'The Rabblers',as our fans team call themselves, head over to East London, having retained the Edgar Kail Trophy in Glasgow a couple of weeks ago

There's still time for YOU to put yourselves forward to play for the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Team, over the river at Walthamstow on Saturday morning, the 21st June, as we compete in the Leyton Orient supporters CHAOS Cup six-a-side competition.

It will be held at Douglas Eyre Sports Centre in Walthamstow, full address is 148 Coppermill Lane, Walthamstow, London E17 7HE; the closest station being Blackhorse Road, an easy journey on the Victoria Line. The first games are due to commence at around ten o'clock, so you'd need to be there around half past nine. It's an a new all-weather surface, so astro boots or trainers only please.
There's a bar and cafe on site too, for those who fancy a day out, but don't want to play.

For further details contact co-manager SHAUN DOOLEY on 07931276118. If he doesn't answer leave a message & he will get back to you, as he works shifts.

It's an extremely friendly tournament that’s been running for an amazing quarter of a century, and we have been keen participants for several years now, how received an invite from the O’s lads, when we began going up to Glasgow for the Queens Park one.

It’s a mix of supporters sides, several Orients ones and some local outfits too. We have been drawn in Group D and in the group stages shall take on: Stratford Stompers; Bristol Rovers; Legoheads & Libertines.

Among the teams in other groups are the hosts of our two other summer tournaments, namely Worthing & Queens Park.

We went down to the south coast for the Worthing FC International 6-a-side Tournament, which was held at their main Woodside Road Stadium, back on 17th May. Our squad that day was: Steve Rickerby (in charge of the team for the day); Hugo Greenhalgh; Mike Wootton; Grant Holdsworth; Ben Caldecourt; George Beamont; Luke Grice & Mishi Morath. With Ian Caldecourt ready and waiting on the sidelines, if injuries &/or old age took its toll on some, but he wasn’t required, much to his pleasure!

Our first match finished nil nil, against Solent Stars, a local mob, a mix of a Worthing fan & his old university mates, from where they studies in Southampton, I believe.

Then our first goal, and second point of the day, thanks to a George Beamont header, which earned us a share of the spoils from our German ‘cousins’ from Hamburg, Altona 93.

That was to be the last of our putting any points on the board, as we had only defeats to look forward to for the rest of our group games, the first of which also had an international flavour, losing by the only goal of the game to AS Roma, who were Italian, but are all based in the capital, being their London Supporters Club.

After that came a reversal by the odd goal in three, to Gillingham A, with our second-and last-goal of the day being scored by Hugh Greenhalgh.

Another one defeat was next, this time at the hands of local hacks from the ‘Worthing Herald’.

Whilst another Sussex based outfit proved to be our heaviest loss of the day, as we went down 3-0 to Crawley Town.

After that it was time to have a quick shower, before heading into the bar to watch the FA Cup Final, as well as watching the post-tournament presentations. The competition won by a team from Sussex County Leaguers Arundel FC.

Just under two weeks ago it was time for the real ‘old school, old boys brigade’ of The Rabble to represent the team, as we donned our Pink & Blue stripes once more, to ‘compete’ in the Veterans section, for Over 40s, up in Glasgow, for the Queens Park Supporters Sixes, our part of the day being played for the Gary Brooks Masters.

In very wet conditions, unfortunately, we were represented by our Supporters Team co-management duo of Shaun Dooley & Lester Ford. Also playing were Amin Haque; Ian Gannon; Steve Bennett; Mishi Morath & Steve Rickerby. And although we again faltered at the group stage, we at least managed a victory, so our spirits weren’t dampened…completely the opposite in fact, as it was a ‘vital’ win that ensured the Edgar Kail Trophy RETURNED to Champion Hill!

This is a genuine trophy of friendship, inaugurated by the Queens Park supporters team head honcho Iain Campbell a few years ago, named after our legendary player, who was the first ever Englishman to be invited to ‘guest’ for Queens Park, for a game back in the nineteen twenties. Whenever we have an eleven-a-side friendly, or are matched with them in a tournament, this is what is at stake. We were somewhat ‘fortunate’ in that it was agreed to only play for it once, at this tournament, as we beat the Spiders team in our group, but then lost to another one in the ‘losers/something to do for the really crap sides who’ve been knocked out’ Plate!

Our first game north of the border this year was against Well Posh, a mix of old friends who support either Motherwell or Peterborough United, and combined together they beat us two nil.

Next up came a game against a squad who had won the open age part of the day in the past, but were now ‘dropping down’ into the Masters. And it’s fair to say they were ‘masters’ hitting us for ‘six of the best’, as we lost 6-0. Though, it must be mentioned that we gave them a little help along the way, with Lester Ford scoring one of them!

Our next match was surprisingly close, as we only lost by a single goal to Nottingham Forest, and that came from our own Ian Gannon who deflected it past a helpless Amin Haque.

It was own goals galore in our next defeat, as Shrewsbury Town scored once past us, but won the game 3-0, ‘thanks’ to oggies from Shaun Dooley & Steve Rickerby.

After that came our magnificent Edgar Kail Trophy win, as we came back from behind against Classic Queens Park, to win 3-1, two of our boys scoring at the right end this time, a brace from Lester Ford, and one from Ian Gannon.

In the Plate we ‘opted to head for the bar’, which is what I think our opponents really wanted to do too, and seemed a bit miffed when they beat us! But it was all good fun, as there was another 3-1 scoreline, this time a reversal for us, against Queens Park Spangle Army, which was a mix of some more of their older fans & supporters of their German friends from Wattenschied 09. Our goal was, arguably, one of the best from a Hamlet player in any tournament for a long time, a superb effort from Shaun Dooley.

Despite not having much success on the pitch, we enjoyed the Edgar Kail Trophy tussle and it was nice to see our friends from Estonia, JK Jalgpallihaigla, win the plate in the main competition.

Roll on both tournaments next summer, and don’t forget…see you at Leyton Orient’s CHAOS Cup tomorrow, speak to Shaun if you want to take part.