Dulwich will play their final home game of pre-season against Crystal Palace this Saturday

With just a week to go til the National League South season kicks off, Gavin Rose will no doubt be looking to get a good idea of what his strongest XI is. Dulwich recorded an impressive 1-1 draw with Tottenham last weekend but slumped to a 2-0 defeat away to Sutton United on Tuesday night.

Crystal Palace are of course familiar opposition for the Hamlet. Roy Hodgson brought a strong team for a midseason friendly last year while Dulwich were still exiled in Tooting & Mitcham. While Palace ran away with a 5-0 win that night, the gesture was much appreciated during a period of serious uncertainty for the club.

Several notable players and coaches have been associated with both clubs down the years. Alan Smith was Dulwich manager in the late 1970s, leading the Hamlet to promotion in 1978. Smith then took up various roles at Palace before eventually becoming their manager in 1993. His time at the club is best remembered for taking Palace to two domestic semi finals in the same season. He returned to the club again as manager in 2000-01, also reaching the League Cup semi final.

Another former Palace manager with a Hamlet connection is Alan Pardew. During his playing career, on the rise to becoming a full time professional, Pardew turned out for Dulwich during the 1980s. He would go on to make over 100 appearances for Palace, and later manage them in the Premier League.

Two of Pardew’s Palace teammates can also lay claim to Hamlet links. Andy Gray, a popular figure who had two spells at the club, was spotted by Palace manager Steve Coppell while he was at Dulwich. Ian Wright was on trial at Dulwich, although never played a game for us, and was also picked up by Coppell for the Eagles.

Given the proximity of the two clubs and South London’s reputation as a hotbed of footballing talent, many players - too many to list - have ended up appearing for Palace and Dulwich Hamlet in one form or another. Reise Allassani came through the Palace youth system and even appeared in their pre-season friendly against Dulwich in 2014. After being released, he joined the Hamlet during the 2017/18 and helped us to promotion with 19 goals.

With this in mind, it is likely to be another youthful Palace side in action at Champion Hill tomorrow afternoon. Their U23s defeated Corinthian Casuals 2-1 this week, with Jason Puncheon turning out for the Eagles as he continues to train with the club this summer. Puncheon may well feature against Dulwich.

A reminder that a ‘Walk & Talk’ event is taking place before the game to raise awareness around men’s mental health. Full details of the event can be found here.

Ticket info:

Advance tickets for the game are now sold out but an allocation has been made available on the turnstile from 12pm on a first come, first served basis.

An allocation has also been kept aside for Dulwich Hamlet season ticket holders who can pick up their ticket on the day.

We recommend all fans arrive early - the clubhouse bar will be open from 12pm.