TEAM TALK | Amadou Kassarate

NAME Amadou Kassaraté

SHIRT NO. 8

POSITION Central-Midfield

Team you support and your childhood footballing hero?

Arsenal and Thierry Henry.

When did you first visit Champion Hill?

2012/13 FA Youth Cup match against Dulwich when I was with Cambridge United Youth.

How did you come to join?

Dacey reached out after the end of last season. He spoke about his project and his ambitions for the club. Being from south east London, I’ve always admired Dulwich and kept tabs on them. I said ‘Yes’ without hesitation. It's an honour to be here.

Where do you play?

My best position is in CM – playing either as a 6 or an 8.

Can you play anywhere else?

Across my career, I’ve played every position apart from left-back. I consider myself a versatile player.

What other Senior clubs have you played for previously?

Dumbarton and Stanraer in Scotland. Greek side Thesprotos. Welling United, Cheshunt, Bishops Stortford and Folkestone Invicta.

Any trophies in the cabinet?

Thesprotos is in mainland Greece near Corfu. We were play off winners to go up to Super League 2 in 2018/19.

I was also an Isthmian Premier playoff winner with Cheshunt in 2021/22 to go up to Step 2. I scored the opener against Hornchurch in a great 2-1 win.

Who would you consider the best player you've ever played alongside and why?

Nathan Oduwa. A winger for Tottenham and London Schools back around 2010-12. I have seen him do the whole lot on the pitch, rainbow flicks, flip flaps, nutmegs...

Toughest Opponent?

In Greece, I played against a Brazilian '10' called Marcolino Neeto in a friendly against Larissa. I had to mark him, but couldn't get anywhere near him. His awareness, technique and range of passing was unbelievable.

Best moment in football?

Getting called up to Senegal's U20 team back in March 2015.

Best goal you've ever scored?

An overhead kick from inside the box. It was my first senior goal in professional football playing for Stranraer against Stenhousemuir in Scottish League 1 back in April 2017.

Best moment since joining?

Scoring on my first start at Champion Hill in the 3-1 win against Welling United.

Hopes for this season?

To get promoted.

Favourite stadium?

Hampden Park. When I was on loan at Stranraer in 2016/17 we played there against Queens Park in the league.

Favourite other sports?

Basketball. I follow the NBA. Sometimes I go to watch the London Lions in the British Basketball League.

Tell us something about yourself none of us know?

I can speak four languages.

English, French, Wolof and Fulani – my next goal is to learn Arabic and German.

If you could change one rule in the game, what would it be?

The current rules for handball. It’s become ridiculous.

This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme You can download PDFs of previous issues here.

TEAM TALK | Solomon Baugh

NAME SOLOMON BAUGH

SHIRT NO. 16

POSITION WINGER

Team you support and your childhood footballing hero?

I grew up about five minutes from the Emirates, so it was always Arsenal. My first game at Highbury was actually Arsenal's last! Aged about 10 I saw Neymar on YouTube playing for Santos. He's been my hero ever since. I love the way he plays. It inspires me.

What other clubs have you played for previously?

Cheshunt, Sevenoaks Town and the club now known as Chislehurst Glebe. I've also had short periods at Waltham Abbey and Carshalton Athletic

Where do you play? And can you play anywhere else?

I'm a winger. I enjoy playing off the left the most, but can happily play on the right too.

I can also play as a '10' if needed. Maybe as a striker one day, or even in midfield!

When did you first come to Champion Hill?

I first came in 2023 with Cheshunt. It wasn’t a good day for me – we lost about 4-0. But I do immediately remember loving playing in front of such a good crowd.

How did you come to join Dulwich Hamlet?

It all happened quite naturally as I’ve known the manager for years. He’s seen me develop since I was 18 at Glebe and then at Sevenoaks Town...

Any trophies in the cabinet?

Not yet. But hopefully soon.

Best player you've ever played alongside and why?

I’ve played with some brilliant players, but I’d have to go with Terrell Agyemang a strong, technically gifted, midfielder from Charlton's Academy. He’s at Morecambe at the moment. I’m sure once he gets his rhythm, he’ll be back.

Toughest Opponent?

My friend Sam Okoye is Dartford's right-back. He’s one of the toughest I’ve faced because he’s quick, strong and smart. We grew up playing on the same pitches, so he has a good idea of what I’ll try. I always have to come up with different solutions...

