Our former Isthmian rivals, from The Arena, now in the Combined Counties League, celebrated their 60th anniversary on Sunday.

Your 'Hamlet Pitchero' team was there to help them blow the candles out, as they raised a team of Croydon Legends to take on a similar side from Crystal Palace.As a local South-East London outfit they have always been more of a friendly neighbour next door, rather than a bitter rival, like certain other clubs.

To reiterate this friendship we chatted to five Croydon personalities, and here is the first one.

Welcome of our official Dulwich Hamlet website 'Trams' celebration week!
First up, for you to enjoy, is a member of our Isthmian League Division One promotion winning side, from 1991/92, Micky Gillam.

You were part of the team that won promotion in 1992. What do you recall about that?

"The main thing were the brilliant celebrations on the pitch at the final whistle. Before the match, to be honest I didn't really want to play. I wasn't sure if I could manage one last game, and I had a bad ankle. Jim (Cannon) insisted I must play and with hindsight I'm so glad I did, I would have regreted it later if I sat it out. Apart form the amazing following, the most obvious memory was John Egan's early goal, that clinched it. I hope nobody thinks I'm crazy, but I still see that goal, replayed in my head sometimes! It was a tough season, playing at tooting, your favourite club! so it was even more of a challenge to go up, as we didn't even have a ground to call our own, as the old ground had been demolished, and the new one built. And that run-in. We had to win our last seven games, I think, maybe draw one. That was real 'pressure cooker' football at hte end of a season, that I've never experienced before or since."

How did you come to sign for Dulwich Hamlet, and how did your career go afterwards?

"I first met Jim Cannon when he stopped playing for Crystal Palace, after his illustrious career there, and signed for Croydon. I played cnetre-back with him for a season. And I'd known Dickson Gill as a coach since I was eighteen. When they took me to Champion Hill, I think I was at Whyteleafe. Aftwerwards? I went back to Croydon, and was their assistant manager for a spell; and also went back to Whyteleafe again. Then downwards after that! Hand on heart, truth be told, I would still play on if I could. The heart wants to, but the body says no!"

I know you've travelled a fair way for today's celebratory game, as you live in Bognor Regis. Do you ever pop along to Nyewood Lane to see them play?

"no, not at the moment, I haven't the spare time. I'm helping a friend out with the coaching at Coney Hall, but because of the distance, only on the matchdays on Saturdays, it's a lot of travelling, so we'll have to see how that goes."

Did you ever play against The Hamlet, and if so, what was it like?

"Yes, I would have done, but hands up, I've got to admit I played against a lot of different clubs. I had no ties to Dulwich before I signed for you, so I can't really recall, but always watch out for your results now, even after all these years".

As a player back then, how much did you notice supporters during games, if at all?

"Oh, a lot! Me in particular, I appreciated it a lot. I've always been a great believer in the fact that the most important people at any club are the supporters, and invariably the unsung heroes like the kitman.. the people who will do all the little jobs that people don't notice, but without them the club won't tick. Supporters are there for life, us players come and go."

To finish, one last question. Back to that promotion era, now over twenty years ago. Who were the characters in the changing room?

"Oh, the biggest was without a doubt John Egan! And also Andy Fisher, he was a great character too. Egan was massive in the bar, Fisher on the pitch, there was a difference. Egan was electric off the pitch, but not many words on it. The supporters woldn't have noticed it, but a quality managerial team, with their own character, were Jim & Dickson. The things two taught me, I didn't really believe back then, but now I know they were one hundred per cent right. The team matters far more than individual players, & I think a lot of modern day players could do well to learn that. One other definately worth a mention, from the same mould of Andy & John, both on and off the pitch was, of course, Willie Lillington."