Interview: Erin Corrigan, Ceylon Hickman & Summer Roberts

We spoke to Erin Corrigan, Ceylon Hickman and Summer Roberts to find out what mischief they had been up to over the summer and that day back in May:

How have you all been and what have you been up to over the summer?

Ceylon: I’ve had a nice summer, and haven’t really been separated from the girls to be honest! A few of us went to Glastonbury together which was unbelievably fun, and one of my favourite years at Glasto ever.

In a very surreal turn of events, I also got to rep The Hamlet from the stage as I spoke on a panel at the festival titled ‘The Future of Football’ and everyone got to hear the Promotion Roundabout stories. I’ll be dining out on those for a long time. My summer was topped off with two things: a trip to Croatia with the whole squad from last season to watch our resident DJ smash two incredible sets at Defected Festival, and then moving in with my CB sisters: Erin, Rhea, along with Courtnee from the Reserves team. There’s no separating us now.

Summer: Over the summer I’ve just been living life, flying out and being outsideee! Travelled to a couple new places and went back to some of my fave places. Helped my brother move out to Crewe so I can get some peace and been trying to heal this injury!

Erin: I’ve been goood! Feel like I honestly haven’t even been in London all that much! Spent a weekend up in Liverpool, went to Glasto,  then jetted off to the states! I was in the US for 2 weeks spending time with friends and family. I only had a week back in London before I went to Croatia with my sister and the team….which was wild.

Going to the beginning of last season, looking at the other teams, did you think we were in with a shout for the title?

Ceylon: Yeah, I always have believed we could win that league, things just hadn’t quite lined up in the right way in previous years. We knew we could beat every team in that league and had done previously: we just needed to do it consistently and convincingly.

Summer: Yes and no! I never really knew what Dulwich played like or played with them much pre season so when the season started I didn’t know what was to come but wasn’t intimidated by any of those other teams for sure.

Erin: Oh of course, always have to back ourselves!!! When I joined Dulwich I learned quite quickly that each season we’ve been title contenders, especially with the COVID season, so I knew this group had a chance.

At what point on the season did you think ‘aye, we can do this!’

Ceylon: Great question. I always knew we could do it, but that’s different to believing it would actually happen. I didn’t let myself fully believe it till we were in a position of strength and the league was in our hands, the day Dartford lost to Saltdean.

Me, Erin and Minnie go to see James (our S&C Coach) every Tuesday morning at 7am, and I give credit to James who said from the beginning of the season that we were going to do it. We’d talk about it every Tuesday morning and assess our chances, who Dartford and Fulham were playing etc. When it came into our hands, that just gave us the boost we were waiting for to get it over the line.

Summer: I’m not sure but I have this one vivid memory of being in our changing rooms against Fulham one midweek game and just thought if we win tonight I reckon that’s it we’ve won the league.

Erin: Beating Dartford so handily!!!

Which team did you think would be the most difficult?

Ceylon: I think we’re an excellent team in big occasions, so I was never too stressed about the Fulham or Dartford games. Saltdean probably worried me the most: they’re a quality side and hard to break down, and can get you on the counter. That game at home was SO important: it was cagey for 90 minutes and we got that last minute penalty that Lily tucked away.

When you look back on the league win, those were the games that are easy to forget but so critical.

Summer: None! We are the best!

Erin: Oof hard question as I feel like there were tons of signings last summer. I think I thought Ebbsfleet was going to be the most difficult.

Going back to that day in Newhaven. Tell us about winning the cup and the day you had!

Ceylon: Hahaha where to start?! I think everyone will be glad to know that I’ve finally sobered up. I’ll proudly take the crown of absolutely Jack Grealish-ing those celebrations and I do apologise to anyone I soaked in prosecco or lobbed my medal at (sorry, Lil, and The Champion Hillbillies).

