Time to renew old bonds as Dulwich Hamlet entertain Lewes at Champion Hill in the Ryman Premier Division.

Like so many football clubs, Lewes was born over a pie and a pint down the pub, in this case the Royal Oak way back in 1885. One wonders how many players woke up the following morning to realise they had committed themselves to spending their Saturday’s belting the old pig’s bladder round the field for the next nine months and to all those loyal fans, years of pain and pleasure. In the case of the Rooks there have been plenty of both down the years from the heady days under Steve King when the club ascended the heights of the Conference to the controversial appointment of Kevin Keehan as footballing supremo despite an alarming lack of credentials and the ensuring slump back to the Isthmian.

Making the iconic Dripping Pan, a place of athletic recreation for the town of Lewes since time immemorial, their home, the Rooks originally adopted a green kit to reflect the verdant Sussex Downs before switching to the now familiar red and black stripes eight years after their formation. The original purpose of the Dripping Pan seems to have been lost in the mists of time, although local legend has it that it was part of a salt making industry run by monks from the adjacent Cluniac Lewes Priory, the ruins of which can still be glimpsed from the ground. The spoil from the excavation forms the Mount behind the Clubhouse and both structures appear in the very earliest maps of Lewes in 1745.

Having won the championship of the Mid Sussex League twice before World War I the club moved to the Brighton, Hove & District Football League after the cessation of hostilities. At the end of the 1919-20 season when they became one of the founder members of Sussex County Football League. They were runners-up on four occasions but it was not until 1964-65 that they were finally able to clinch the Championship, making the step up to the old Athenian League the following season.

Two years later, they ascended the next rung on the ladder as the Second Division title became theirs in 1968 before attaining the Premier Division as the club secured the Division One championship by the narrowest of margins on goal average.

In 1977 Lewes became part of the newly expanded Isthmian League, talking their place in in Division Two. Three years later, in 1980, they were promoted to Division One as runners-up spending 11 years there before tumbling back in 1991. A quick rebound as they were once more runners-up in the title chase but the renaissance lasted but 12 months as successive relegations saw them plunge to the lowest rung of the Isthmian - Division 3 where they finished second last that first season. In 1998, again the trapdoor beckoned during dark days as the Rooks found themselves in the penultimate place once more but a messiah would soon arrive in the unlikely shape of former Northern Ireland striker, Jimmy Quinn. With Quinn taking the reins as manager during the 1998-99 season the club would soon claim back-to-back promotions, runners-up in Division Three in 2001, Champions of Division Two a year later. When the dust settled the Rooks found themselves in Division One South along with the Hamlet. With a reputation for cavalier football and a glut of goals under the management of Steve King, Lewes claimed third spot in their first season at this level, just ahead of Dulwich, before snaffling the title at the death from Sussex rivals Worthing the following year.

Further reorganisation of the leagues elevated the Rooks to highest level yet as they became founder members of the Conference South after a busy schedule of playoffs involving victories at Yeading and Basingstoke Town, and a 1-0 win over Kingstonian at the Dripping Pan at the end of the season, in effect leaping up two divisions. The rapid rise had its side effects though as, despite finishing in fourth spot in each of their first two seasons in Conference South, they were refused entry to the promotion playoffs due to the Dripping Pan’s failure to meet grading requirements for the Conference National.

The 2007/08 season became the high-water mark for the club as, under King’s stewardship, a 2-0 win over Dorchester Town sent the fans into delirium and ensured that the Blue Square South title was theirs. Doubly sweet was that moment for not only Dripping Pan had been deemed suitable for the highest echelon of the Non-League game but also the Rooks had beaten their Sussex rivals Eastbourne Borough in the quest for the championship.

Yet even as the oblivious fans were dancing in the streets, a deadly juggernaut was heading their way. King’s success was rewarded with the order of the boot as boardroom cloth cutting slashed the playing budget. All but one of the title winning squad department in the manager’s wake leaving the dressing room a lonely place for Anthony Barness.

It was even more of a shock when the managerial post went to former Brighton Commercial Manager, Kevin Keehan. 36 games later and with just 4 wins under his belt, Keehan departed leaving Steve Ibbotson with the impossible task of rescuing the Rooks from relegation. It proved an impossible task as demotion was confirmed three games into the caretaker regime, the club eventually finishing rock bottom.

