary and promises to be a brilliant celebratory warm-up for the summer. To help raise funds, we’ve hosted three great quiz nights so far and there’ll be more events coming soon.
And to keep you togged out in the friendliest pink ‘n’ blue gear, the Supporters’ Trust is bringing you a whole new range of Dulwich-Altona Freundschaft merch. Head to dhst.org.uk to check out what’s new, and for more details of the centenary tour itself head to: dulwichhamletfc.co.uk/latest-news/altona-1893. All you need to know for starters is, with gusto, Say Uh- Ah- Al-to-na!
If that isn’t tantalising enough, the Trust has another brilliant shirt for you. Out now, the Hamlet-inspired, Shakey Shirt features Shakespeare and Yorick, and is not only gorgeous but sustainably sourced. It’s a must for your Spring costuming; and – look out for news – you might just get a chance to sport it at a unique event coming up, as plans are afoot for a performance of Hamlet at The Hamlet. The Readiness is all. Up the Hamlet!