Quite simply Lorraine ‘Pa’ Wilson is the most important person in the club’s history. Born into a Scottish family living in Manchester in 1865. he moved to Dulwich after his father died. His mother had family locally.

Pa attended Dulwich College from 1879 until 1884. After leaving he became a familiar face at Dulwich Hamlet school, helping with gymnastics. Pa, who was deeply religious, was a “Muscular Christian”.

When Dulwich Hamlet Old Boys Society decided to establish a football club in 1893, Pa stepped up. He was a rugby fan but found local clubs disinterested in playing an XV based out of a minor school. Pa was also known to umpire Dulwich Hamlet Cricket Club.

Pa discovered a love for football. He became an important figure in the local football world, serving the county F.A. and establishing multiple local leagues. He also had the vision to drive Hamlet forward. His deep pockets saw him pick up bills in the early days. His political contacts (he was a Conservative Councillor) proved very useful to the club on occasions.

Pa believed in the deserving poor and, as crowds grew, he realised Dulwich Hamlet could be used to drive charitable endeavors. Lorraine insisted party politics be left at the door but firmly believed Hamlet should be involved in making life better locally. Those beliefs remain central to the club’s ethos today.

By the time of Pa’s death in 1924, Hamlet had gone from being an old boys’ team for a minor school to F.A. Amateur Cup and Isthmian League winners and provided two full England internationals. The club was known nationally and was doing much to help the local community. Plans for what became the famous Champion Hill stadium had been released.

The club had come a long way in just 31 years. Thank you, Pa.

Picture by kind permission of Jack McInroy

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