It was one of the happiest days of my life. I still feel so, incredibly lucky that I got to experience something like that with everyone who was a part of it - it’s the kind of thing I would have dreamt of as a kid. When that final whistle went, I remember dropping to my knees and just thinking ‘we’ve finally effing done it’, and Saskia jumping on my back.

Then when we ran towards the Pepper Army in the sunshine - with their flares and Champions scarfs - I just burst into tears and couldn’t stop sobbing. I hadn’t expected it at all but I think it was just a complete outpouring of emotion: everything I and the girls had worked for and given to this club over the last 5 years had paid off in that moment, and to see hundreds of people who this actually mattered to was so overwhelming.

Most people never get to win a league title, let alone do it with a group of your best mates and with a fanbase who represent everything that is good, great and glorious about football and society. I’ll never forget it and I’m so grateful to every single person who made that day what it was.

Summer: It was vibes from the day before! I had a sleepover with Pricey and she tucked me into bed but I was too excited to sleep. We got up next day went to coop for my choco croissant and orange lucozade fizzy and from there it was just vibes! Smiles, music, kazoos, flares. The best and one of the most memorable(until the bishop) days of my life. And it was with the best people ever!

Erin: We keep saying to each other as a little joke that honestly life feels like it keeps peaking and peaking since winning the league. First, promotion roundabout was dreamy, then to be topped off with our recent trip to Croatia (huge shout to Luceeee). Amazing.

The day itself was just insane. We celebrated like the Lionesses winning the euros and I love that main character energy of us. Once we bagged 2 goals in like 5 minutes…that’s when it actually hit me that we were going to win this league.

Couldn’t have asked for better support from the club (thanks for providing the champions board, tshirts, AND Prosecco!!) and of course our AMAZINGGGG pepper army.

BEST FANS IN THE LEAGUEEE and now tier 4! The day could not have been better. I want to relive it all.

What was the most bonkers thing that happened that day?

Ceylon:  One of my highlights was on the coach back. We like to get everyone singing karaoke on away day buses anyway, but this one was special.

Most people had done their karaoke numbers and we started chanting for Ben to come and do his. He came to the back of the bus and started singing ‘From Now On’ from The Greatest Showman. Initially, everyone was confused at his choice as it started slowly - but that was the beauty of it. What followed - when the song kicked in - was just pure euphoria.

We were driving down Lordship Lane singing ‘I’m coming home again’ with Ben as we noticed fans outside the EDT in our colours cheering our bus. There were tears! The song is now on the changing room playlist and will always remind me of that connection: between club and team and place. It’s so unique.

Summer: Some things cannot be spoken but there was a lot of bonkers stuff that happened that day! But for me it was walking to the roundabout from CH (late) and just seeing it COVERED in people celebrating us and the club and I just thought what have I got myself into. It was the best experience ever and I wish everyone I know could’ve seen it!

Erin: Hahaha as Summer said, some things best left unsaid. But to name a few in no particular order -

Popping Prosecco on the pitch hehe Fireworks! at the roundabout, Ceylon chucking her medal across the Bishop, many baby Guinness shots being poured (& spilled) on the bus, Ben Clasper karoake…. AND WE WILL COME BACK HOME, HOME AGAINNNNN (greatest showman). Your chairman could never!

Also the reception form the fans when the bus pulled in to champion hill ohhh my goodness amazing. Summer almost getting hit by a bus more than a few times,  photoshoot with Liam that ended up being like an hour haha bless him.

Getting pyro smoke in Jamie’s eye (oops soz) Singing ‘ole ole oleeeee we are Dulwich Hamlet’ for about 30 minutes at the Bishop with all of the fans, we just kept going! Huge shoutout to The Bishop for letting us takeover.  All the kazoos, instruments, confetti, glitter, vibes, leaving my Dulwich shirt at the roundabout at the end of the night (shout-out Bekah for finding it and returning!!!)

Celebrating with my girls, who have been waiting for this moment since phoenix days. We did it Joeyyyyy, love you all!!!