TEAM TALK: Alfie Payne
NAME Alfie Payne
SHIRT NO. 14
POSITION CENTRE-midfield
Team you support?
Norwich City, the team my family supports and where I grew up. I had a season ticket during Norwich’s ‘yo-yo’ period… never a dull moment!
Footballing heroes?
I’ve always liked ball-playing midfielders, so Gerrard, Xavi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo were my favourites as a youngster.
Where do you play and what position is your best? Central midfield. I’m versatile and can play as a 'box to box' but my best role is sitting just in front of the defence.
Can you play anywhere else?
I played a bit in all positions growing up. But, if I had to fill in somewhere now, it would be in defence. I'd love a go at wearing the No.9 shirt though!
First trip to Champion Hill?
With Braintree in 2022. My sister lived in Dulwich, so the whole family came. However, it didn’t end well for me: 1-0 down and chasing a late equaliser, a second yellow meant I got my first and only red card in Senior football!
How did you come to sign?
I got in contact with Mark over the summer as it was a move I was very keen on. It didn’t take long to sort out after that.
Previous clubs?
I grew up playing in Norwich City’s Academy. I was there from the age of eight to 20. In non-league, I've spent most of my time with Braintree Town, but also played for Kings Lynn Town and St Albans City.
Any trophies in the cabinet?
A couple! I won National League North with Kings Lynn in 2020/21 and the National League South Playoffs with Braintree in 2023/24 having won the Essex Senior Cup with them in 2023. I actually scored, what I thought was, the winner for Braintree in the Playoff Final before it was disallowed. Luckily we still went on to win the game so it was all smiles by the end! In 2024 at St Albans we won the Hertfordshire Senior Cup.
Best player you've ever played alongside and why?
Tough one! I’ve played with a lot of good players, but if you’re going off where they play now, it would probably have to be Max Aarons. A full back, who I grew up with at Norwich City and is currently at Rangers up in Scotland.
Toughest opponent?
I'd have to say Manchester City's Phil Foden, who I competed against when growing up playing youth football. They won 2-0 and he was by far the shortest player on the pitch, yet scored two goals – both headers – despite going up against our two 6ft plus centre-halves.
Best moment in football?
There are two that stand out. So, it's either being on the bench in the Championship for Norwich against Sheffield Wednesday the season that City got promoted to the Premier League, or winning the
playoffs with Braintree two seasons ago. Both were days I’ll never forget.
Best goal you've ever scored?
Unfortunately, it came in a preseason game for Braintree against QPR U23s. I stuck one in the top corner from outside the box! A competitive game? It would be at Villa Park in an U21 game – outside the box again, but not quite as nice.
Favourite moment since joining the Hamlet?
It has to be the opening day of the season. My first time walking out as a home player to a packed Champion Hill with the sun shining and then a 4-0 win against one of the title favourites – not a bad way to start the season!
Hopes and ambitions for this season?
Promotion.
Favourite stadium?
As a boyhood Norwich fan, it has to be Carrow Road.
Favourite other sports?
I’ve always loved playing all sports. I’ve had my golf phase, but I’m currently loving padel – the only issue is it’s so hard to get on a court here in London! (laughs)
Tell us something about yourself none of us know?
My skills might not be what they used to, but I can actually still play the saxophone...
Finally, if you could change one rule in football....?
In light of some recent games… the new rule where you can make five subs at five different intervals. When you’re chasing a game and a team makes all five changes across different stoppages it makes the game painfully slow and stop/start!
This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme
You can download PDFs of previous issues here.
REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND, CEREMONY, TALKS & BOOKLETS
Ahead of our match with St Albans City at Champion Hill there will be an informal wreath laying ceremony at our Dulwich Hamlet Football Club War Memorial located above the tunnel at 1pm.
This will be followed by a period of silence at the memorial. Supporters are welcome to attend and join us in that period of reflection.
This shall be followed by Roger Deason and Steve Hunnisett from the Club’s History Group, as well as Dr Alex Alexandrou of the Football & War Network, giving brief talks about the men behind the names we honour each November.
Ahead of kick-off on Saturday afternoon wreaths will be laid at the centre circle before the Last Post is played over our tannoy system. This will be followed by a period of silence that will end on the referees whistle.
