There's Power in this Union!

Saturday 8th October promises to be an historic day as The Hamlet stage our first ever Trade Union Day!

In a collaboration between the Dulwich Hamlet Football Club Committee and the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Trust all current Trade Union members will be able to attend our Ryman League Premier Division match at home to Bognor Regis Town for the concessionary rate of only £4, rather than the usual £10 admission charge.

Our special Trade Union Day will also be our opportunity to raise funds for the International Brigades Memorial Trust to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War, through bucket collections from half-time onwards, with the Football Club also chipping in the proceeds from the '50/50' ticket sales on the day.

Working with them highlights and commemorates the 80th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War and the Battle of Cable Street,which is more famous nationally, but Southwark also had a strong tradition of opposing the fascists in the Thirties through the lesser-known Battle of Long Lane.

The International Brigade Memorial Trust was set up to remember all those who lost their lives fighting fascism in Spain. One of those volunteers all those years ago was the well-known Trade Union leader Jack Jones, who lived on Champion Hill in his retirement for many years.

As part of the day:
● Anyone producing a Trade Union card on the gates will get in for our concession rate of £4
● The match will be sponsored by ASLEF and Hope not Hate.
● Local trade union branches will be encouraged to bring their banners and they will be displayed pitchside. So if you are in a Trade Union yourself, even if your branch is outside Southwark, why not speak to your branch representatives about bringing along your branch banner; the more varied and colourful they are around the ground the better! And Bognor fans are more than welcome to bring them along from their Sussex branches too.
● The International Brigade Memorial Trust will have a display showcasing their work and will be holding a bucket collection.
● The guest beer will be Brigadista Ale, a special edition beer brewed by Black Hill Brewery in County Durham for this year's commemorations.
We would like to invite all supporters to come to the game and remember the bravery of those who travelled over land and sea to fight fascism.

he day is being jointly supported by Dulwich Hamlet Football Club, it's Football Committee and the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust. Liam Hickey, Football Club chairman, enthused:
"Dulwich Hamlet Football Club is delighted to hold its first Trade Union Day and we hope to welcome lots of people who want to experience the club for the first time.”

Also stating:

“I would like to thank ASLEF, Hope Not Hate, our own Supporters' Trust & our committee member for Community Development, Mishi Morath, for their work in setting this up.”

“This is another example of the various parts of our club working as one to engage with all sections of our community and celebrate the achievements both past and present that make up the fabric of society today. "

Whilst Mishi Morath added:

"This event shows wonderful unity between the Football Committee and Trust Board working together to stage a focused day, it is so much more than a 'token gesture' All those decades ago many of our fans would have supported the International fight against the rise of fascism in Europe, with dozens of them undoubtedly, paying the ultimate price in the Second World War, which came after the Spanish Civil War. This day is for them as well. "

Also expressing delight at the whole idea he lauded the Trust volunteers:

"When David Rogers approached me from the Trust, I was so pleased, because it not only matched my ideas for working alongside our local trade union movement this season, but it added to them immensely. It was great to add the concessionary price to the groundwork that he has prepared for the day."

The Chair of the Trust, Duncan Hart said:

“Over the past few seasons, we have helped put on numerous community initiatives from Rainbow Laces day to support the fight against homophobia in football to fundraising for those in need of humanitarian support in Calais and Dunkirk. We are more than happy to commemorate the actions of these brave individuals and raise money for the International Brigade Memorial Trust.”

David Rogers, Trust Board member for Community Development, who has been instrumental in working alongside the Football Club in arranging the day & the sponsorship, commented:

"The Football Club has always made sure that we welcome everyone to our games and the club have always taken a strong stance against discrimination in all forms. We are delighted to be partnering up with ASLEF, Hope not Hate and the IBMT in order to commemorate these brave people.”

He concluded:

“We would like to invite members of all Unions to the commemoration event and we would be more than happy to display your banners around the ground and the pitch.”