Doing your duty at Dorking?

If you're travelling to Dorking Wanderers here's a little guide that may help your day out

The fixture list has been very kind to those Dulwich Hamlet who like to visit new grounds while cheering on our boys.

For Dorking Wanderers currently play at the Westhumble Community Ground, London Road, in Dorking. But they are almost ready to move into the former home of the now defunct Dorking FC, whose old ground has now been developed into the headquarters of the Surrey County Football Association. In the nicest possible way, Westhumble is basic, but still homely, and you will see on arrival why they need the move to the Meadowbank Stadium development , which is in Dorking town centre. They were only formed in 1999, and at the turn of the century, back in 2001 they were crowned the very lowly West Sussex League Division Four champions, so their rise up the non-league pyramid to the Bostik League Premier division at Step Three is nothing short of remarkable.

The ground will have improved a little since my only visit, which was on Christmas Eve 2011,when they were a Sussex County League second division club.

For those going tomorrow by car the all-important postcode for your SatNav is: RH5 6AD

By train it’s a choice of two stations. Slightly nearer, but much less frequent is the service to Box Hill and Westhumble. This is about half a mile away, just Box Hill and Westhumble ½m. Simply come out of the station and turn right into Westhumble Street, then right into A24 London Road with the ground on the right.

My preferred route would be to head for Dorking station, which is around a mile away, just come out of the station and turn right along the main London Road, until you reach the
ground on your left.

Trains to Boxhill and Weshumble are only hourly, There's only one train an hour serving Box Hill, which goes from Victoria via Clapham Junction then fast to Sutton. This leaves Victoria at 31 minutes past the hour and arrive at 21 past the hour, which is convenient enough, and depart at 28 past the hour. This is the easiest for fans just wanting to go straight to the game and back home afterwards.

Trains to Dorking are the next stop after Box Hill & Westhumble, and there’s also a train from Victoria at one minute past the hour, which is four minutes faster than the other service, arriving at ten to the hour.

The advantage of going to Dorking station is that it is easier to pop round the town centre from here & if it’s not raining it’s a nice enough town to stroll around. Trains to Dorking are the next stop after Box Hill & Westhumble, and there’s also a train from Victoria at one minute past the hour, which is four minutes faster than the other service, arriving at ten to the hour.

There’s plenty of suggestions, drink wise, for the thirsty Hamlet fan, from fellow Dulwich supporters, all posted on the independent Urban message board:

One posted: “Tell them to nip round the corner to Denbies Vineyard and visit the Surrey Hills Brewery. One of the best breweries in this neck of the woods.”

Another responded: “Dorking Brewery is decent too”

Someone else adding: “Any travelling fans going can recommend going to Cobbetts in West Street and getting yourself a takeout in a milk container from their micro pub. Not cheap though but great shop”

There was more info shared about Cobbetts & other watering holes: “Cobbett's is quirky and well worth a visit for the real ale drinker, but it's basically an off licence with a small bar at the back. The only time I've been it was packed around 5pm on a Saturday so it's not really going to work for groups of more than 2 or 3 turning up. Unless you get there at opening time and piss off all the regulars by packing it out! If it's too busy to stay there are several traditional type town centre pubs nearby around West Street and South Street - The Cricketers and the King's Arms have been decent enough on my previous visits. The Red Lounge in Dene Street has been in the Good Beer Guide for the last few years but I found it a bit too trendy for my taste. ”

Even more info came in the guise of: “From Boxhill station, there's a pub called The Stepping Stones en route which looks okay. At Dorking station is The Lincoln Arms which seems okay too. Dorking town centre has plenty of pubs. There is a very handy TfL bus, the 465, which goes from Dorking town centre to the ground past Dorking station, these are around every half hour on a Saturday afternoon."

And lastly, Hamlet terrace stalwart & former Supporters Trust chair DUNCAN HART wrote: “Can't go this weekend, so I went a few weeks to tick it off, because I am a groundhopper and proud of it. Going to Boxhill & Westhumble station is the easiest option. The pub near there didn't look poncey one bit. Looked good when I peered in (but didn't go in). I did mention to one of their volunteers that we are a thirsty bunch and many like their real ale. I said we would take 100 (maybe 150). Their bar doubles up as food outlet, so hopefully this news prompted them to put extra on. The ground is in a lovely setting at the foot of Box Hill, so definitely worth making most of time there. Facilities are definitely lower key than usual premier division grounds, hence their upcoming move. I did a one hour roundtrip walk before game that I would highly recommend if you are so inclined... Out of station and walk towards main road, under subway, turn left, over bridge, take right at roundabout, then right onto footpath up to Box Hill shortly after Mercure hotel, climb up and up, look right an you'll see the ground in valley, keep walking, crack open a can on top of hill, then come back down following signs to "the stepping stones", down, down, over the stepping stones that cross the river, through car park, cross road main road and ground is right in front of you...”

Dorking Wanderers club bar should be popular with our fans as they have 3 kegs of Shere Drop from Surrey Hills brewery for the game, as well as cans of Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot and the usual lagers and ciders.

The town of Dorking itself is worth a walk round. And on Saturday you could be very lucky...for it is the national Heritage Open Days weekend! Just click on this link & type 'Dorking' into the towns bit and see what there is to see!

Sadly this place, the Dorking Caves, is fully booked, but there's plenty more to see just click and have fun searching!

And even if the local stuff doesn't appeal to you...then surely a stroll, if you can face the climb, up Box Hill will.