October’s here, and with Halloween around the corner, the frightening thing is just how good we are. Particularly our men’s side, who’ve had a flying start to their first campaign under manager Mark Dacey. By mid-September, our men had won five of their first six league ties, conceding only twice and bagging twelve – the swaggering football of old marred only by a disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the first hurdle. Despite our women’s first team’s patchier start to their second term in the National League, under new manager Maria Tavares, this season is looking like one to savour and, dare I say it, one that might just end at a roundabout! *
So you’d be a fool to fail to get to a game this month and see for yourself what crackling sports are on offer. Your first chance is on Sunday 12th as our women take on London Bees at Champion Hill. Just two days later sees an autumn evening fixture under the lights as our men host Cray Wanderers on Tuesday 14th. And after a bumper-packed home schedule last month, October sees just two more chances of action at Champion Hill. So don’t miss out when Cray Valley Paper Mills visit our men on Saturday 25th October followed by Aveley on Tuesday 28th.
On the road, our men travel to Chatham Town on Saturday 11th, then head to the seaside to take on Folkestone Invicta the following week, Saturday 18th; while our women also travel to Chatham Town on the evening of Wednesday 29th and here’s hoping for double the points. We all love a midweek encounter under the lights, particularly as the nights draw in, and so to keep you cosy and well identified, don’t forget to visit the Mega Container on Champion Hill match days.
Lovingly designed and run by our Supporters’ Trust, Dulwich Hamlet merchandise is always the talk of the town, and this month we’ve got plenty of new pink ’n’ blue gems for you, alongside all the old favourites; as well as this season’s replica kits, which are re-stocked in all sizes but sure to sell out soon.
What’s more, new in store we’ve got not one, but three new mug designs: we’ve the Upland Pleasures mug (think Joy Division meets south-east London hills); the Delicious Football mug (think Tuscany, ice-cream and, well, delicious football); and the Greetings from Dulwich Hamlet mug. Inspired by the Bruce Springsteen album Greetings From Asbury Park, and featuring fan stickers galore, this design can also be found on new t-shirts and sweatshirts in both black and white. It’s a must-have for your autumn wardrobe. So get down The Hill this October, fill your boots and watch Dulwich Boss it.
Up the Hamlet!
* For those not well versed in the ways of The Hamlet (what are you waiting for?), we celebrate silverware on ‘Promotion Roundabout’ at Goose Green.
dulwichhamletfc.co.uk dhst.org.uk
Pic credit: Keely Man
This article first appeared in the October issue of SE22 magazine.