News from the Head of Media, Tom Bale

Welcome everyone to our second men’s home game of the season, it has been a rather successful start to the campaign as we come into today still undefeated from our opening three games. The squad have gelled brilliantly over the last couple of months and are really enjoying playing with each other.

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Tom Bale, I have recently taken on the role of Head of Media and Communications at the club. I have a long association with the Hamlet, having first watched them in 2014 when I began commentating on them for the club’s filming partner at the time, before creating DHFCTV with Gavin Rose in 2016, working for the club for five years with the TV and radio channel before leaving last year to focus on my teaching career. However the opportunity to come back this summer was too great to turn down and I am delighted to be working here once again in a place that has become a home from home over the last eight years.

My role is to ensure that the club provides constant and consistent coverage of both the men’s and the women’s sides, delivering quality match highlights and post match interviews with managers and players, as well as regular content during the week, which could include updates on the younger squads, new signings, injury updates or, in time, stadium updates, and much more.

This content will be available to view on our various social media channels and our website, and I am looking to increase the number of videos on our YouTube channel again, as was the case when it was created. This will include videos like training drills with the players for our younger fans to practise at home, features on the club’s history, and interviews with former players on their time at the club. I will also be helping with programme content over the year and working with John Lawrence in bringing you some fabulous content to read in the stands on your Saturday afternoons.

Another part is to improve the communication between club and fans. As a fan myself, I believe this was an area that needed to be worked on massively from last season, and I can understand the feeling of frustration from others regarding the lack of updates coming from the club last season about the role of Peter Crouch at the club for example. I will be in regular contact with everyone at the club so fans stay updated with events going forward, ranging from Ben, to Gavin and Ryan, to the Trust, to our general manager Mel and commercial manager Clare.

On the commercial side of things, we are still looking for matchball sponsors for many of our home games for the season ahead. Benefits of sponsoring the ball include two complimentary tickets to that game, a signed ball from the first team squad, the chance for your children to walk the side out as mascots, and the promotion of your business in the matchday programme and over the tannoy. Equally we are still seeking sponsors for some players and staff in our first team squad, you can find out which players by turning to the pictures page in this programme. You will receive a signed first team shirt from that player as a thank you. Finally we still have some available banners up for grabs around the side of the pitch for you to show off your business. These banners will be seen on highlights packages of our home games. If you are interested in any of the above, please email Clare Keeble at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

It would be remiss of me not to thank all those who have come forward and offered their services to the media team for the season ahead, I am very privileged to have such a fabulous team of editors, videographers, graphic designers, photographers, commentators and social media gurus working with me. Having said that, I am always interested in new people coming on board, if you think you have some skills that would help us out, please do email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or alternatively come and ask for me in the boardroom on matchdays, I’m usually around and always approachable!

Finally, I would like to thank those of you who have welcomed me back over the past month, it is a special place to work and I am incredibly excited about the year ahead.

Thanks for your support and enjoy this afternoon’s game!

Tom Bale