Following on...

With my last column being only four days ago it’s not always easy to test the old grey matter and think of new things to share with you all. But one event coming up is the Open Training Session on Tuesday week, 8th August, which you may have already read about on our official Club website.

The training session, which our fans can watch from the comfort of the seats in the main stand, or even from behind the glass of the main bar, pint in hand, will start at half past seven. At a quarter past eight there will be a post-training session penalty shoot-out between five supporters and five of Gavin's playing squad...with the losers buying their victors a round of drinks at the bar! This will be followed, at about twenty past eight, with some interviews with the likes of Preston Edwards, Dumebi Dumaka & Kenny Beaney & there will be the chance for any fans present to come down to the pitch and have their photos taken with their favourite players, as well as the opportunity to collect their autographs. Then it's into the Bar, where representatives from Kappa will be there for the official launch of our new kit, manufactured by them, and sponsored by Picfair, at around 8.45pm. It promises to be a great evening, a relaxed chance to socialise with the team before the season starts…but it will only work if YOU-our loyal fans-pop down! Bring your whole family, especially the youngsters. Selfies with the team, and get your favourite players to sign your replica shirts. Please spread the word!

As our Football Committee Chairman Liam Hickey stated on the official Club website: "The whole evening is actually the brainchild of Gavin Rose. He really wants the players and fans to get closer than ever this season. And I couldn't agree more, we're all part of the same Dulwich Hamlet family, whether we're supporters, management, players, Club officials or sponsors. I'm sure it will be a great little evening, and I hope, in particular, as many Hamlet young Hamlet fans as possible pop down to see their heroes close up...not to mention us old 'uns as well!"

The following night we’re holding an informal meeting in the Boardroom, to try to formalise our off-the-field community plans. These won’t be ‘set in stone’, we go through the season looking to refine, improve & add to all of our ideas. But that’s what we need…ideas. Come along and listen to the projects we have planned, in the Boardroom, starting at seven o’clock. There will be Football Committee people there, as well as Trust Board members, and we’d welcome any fellow Hamlet fans who want to work alongside us to continue to build the excellent local profile of our Club. There’s no commitment needed by turning up, you might just be curious, or want to help but don’t have the time. We still want to pick your brains! So keep that date in your diary as well, Wednesday 9th August.
One of our early season fixtures is the long-distance one up to Suffolk, when we go to Leiston on Saturday 26th August. Shaun Dooley is hoping to run one of his legendary ‘Dooley Buses’ to the game, which will take you door-to-door from Champion Hill Stadium to their ground. Bearing in mind that it’s a hefty four and a half miles from the nearest train station, which is Saxmundham, this could well be your best option. Check with him, or Neil Cole, at the ‘12th Man’ stand next week, when we have our opening Bostik League fixture, and we shall also plug it on all our social media once he has confirmed times & prices with the coach company, our good friends from Anderson Coaches.

Before I finish my column for today I’d just like to thank all of the volunteers who helped out with the rattling buckets & selling ‘50/50’ tickets at two of our previous pre-season games at home to Crawley Town & Crystal Palace. Both nights raised sums of over five hundred pound each for the injured Beckenham Town goalkeeper Graham Loki & to help the survivors of the Grenfell Fire Disaster, respectively. Their kindness in stepping up to the plate & your generosity in donating so much money is something we NEVER take for granted. We are more than aware that not everyone has spare cash to part with, and also realise that two collections in close proximity are not ideal. But the two causes were exceptional, and the last thing we want is for our fans to ever suffer from ‘giving fatigue’. We genuinely believe we are building a local community based club with a social conscience, so will continue to try to help others when we can…rest assured we never take your giving as a given…so thank you once more to all who were in a position to help. And if you couldn’t spare a coin or two because of your own personal circumstances, don’t worry…we know you would if you could. Your words of encouragement to our collecting teams mean just as much, in its own way.

On that note I’ll end my third column of the season…and it hasn’t even officially started yet!
See you all in a fortnight when we’re back at Champion Hill for our opening Bostik League fixture at home to Staines Town.