We took him aside for a chat, after the Youth Team win against Bridon Ropes on Sunday, where he was keeping an eye on the stars of tomorrow.

A great game of football, at Burgess Hill Town yesterday. Was it two points dropped or one gained?

"Definately two points dropped in my opinion. Seeing it as one gained is one way of seeing it I suppose, but I feel we controlled more of the game, but gave away silly goals, so two points dropped."

Still lots of injuries, but with our tight budget can this work to our advantage, as they become,almost, like 'new signings' when they return?

"Yes possibly, I don't see it like that though, I'd rather they were not injured at all. We do have the bonus this year of having the Reserve Team to keep the young lads at the Club. It would be hard to hang on to them all if we didn't have the Reserves to keep them both match fit, & gaining experience, so they are ready for the step up earlier than in the past. We can call on them a lot sooner."

Talking of the youngsters, we bowed out of the FA Youth Cup in the qualifiers recently, missing out on a tie at Football League side Colchester United. They have since put eleven past Camberley Town, who beat us, & eight against Faversham Town in the next round. So was getting knocked out a bit of a blessing in disguise?

"No, not really. It's always a great experience to play a Football League side, especially when you go to their place, as we would have done. Not for us, as the management & coaches, but it's the whole experience of a big game for the players. They can pit their wits against the professional boys and see how they do."

Before the game on Saturday both teams observed the silence, prior to Remembrance sunday. Is this really relevant to football nowadays?

" Oh yes, I certainly think it is. At the end of the day they fought for our country, you only have to look at our own Club War Memorial in the boardroom to appreciate that. Lots of youngsters still don't know the relevance, not specifically in football, but society in general. If-even at non league level-we can raise this awareness that that must be a good thing."

A group of supporters are now launching a scheme called the "Dulwich Hamlet 12th Man". Will this be much of a help for you?

"Of course! Anything that helps has got to be a good thing. It might well be the difference between a young Reserve or Youth Team player making the jump up into the first Team squad; but the most important thing for everyone to try to understand is that we must all try to help the Club to move in the same direction."

Next week see two games, both against Herne Bay, first in the League, then the League Cup. How does this affect your planning, and what do you know about them, as some of the Kent sides have, shall we say, tended to be more of the physical, clogging variety?

" I can't say that about Herne Bay, I don't know much about them, to be honest. Though, having managed in the Kent League when I was at Beckenham Town, I know it's a tough league to get out of, so they won't be a bad team. Some sides have a certain way of playing, & it's not always easy to change that. That's their method, it's not ours. Horses for courses and all that. I can't tell them the right way to play. As for how the two games together will affect our selection, well I can't really change much, with the small size of our squad."

And finally, it's only about seven weeks or so until we take on our arch rivals Tooting & Mitcham United, after they got relegated. Are you, as in the management, and the players aware of how much this fixture means to the supporters?

" I am! Obviously I played against Tooting, ten years ago as a player. It's really difficult to explain what this match is like until they play in it. I got sent off in one, and realised the emotions of this game. But at the end of the day it is another three points at stake, & that is what we are after. We must try to not get too emotional & lose the objective of what we are trying to achieve at the end of each game. But we hope we have an extra special win for the fans."