Off the pitch work recognised

Dulwich Hamlet were honoured on Saturday night by the Ryman League, being presented with the Barry East Trophy in recognition of community work.

In particular the Ryman League acknowledged the amazing work that everyone at the Club has done, not just in boosting our crowds, but in the way Champion Hill is such a welcoming, open place to all on match days; as highlighted by such an eclectic mix of media coverage over the last season.

The Trophy, named after the former Isthmian League Chairman & President Barry East is awarded to the club who the League Management Committee deem the most influential in highlighting our League & deemed the most influential over the past twelve months.

It was fitting that Dulwich Hamlet Chief Executive Martin Eede was presented with the trophy at the Ryman League Presentation Night at the London Hilton, as he himself only last week passed the milestone of having been involved with The Hamlet for twenty years.

He said:
"I think it is a well deserved recognition of the hard work that many people in the Club have put in and the way in which everyone has put their full weight behind attracting the many new fans who have never been involved in football before. "

Fellow Football Club Committee member Mishi Morath, who is heavily involved in reaching out to the local community, also told our official website:
"Gobsmacked is a cliche, but that's how I feel. You could say that I'm tickled pink for the Club to get this award, but it really came out of the blue!"

He went on:
"To be honest I've been a bit embarrassed by people calling & texting saying 'well done' to me, for I'm just a small cog in a very big Hamlet chain. I may have the ideas, and bring them to the boardroom table to try to implement...but none of what we've done has been possible without the support of Gavin Rose...and also all of our supporters, especially the unstinting backing of our Supporters Trust, who have worked alongside our Football Committee on the vast majority of what we have achieved. And long may that continue."

He concluded:
"We have achieved a lot this season, if I'm honest. Hopefully we can build on that during the coming one. If I had to pick one thing that stood out more than anything else though it would have had to have been our historic ground-breaking anti-homophobia friendly with Stonewall FC, back in February."

James Masini, Chair of the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Trust was also in praise of the award:

"This is great news and well deserved. Congratulations to everyone at the club who has played their part, of which the Supporters Trust was proud to put in many, many hours of work on helping make our club more inclusive to all over the last year."

Final word goes to Dulwich Hamlet Football Club Chairman, Jack Payne, who spoke of his joy:

" This is a very proud moment for Dulwich Hamlet Football Club. Not for any individuals as such, but for every single person, whether Committee member, the Supporters Trust, or simply individual fans. This is an award for the whole Club...in recognition of the hard work that everyone does to make our Club special."