Much has been made of the corporate shenanigans going on in up in Wembley. Has it wrecked the romance of the FA Cup?

Much has been made of the corporate shenanigans going on in up in Wembley. Has it wrecked the romance of the FA Cup as club stalwarts, the ones who turn out on murky Tuesday in front of a small gaggle of diehards, make way for aging ex-professionals whose sole purpose might be seen as shifting a few more gallons of the sponsors’ product? Or has it focused the square eyes of couch bound football “fan” on the grassroots of the game, dragging them away from their diet of the Premiership with its stars so removed from reality, engaging in £100,000 champagne wars and casual sexual encounters with all and sundry?

Far from Vale Farm and its army of mercenaries, the romance of the FA Cup might be kindled a little brighter a Champion Hill but for a draw that has paired the Hamlet with one of their major rivals for promotion to the Isthmian Premier come May, Hythe Town. The men of the Kent might well have been a contender last term with a strong squad bristling with experience but for some maddening inconsistency, summed by a stalwart defensive performance that frustrated the Hamlet back in December last year, sandwiched between two games when they shipped a ludicrous THIRTEEN goals including an incredulous 8-0 Boxing Day stuffing away to bitter local rivals Folkestone Invicta.

In Scott Porter Hythe possess one of the league’s youngest managers, one who has spent a busy summer augmenting his squad in preparation for a major assault on the divisional title.

Craig Cloke, once of Dover Athletic and Margate, arrived first before Jake Hobbs made the long move from Beckenham Town to complete Porter’s summer signings. Twenty-one year old striker Hobbs who previously starred for Welling United and the 29 goals he bagged last season for Beckenham Town had alerted a number of clubs to his talents including Maidstone United, Porter eventually beating off the Stones to win his signature.

Like Dulwich Hythe new season got off to a winning start as talismanic skipper, Dave Cook gave the Reds a second minute lead away to Walton Casuals. Brendon Cass doubled that lead early in the second half and though Hassan Nyang pulled one back for the hosts with 13 minutes left George Savage, former Dulwich Hamlet junior, grabbed a 87th minute goal that left the destination of the points in no doubt. However it was not all rosy in the Garden of Kent in midweek as once again Jekyll and Hythe took to the field, unable to break through against newcomers Herne Bay, ending a frustrating evening in front of goal by conceding an 87th minute winner to Danny Williams.

When the two clubs met in the league Last season both games were settled by a single goal. At Champion Hill, the Reds endured a torrid time of it, though defended well until Jimmy Dryden’s red card for a second bookable offence thrown their discipline out of the window. Sanchez Ming grabbed the match winner four minutes later yet Hythe could still have grabbed a share of the spoils, Cook desperately unlucky to see a header crash down of the underside of the bar to scramble away in the dying throes of the match. Down in deepest Kent, the boot was on the other foot as Brendon Cass’s 52nd minute winner settled things only for Dulwich to lay siege to the home goal late on, Ming denied a certain goal by a last ditch goal line clearance and close range shot from Ismail Kamara deflected on to the upright at the death. Both games proof positive that goals do not always make an absorbing encounter.

Coming into today’s Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose has shown a pragmatic approach to a game that pits him against Ryman League Division One South opponents ahead of a league meeting next month, stating he a win to put money in the club’s coffers is just as important as basking in the splendour of a cup run. Rose believes Hythe will be a big hitter throughout the season, making it all the more important that he sees the cup-tie as useful rather than romantic.

Speaking to the local press Rose said, “Neither team are going to win the FA Cup, They [Hythe Town] have made some good additions to their squad for this season and so they have to be one of the top teams in the league. It is going to be a tough game for us but it will also be a tough game for them.

“I will be approaching the game thinking about checking them out for the league; it will be an eye-opener for what they are about.”

He added, “The romance of the cup is not really relevant and goes out the door at this level. But if we get through a few rounds it is not so much about who we’re going to play, but more about getting some finances that can help the club out and balance the books for a season.”

This afternoon's game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in the ground cosy cocktail bar with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles? Right up until kick-off time there is all pints in the bar are discounted:

• ALL PINTS will be £2.50
• ALL BOTTLED BEERS will be £2
• ALL SOFT DRINKS £1.50 per pint

ADMISSION PRICES

Please note as an FA Cup tie all season tickets are not valid tomorrow and everyone unfortunately has to pay.

• £9 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 16s, Unemployed (UB40) & Full Time Students with valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Programmes: £1.50

Please note: Despite the presence of ticket machines in the lower car park, there is NO CHARGE for legitimate use of this facility by those attending Dulwich Hamlet games.