The new book, by the fans for the fans, published by Hamlet fan Stephen Desmond, went on sale last week. We took the opportunity to chat with him

It’s a hour or so after the final whistle, Danny Carr has just left the building, on his way back to his new home oop north, so-still basking in the excellent pre-season win over Huddersfield Town last Tuesday night-one of our Hamlet Pitchero website team collared Stephen Desmond in as he chilled out in the bar after the match, to ask him about the book he produced ‘The Only Way Is Up’:

So it went on sale tonight. First of all, simply…what mad you do it?

“A couple of reasons I suppose. Firstly, at the end of the season I’d got to know lots of fellow Dulwich Hamlet fans, who were a bit more unusual and varied interests for football fans. Really diverse, we had such a great season, so much positive energy about the place I thought it would be great to mark it in some way. But as brilliant as the football was on the pitch, it was just as brilliant off of it, so I thought it would be great to get a load of people from our fanbase to contribute; and secondly, I thought it would be great to make some money from the proceeds, after I’d recouped my printing costs, for the “12th Man” player budget idea. So I invited different people to write different bits, which pooled together became a quality read, about the amazing season we have had. It wasn’t too structured, I told people what I wanted, but left it to them. I trimmed one or two bits, where it was previously duplicated, but for the most part leaving it completely unique and original, from source.”

As you say, it’s a great mix, for what the word ‘eclectic’ was invented for. Were you surprised by the varied contributions?

“Yes, totally, absolutely! It was a bit of everything. One chap even mentioned the championship win 35 years ago, so it spans both championship glories. Other people who contributed were newer fans, who have only stumbled on Dulwich in the last year or two. I have to say I have been blown away by the magic of it all. Young and old, male and female, traditional fans, whose number one team will always be Dulwich. A really crazy mix in there. So many varied contributors. Herne Bay, which was my favourite away day, is in there. A fan who spent the season standing next to Fat bob from the punk band ‘Hard Skin’. Such a mix. It celebrates the diversity of what we were all about last season. We all come here for one reason, regardless of our background and that is the epitome for me.”

Having just bought it this evening, I haven’t had the chance to read it yet, did you write anything for it, personally?

“Yes, I wrote a chapter about Herne Bay away; actually about two games, two memories of the season. The other being the pre-season match at Cray Valley (Paper Mills). Like most people it’s just a personal recollection of how the year, the nine months of the season transpired. The whole book is a mix of stuff, not a real review of the season, but what special bits of it meant to Dulwich fans personally. It’s opinion based, and fans have different opinions. Some might say that’s wrong, whatever. But it’s a collection of thoughts, no-one is right or wrong. It’s the Dulwich freedom of expression, and this book is just part of our way, whether that be flags, music, tannoy takeovers. I hope people take that on board and who might not agree with some of that, accept we are building one community on the terraces to support our team.”

You’ve touched on the fact it’s not your traditional review of a championship season. How well received do you think it will be in more, shall we say, traditional quarters?

“ Erm…I haven’t a clue, but once people read it I am sure they will see it’s all positive vibes and not negative. But if you don’t like it, you can’t please people all of the time. It’s good to try new stuff, see what works and least you’ve tried. Even if you don’t like it there’s no way it can be one hundred percent turgid an mediocre. You have to go with your heart at the end of the day, and that’s what I’ve done. Most importantly, it makes money for the “12th Man” and also, it’s informative and will entertain our fans. What more can you ask for? Everyone sees things through a different lens. Putting all this together has been a fascinating project, into how people see the game, and I think we should all applaud that.”

I noticed you didn’t put your name in the book, as editor, but as far as I’m concerned it is your book. Why not? Modesty prevails?

“It’s not my at all, it’s everyone’s book. Twenty five chapters, seventeen contributors. Their names are all in there, that’s what it’s all about. Dulwich Hamlet’s fanbase as one. No one claims the glory. Just take it as it is. I was just the co-ordinator of the project. The people that mattered most are each and every single contributor.”

Was there anything left out by anyone that you thought would get a mention?

“Good question! When I first had the idea I envisaged everyone writing about ‘Wall-gate’, or this game or that game. But really supporters didn’t mention ‘Wall-gate’ that much. That’s the point of it, some things meant more to some fans, things you wouldn’t expect. Some were quite obscure, others high profile, like the “12th Man”, the beneficiary of the whole book. I thought the Cup Final would write about just the Cup Final, but it wasn’t given a huge amount of attention. For me, that was a great night out, a good atmosphere, even though we lost.”

And when’s the next one?

( Laughs!)
“Next one? I don’t know, we’ll see how it goes. I think I’ll wait until I see how people react to this one. Definitely see how it goes, we’ve got a 300 print one, I hope people buy it and we break even. Definitely give it a chance to break even first.”