Best moment in football?

Scoring a free-kick for Glebe against Chatham at just 18.

Tell us about the best goal you've ever scored?

I scored a great goal on my debut for Cheshunt at Cray Wanderers. It was my first Step 3 game, so I was a bit nervous. I made a run in behind, the ball got played over the top... it bounced once and then I just volleyed it across goal bottom corner.

Favourite moment since joining Dulwich?

Hamburg was a great experience. It made me realise how big this club is. I’m just happy to be at such a great club with a special group of people.

Hopes for the season?

I want to entertain the fans as much as possible and finish as high in the league as we can. A few goals would be nice

Favourite other sports?

I like basketball even though I’m not the best at it... (laughs) I'd like to get into it more.

If you could change one rule?

I’d get rid of throw-ins. I'm not a fan. I’d replace them with kick-ins, below waist weight.

This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme You can download PDFs of previous issues here.

People & Places | Download Now

When Dulwich Hamlet School old boys established a football team in 1893, the idea they would go on to provide two full England internationals was ludicrous. The club wasn’t likely to survive a particularly long time, never mind become the biggest team locally. In this talk, part of the Dulwich Society Local History series, Roger Deason, one of Dulwich Hamlet’s club historians, will briefly look at the development of football in Dulwich prior to Hamlet and explain why today you see Dulwich Hamlet shirts locally, not Dulwich, Dulwich Wood, Greyfriars, Dulwich St Peter’s or Townley Park shirts. He will walk us through some of the Dulwich residents and locations crucial to explaining why Hamlet survived, as the other clubs folded.

The talk will also touch on forgotten tales such as the FA Cup winning team who subsequently called Dulwich home, the Dulwich team who made the last ten of the FA Cup and the local lad who played in the first ever football international, spending one half as an attacker and one half in goal. He’ll also reveal which Rugby League Superleague side played in Dulwich, and the local rugby club official whose legacy includes the foundation of Rugby League and seemingly the foundation of Dulwich Hamlet FC as a diehard Rugby Union man. Ensuring both the eclipse of rugby locally and the foundation of Rugby League is an achievement you suspect he’d rather we didn’t mention…

You can download there booklet here

TEAM TALK: Joseph Adewunmi

NAME: JOE ADEWUNMI

SHIRT: NO. 18

POSITION: CENTRE-BACK

Team you support and your childhood footballing hero?

Manchester United. If I had to pick one footballing hero, it'd be 'CR7' – Cristiano Ronaldo – the aura he had when I was growing up was just crazy.

When did you first get along to Champion Hill?

In the summer when I joined.

How did your move to the club come about?

Through a prior connection with one of my old managers – ‘AJ’ at Fisher – and new Dulwich manager Mark.

Where do you play and can you play anywhere else?

I’m a centre-back who’s strong in one versus one situations, fast across the ground and confident in physical battles. I can do a job at right-back if required.

What other clubs have you played for previously?

I started out at Bermondsey based Fisher and then spent last season playing at Step 4 with Heybridge Swifts.

Any trophies in the cabinet?

Not yet..

Who would you consider the best player you've ever played alongside and why?

At youth football with Hornchurch in 2017, I played with a guy called Junior Armando. He's at Wycombe Wanderers now playing as a right-winger or central attacking midfielder. He’s got a wand of a left foot and some of the most some unbelievable, sharpest footwork that you’ll see...

Best moment in football?

Sweeping the 'End of Season Awards' last season whilst playing for Heybridge Swifts.

Tell us about the best goal you've ever scored?

When I was about 17, playing for Newbury Forest, I scored a Thierry Henry-esque goal where I flicked the ball up and on the half-turn volleyed it over the keeper. I can’t remember who it was against now, but we drew the game.

Favourite moment since joining Dulwich?

The trip to Germany last summer. Without a doubt.

Hopes and ambitions for the new season ahead?

I'd love to win the league or failing that gain promotion...

Favourite other sports?

I like watching the NFL but my favourite sport outside of football is NBA basketball.

Tell us something about yourself none of us know?

I’m a really great chef when I want to be and I also enjoy playing a bit of chess as well.

If you could change one rule in football, what would it be?

To be able to jump into the crowd when celebrating without having the risk of then receiving a yellow card...

This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme

You can download PDFs of previous issues here.