Good afternoon, Hamlet fans and welcome back to Champion Hill! Following on from a good win at Dartford on Saturday and a great point away at Chichester last week Tuesday we come into today’s game full of confidence and hungry to get 3 points against Hastings United.

October is Black History Month (BHM) in the United Kingdom, when we collectively recognise the contributions of Black people to both British society, as well as globally. Black History Month is a time of celebration, recognition, and sombre reflection.

During the Thatcher era, following the Brixton, Tottenham and Toxteth riots, Black Britons were experiencing high levels of marginalisation and racism.

In response to this, Akyaaba AddaiSebo, a Ghanaian analyst and activist, who was working as the Special Projects Officer at the Greater London Council coordinated the first official Black History Month event on 1st October 1987, with speaker Dr Maulana Karenga, the originator of Kwanzaa. 

Since then, the popularity and breadth of celebrations have grown exponentially into the widely celebrated national programme that we see today.

Black History Month has been celebrated across the UK ever since, with more and more people celebrating each year. It is an important time of the year where we can spend time learning more about the contributions of Black, African, and Caribbean people so we can better appreciate and understand each other.

Celebrating Black History Month doesn’t only have to be in October either- taking the opportunity to learn more about Black history throughout the year and listening to our Black colleagues, service users, friends, and family is so important and will go some way to making society a more equal and appreciative place.

This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Reclaiming Narratives,” and marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.

This theme underscores a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage. 

It’s about taking control of our stories and honouring our heroes while challenging the narratives that have often overlooked the contributions and achievements of Black individuals both in the UK and globally.

At Dulwich Hamlet FC we will continue to celebrate and champion the achievements of black people within our football club, and we are working hard every day to ensure we are an inclusive football club for all that step through our doors.

Representation in football is something we continue to champion, and we know that senior and managerial roles within the game are not a true reflection of our communities.

Here at Dulwich Hamlet, we will continue to work towards creating opportunities and spaces for marginalised groups and advocate for accurate representation of the community we serve.

For more information on black history month, you can visit www. blackhistorymonth.org.uk

LET’S BE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE!

IN OUR HOUSE WE ARE ALL EQUAL!

MILLSY