Off-the-pitch efforts recognised AGAIN!

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club were proud to be awarded the Barry East Trophy at the Ryman League Annual Ball last Saturday night.

The award, which is given annually by the Isthmian League Management Committee, to the member club or individual that has done the most to promote the cause of the league in a beneficial way, was in recognition of our on-going community work off the pitch which we try to build year-on-year.

Nick Robinson, the League Chairman, called up his old friend and our out-going Secretary Martin Eede to lodge the award in his hands, but he graciously allowed Liam Hickey, as Football Chairman, to go up to the podium as well, where he was recognised by guest of honour Tom Watt, as he handed it over.

Liam told our website:

"This really is an award for everyone who helps out at the Club, in whatever we do community-wise, and it's a huge honour to be recognised by the Isthmian League once more I am so pleased for our Supporters' Trust volunteers & our Football Committee, who perhaps don't always get the recognition they deserve; with special praise from me to both Mishi Morath & George Parnavelas, who sit round the Boardroom table with me."

Committee member for community liaison Mishi Morath said:

"We certainly weren't expecting that! We were also awarded the same Trophy in 2015, and it is very rare that any club or person wins it twice, never mind twice in three years. I sometimes get too much credit for what goes on, it's a great team effort from many, many people...but things like this do make it all worthwhile, even though awards don't even cross my mind when we do all of our community work."

While Football Commitee man, & outgoing Supporters' Trust Board Member Andy Greig , with a smile on his face, as he took a selfie of himself with the salver alongside his wife, quipped:

"If we win a third time to we get to keep it?"

This award follows on from being bestowed with the title of Football Foundation Non League Community Club of the Year last summer, at the National Game Awards, which were held at Stamford Bridge; as well as the 'Volunteers of Dulwich Hamlet Football Club' being awarded the 'Honorary Liberty of the old Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell' at Southwark Cathedral at the close of the 2015/16 season, when a special commemorative scroll was presented to Darren McCreery, from the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Trust-one of whose Board Members nominated the volunteers to be recognised.

The Barry East Trophy, as well as the decanter presented at the National Games Awards, are on display in the Club boardroom. If any supporters would like to see them just ask any Football Committee member.