In mid-May, the skies over west London were pink ‘n’ blue, as Dulwich Hamlet Women reached their cup final. Having seen off London Bees, Enfield Town, and Tottenham Hotspur academy in the previous rounds of the Capital Women’s Cup, the season finale saw a trip to Uxbridge FC to face no less than Arsenal academy in the final.
On a balmy night out west, hundreds of Hamlet fans made their merry way along the Elizabeth Line to see Dulwich dig deep to compete with the big guns. There was nothing between the teams after an hour played, thanks particularly to fine goalkeeping by Saskia Reeves Priestley, who was Player of the Match, and the hope remained as our Hamlet kept a foot in the game until deep into added time. In the end, Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners, but it was a performance and a season of which DHFC can be proud.
It wasn’t the result we hoped for in Ryan Dempsey’s last match as manager. But in over five great years at the club, during which Ryan led the DHFCW first team to two cup finals and that momentous league title and promotion to the National League last season, Hamlet history has been made.
Beyond the cup final, our Women’s first team finished their first season in the National League in eighth place. Our Men secured survival with a game to spare and finished eighteenth. While our Women’s reserves completed the campaign with an impressive 13-game unbeaten run (undefeated this year) to secure fourth spot, as well as their own, League Cup final against Clapton CFC.
The end-of-season awards saw a second clean sweep for Luke Wanadio on the Men’s side, taking the awards for Players’ Player, Supporters’ Player, and Goal of the Season. For our Women, the departing Martha Goddard was Supporters’ Player and Young Player of the Season, while Phoebe Leitch won Manager’s Player and Natasha Stephens Goal of the Season.
For our Men’s side, the 2025/26 season will also see a new manager take the helm, as Mark Dacey returns to the club to re-set the pink ‘n’ blue charge for the campaign to come. The new hope reignites in Hamburg on 12th July when our Men face Altona 93 (league champions this season) in a friendly marking the centenary of the first meeting of our two great clubs.
Fundraising continues apace for the Hamburg tour. Following a rare performance of Hamlet at The Hamlet in April (Shakespeare complete with terrace chants) and another keenly fought quiz night in May (where the Supporters’ Trust looked to retain their title) keep an eye out for other events into early summer, including a thrilling lawn bowls tournament on 21st June at Temple Bowls Club on Denmark Hill.
Beyond the bowls, there’s just enough time for a quick lie down before we go again next time round. With new managers, new direction, and fresh hope, what remains is the pink ‘n’ blue. Up the Hamlet!
dulwichhamletfc.co.uk dhst.org.uk
Pic credit: Liam Asman
This article first appeared in the June/July issue of SE22.