Off field the vultures beckoned and Grim Reaper seemed to set to scythe the club out of existence whilst Ibbotson worked wonders with the meagre morsels at his disposal to keep the club in Conference South, surviving by the skin of their teeth in 19th (of 22) spot. However, in 2011 the club was relegated back to the Isthmian finishing in second to last place.

That summer the prodigal son made his return as King took on the reins for the club’s return to the Isthmian League but once more controversy would dog the hot seat, as, in circumstances much subject to hearsay, King departed by “mutual consent”. Former player Simon Wormull came in as caretaker, led the Rooks to sixth spot and was rewarded with a permanent job. A poisoned chalice it seemed for the following season Lewes battled with relegation through to finish 19th and this time Wormull’s reward was the old tin tack as he made way for Garry Wilson to be appointed head honcho at the end of May, bringing in former Eastbourne Town and Worthing manager Danny Bloor as his number two.

Starting from scratch the pair completely rebuilt the squad packing it with players they had each worked with before such as the Crabb brothers, Sam and Matt from Eastbourne, the experienced former Crawley Down skipper Fraser Logan and the deadly Ade Olorunda whose goals proved so vital for Maidstone United in their ultimately futile battle with Dulwich Hamlet for the Division One South title last term.

Familiarity has certainly not bred contempt for the new look Lewes has proved a redoubtable unit, something much in evidence away to then league leaders Wealdstone when the Rooks fought back from 2-0 down with seven minutes to go, having lost two key players to injury, to snatch a 2-2 draw at the death. That took their unbeaten start to the current campaign to an impressive 11 games a run they extended last weekend as they came through a thorny away FA Cup tie at Southern League Chalfont St Peter to an early strike from Dan Smith, the only goal of a tough contest and one they negotiated without the services of several key players due to injury and suspension. Indeed Olorunda will still be absent this afternoon as he sits out the last game of a three-match ban.

If past encounters with the Rooks are anything to go by, for this afternoon’s game to pass without incident will be something of a surprise. Three times the two clubs have met in the FA Cup, the first two pairings going to a replay, the second of which finished with Dulwich winning a late night shoot out at the Dripping Pan following by a Pink and Blue stampede for the station and the last train back to London. Meanwhile a quarterfinal of the League Cup (then sponsored by Bryco) in February 2003 saw both Gavin Rose and Peter Adeniyi on the score sheet as Dulwich ran out 4-1 victors at Champion Hill. Adeniyi had switched allegiances to the Rooks by the time the clubs met again the following season. Travelling to Lewes on a Tuesday night in October Dulwich were held up on their journey and did not arrive until 45 minutes after the allotted kick-off time. Remarkably, the game still went ahead commencing at the ungodly hour of nine o’clock. An early chance for Eben Allen went begging and from then on it was Lewes with the whip hand, Junior Kadi opening the scoring, Jay Lovett added number two, Lee Newman a third before Adeniyi polished things off with the final goal of a four nil rout. Along with Adeniyi, Lovett looks set to take the stage this afternoon, the cultured centre half still going strong some 17 years after making his debut in a Rooks’ shirt despite a few extra grey hairs.

The return fixture, again midweek, was similarly blighted by transport problems as Lewes coach croaked on the M23 before its replacement managed to get lost in the wilds of Crystal Palace. By the end of the 90 minutes, the visitors’ charabanc was not the only thing close to a breakdown as a rampant Hamlet feasted on roasted Rook, master Martin Eede teaching pupil Steve King a few salient lessons about the oft times cruel mistress that is the game of football. Craig Dundas had the ball in the net early on only for a perverse referring decision to go against before Scott Ward dropped a Kadi free kick at the feet of Newman who made no mistake. However, it was just what was needed to inspire the Hamlet as Dundas headed the Hamlet level before David Moore added a second with minutes. The belligerent Dundas made it 3-1 in the second half before Charley Side polished things off for a rampant Dulwich who had denied Lewes the chance of claiming top spot from now defunct Windsor and Eton. However come the season’s end it was to Lewes laughing last as they bounded into the playoffs whilst Dulwich would suffer the agony of penalties in playoff defeat to Wealdstone keeping them in the South for almost another decade.

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 our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles? Moreover, after the game don’t forget Happy Hour in the bar, time to drown your sorrows, toast success or just chat and chill.

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• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50