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.