The Hamlet travel to Worthing on Saturday, & Dulwich fans are in town early for an indoor sports fest!

Regardless of the wet weather, Dulwich Hamlet supporters are hitting the Sussex coast early, for an indoor sports contest against their Worthing counterparts, which commences in the Rebels clubhouse, at twelve noon.

Even if the match is postponed-hopefully not!-the Hamlet terrace contingent will be making the trip, for an early afternoon of merriment.

The friendship between our fans & those of the Rebels go back a long, but has only been football based in the past. Their Supporters' Team have been long standing opponents of our, going back over ten years; & we have also competed in tournaments alongside them in places as far flung as Glasgow! On top of this we have both lent each other players when we have been short of numbers at some of them.

But this season the fixtures were not kind for football, with our home game being too early for the Southwark Council pitches being available for hire, & this weekend being slap bang in the holiday season...a blessing, with the mudbath it would have been!

Rather than not have our two sets of fans mixing on & off the pitch, their Supporters Team supremo Nick Courtnadge decided to have an indoor sports competition before the 'big boys' contest out on the main Woodside Road pitch.

The main contest will be a 501 darts contest, for which any supporters can contest, not just those from the fans football teams. Ours are under the wing of Mick O'Shaughnessy & Lester Ford, on the day, & our Supporters' Football Team co-manager Lester told Hamlet Pitchero:

"Anyone who wants to take part can do. You don't have to have played for the football team, this is a social event for anyone who wants a bit of a 'beano' at the seaside to take part in. It doesn't matter if you're not that good, it's about having a bit of fun."

For the darts the first round will be one leg, but after that it will be the best of three. There are up to 32 spots in the tournament, & if we can't fill sixteen places these will be re-allocated to home fans. But the first round will be drawn on a Worthing v. Dulwich basis. There's no entry fee & there will be a prize for the winner.

There will be sideline games on the go, traditional games of cards, cribbage & dominoes. So it will be lots of fun. There is even the possibility, still to be confirmed, of short mat bowls!

Worthing's Nick Courtnadge told Hamlet Pitchero:

"It promises to be a great day, we have a real friendship with your fans, & this gives a great opportunity for other fans of both clubs to mix & make friendships, not just those of us who are silly enough to pull on our football boots! We will have real ale on, at only £2.50 a pint; & are planning to do something like sausage & chips, for a small donation, just to cover costs, really."

As an added incentive to get there early & join in the fun, Worthing will have their special offer 'early bird' admission, where it will be two quid off the admission charge of £9 on the gate, seven pound before two o'clock.