The club is delighted to announce its first independent venture into youth football for many years with the creation of an U18 side which we hope will recreate the pathway for home grown players into the men’s team that was such an important part of the club and which, if successful, will allow us to expand into younger years and introduce a youth system for the women’s game. 

The club has been successful in its application to join the Kent Youth League where we have been allocated a place in the North Division, and we will also see the return of FA Youth Cup football. 

The new team will be managed by Justin Stevens and assisted by Michael Ebo and they will bring an existing group of current under 16 players who are ready to move up the age groups, whilst also holding open trials to uncover new talent and re-connect the opportunity to play in pink and blue with the local area. 

Justin had the following to say about joining the club: 

"After many years in youth football, Michael Ebo and I are both excited to be given the opportunity to be part of Dulwich Hamlet FC. During our time in junior football, we have been fortunate to work with many incredibly talented players, some of whom have earned scholarships and pro contracts.  

Our motivation for moving to be an early part of the club's reset is to give the players we already manage, and those we will recruit, an improved pathway to senior football with a club that is committed to providing opportunities for young players. 

We look forward in continuing our football journey at Dulwich Hamlet, nurturing young, aspiring players and building towards the future of the club." 

Over the past few years we have evaluated dozens of offers to transplant teams, license our name, become a feeder team or start a youth system from scratch and we have stuck to the principles we believe are crucial to delivering for the players as well as the club and Justin and Michael were the first people we went through the process with that understood what Dulwich Hamlet means and needs whilst staying true to what has already succeeded for them. 

Dates and locations for trials are in the works for later this month and we look forward to announcing them and explaining how to apply to participate. 

On behalf of the club 

Ben Clasper, Chairman