Many years ago, Roger and Steve's booklets revealing the Hamlet players who made the ultimate sacrifice during the two World Wars were originally released by the wonderful Hamlet Historian. Long since sold out, by kind permission of the Hamlet Historian's Jack McInroy and the authors, who have all waived any copyright. Updated versions available as Free PDFs to download from the links below:
Dulwich Hamlet Role of Honour: 1914- 1918
https://dulwichhamletfc.co.uk/images/2025/251020%20DH%20Update%20release%20va.pdf
Dulwich Hamlet Role of Honour: 1939 - 1945
https://dulwichhamletfc.co.uk/images/2025/WW2%20Deaths%20-%20DHFC%20pdf%20version.pdf
EDGAR, CLAUDE, HARRY & THE GANG
IT IS 100 YEARS SINCE EDGAR KAIL SCORED TWICE FOR ENGLAND AMATEURS AGAINST IRELAND AT MAIDSTONE...
This month marks the one hundredth anniversary of one of the many notable matches in Edgar Kail’s legendary career. On November 7th 1925 Kail scored two goals whilst representing the England Amateur team against Ireland. Played at London Road, Maidstone, the match was watched by around 7,000 spectators. It’s a match that still has plenty of tales to tell.
Edgar was just one of three Dulwich Hamlet men representing England that day, Bill Caesar and Walter Bellamy were the other two. The latter would soon sign for Tottenham Hotspur. But despite scoring twice in a 6-3 England win, Kail's achievements were overshadowed by two of the other England forwards that day.
Corinthian player Claude Ashton – who could play goalkeeper or centre forward but preferred wing-half – scored the other four England goals! Claude was one of four brothers who all played first class cricket. When three of the Ashton Bros. represented Cambridge University at football in 1920, the team were widely referred to as 'Ashton Villa'. Claude also represented Beckenham at hockey and even had an England trial at that sport. Tragically, he was killed in a mid-air collision in 1942 whilst serving in the Royal Air Force.
However, Claude in turn was overshadowed by Ireland's international debutant, the Linfield centre-forward Harry McCracken. He scored a hat-trick for the visitors early in the second-half... in just three minutes! Although this was to prove Harry's only appearance for the Irish national side, the feat secured
a move to Cardiff City. The switch didn’t work out, though he did later appear once in the Football League for south London club Charlton Athletic.
Kingstonian’s Frank Mancey also played that day. He would become well known to Dulwich Hamlet. A serving soldier for 15 years, he had spent most of World War One in captivity and would later captain Kingstonian’s famous 1933 FA Amateur Cup winning side. The first match against Stockton on the 8th April 1933 was here at Champion Hill and drew 22,000 spectators – a record attendance at the ground – and ended in a 1-1 draw. K's won the replay a fortnight later up in Darlington 4-1.
The England goalkeeper was Benjamin Howard Baker. Then associated with Chelsea and Corinthian, he had been British high jump champion or joint champion from 1910 until 1921 and had competed in the jump events at both the 1912 and 1920 Olympic Games. His Corinthian and, very occasional, Chelsea colleague Alfred ‘Baishe’ Bower was the England captain. In all he won five full England caps and is believed to be the only man to play top-flight football whilst being a member of the London Stock Exchange.
Another member of the Corinthian club was Kenneth ‘Jackie’ Hegan. A professional soldier, having attended Sandhurst, he featured for England on the wing and would win a total of four full international caps. He subsequently won the OBE for his services during the Second World War and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Clapton’s Billy Bryant, was also playing for England. He won one full cap and spent time at the then Millwall Athletic having been born in Ghent, Belgium.
This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme
You can download PDFs of previous issues here.
TEAM TALK: Giovanni Palmer
NAME GIOVANNI PALMER
SHIRT NO. 3
POSITION LEFT-BACK
Team you support and your childhood footballing hero?
The mighty Arsenal. When I was growing up, my absolute footballing hero was Thierry Henry – I still remember crying when he left the club.
How did you come to join Hamlet? Dacey gave me a call in the offseason, asking about my plans. I told him I wanted to be a Dulwich Hamlet player and I then joined in the summer. The rest is history.
Where do you play and what's your best position?
Left-back. I can also play left wing-back or as a left-sided midfielder and can do a job as a winger. The only thing is when I get that high up the pitch, I think I’m Gareth Bale!
What other clubs have you played for previously?
Hendon, Hanwell Town, Southall and Farnham Town.
Any trophies in the cabinet?
I was an Isthmian South Central Division champion last season with Farnham.
Who is the best player you've ever played alongside?
Aston Villa’s central defender Ezri Konsa. I played with him at Junior Hammers when we were about 6 or 7 years old – it’s not every day
that you get to say you played with a future England international!
Best moment in football?
It has to be clinching that Step 4 league title in front of my family last Spring at Farnham Town.
Best goal you've ever scored?
Late in the 2023/24 season, I scored a 90th minute winner for Southall, against Uxbridge, that secured us a place in the playoffs. I still remember that strike like it was yesterday. That feeling... that moment... has yet to be topped.
Best ground you've played in?
AFC Wimbledon. I once played there in front of about 3,000 people. It was the London FA's 2024 Sunday Challenge Cup Final. I was playing for the mighty Baiteze FC who play Sunday League up in Essex. We beat south London side SE Dons 3-1. Funnily enough, the Dons had a few current Hamlet personnel on their side including Junior James, Coach Ryan King-Elliott and Tom Chambers – ‘Sorry lads!'
Favourite moment since joining Dulwich?
Has to be the 4-0 win against Dartford in the season opener.
Hopes and ambitions for the season? To get promoted.
Favourite other sports?
Basketball – I don’t think there’s a day that goes by, where I don’t throw something in the bin and shout... ‘KOBE!’
Tell us something about you that none of us yet know?
I used to be a rugby player! I played as a winger at school, but stopped to focus on football. At 4ft 11in, I was just too short then.
Charging at people 6ft tall – it often didn’t end so well for me… (laughs)
Finally, if you could change one rule in football?
I’d adapt the offside rule. Just a little bit. So that as long as the body part you score with is onside – the goal stands. I’ve seen too many goals disallowed because of someone’s heel or elbow being in an 'offside' position.
This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme
You can download PDFs of previous issues here.
TEAM TALK: Anthony Cook
TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CHARISMATIC 'COOKIE'...
NAME Anthony Cook
SHIRT NO. 2/23
POSITION Everywhere...
Team you support and your childhood footballing hero?
Arsenal and Ian Wright.
When did you first come to Champion Hill?
2018/19 – the clubs first season at Step 2 in the National League South.
How did you come to re-join Hamlet?
A very long story to answer in a just a few words…
But I’m glad to be home.
Where do you play and what's your best position?
Attacking midfield. I’ve scored and created goals throughout my career. Extremely versatile, I’m equally comfortable at full-back or wing-back.
Played for anyone else?
Cardiff City, Dagenham & Redbridge, Concord Rangers, Chelmsford City, Ebbsfleet United, Bromley, Welling United, Cray Wanderers. Last season I was at Rayners Lane.
Any trophies in the cabinet?
I’ve my fair share of Player of the Season and Players Player of the Season awards. I was a National League South winner with Bromley in 2014/15 and a National League South Playoff Final winner with
Ebbsfleet two seasons later. I also won the Kent Senior Cup with Ebbsfleet in 2013 and got a Middlesex Senior Cup winners medal last season at Rayners Lane with Mark Dacey.
Best football moment so far?
Certainly winning those promotions with Ebbsfleet and Bromley. But also, returning home to Champion Hill with Dulwich on Boxing Day in 2018 and beating Eastbourne Borough 2-1. What a day that was!
Who would you consider the best player you've ever played alongside and why?
A difficult question as I’ve played with many good players, but I’ll say Daryl McMahon, who is now the Hornchurch manager - he was in centre-mid when I was at Ebbsfleet and we had a great understanding on the pitch. Honourable mention to Aaron Ramsey at Cardiff City.
Best goal you've scored?
I have a tendency to score very good goals. Let’s say the most recent one against Canvey Island on my second Dulwich debut – that one, a looping half volley from thirty yards to clinch all three points wasn’t half bad!
Toughest Opponent?
Jason Puncheon - first touch and footballing brain caused me all sorts of problems - he went on to play at the highest level. No surprise.
Favourite moment since returning to the club?
The trip to Altona! It was great bonding with both the players and fans! Thank you all for making that happen.
Hopes for this season?
Building a culture and playing in a team that everyone can be proud of. In other words, making Dulwich, Dulwich Hamlet again.
Favourite stadium you’ve played in?
I played against Arsenal at The Emirates for Cardiff in the FA Youth Cup.
Favourite other sport?
Boxing.
If you could change one rule?
The new ‘Five Sub’ rule. An absolute time killer, especially in non-league. Let players play!
Tuesday night at Champion Hill:
We return to Champion Hill on Tuesday night as Harrow Borough visit SE22. It's the return of our football for a fiver initiative and you can get your tickets here.
This article originally appeared in the Dulwich Hamlet Match Day Programme
You can download PDFs of previous issues here.
