It has been a long wait, but at last the day has dawned when Dulwich return to the Isthmian league elite, welcoming the Trawlerboys to Champion Hill.

There must have many who gave out a groan when the fixture computer paired Dulwich Hamlet with Lowestoft for the season opener, those who prefer a few early season patsies to get a few early victories in the bag along with a tidy haul of points and goals. However, one doubts whether Gavin Rose is among them, the Dulwich gaffer of a mind-set to face the toughest challenges for the first whistle. Like ourselves, the Trawlerboys have suffered the inconsolable agony of play off final defeat in recent seasons, like the Hamlet last season they will be aiming to come back stronger. Last season Lowestoft suffered the agony of losing a third consecutive play-off final after losing touch with eventual champions Whitehawk in the latter stages of the season.

Despite the heartache of those defeats it has been a meteoric rise through the ranks for the Crown Meadow club, an ascent that began in 2009, one year after reaching the final of the FA Vase, where they lost 2–1 to Kirkham & Wesham, when they won the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League again, together with the Suffolk Premier Cup, and were promoted to Division One North of the Isthmian League. They won that division at the first attempt earning promotion to the Premier Division, whilst also reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup, narrowly defeated losing 1–0 away to Wrexham. In their first season in the Premier Division they finished fourth and reached the play-off final, where they lost 4–3 at Tonbridge Angels, despite a valiant fight back from 3-1. The next season the club reached the play-off final again after finishing third, but experienced play-off pain once more, this time against AFC Hornchurch, as Michael Spencer’s 116th minute winner for the Urchins ensured no promotion party on the Broads. However on the upside reached the final of the Suffolk Premier Cup, in which they defeated Bury Town 4–2.

Lowestoft reached the playoff final for a third consecutive season last May after finishing 2nd behind the well-heeled Hawks in the title trace, the club’s highest finish ever in their history. With home advantage against Dulwich’s Isthmian League Cup final conquers Concord Rangers at home, a packed Crown Meadow was expectant that this would be their year but the Canvey side proved their nemesis holding out for a 2-1 victory despite all Lowestoft’s efforts to break through their opponents’ barricades in the increasingly fraught latter stages.

After a period of reflection Lowestoft started the task of rebuilding for the coming 2013/2014 season with a concerted recruitment drive. First in goalkeeper was Will Viner to battle it out with Jake Jessup for the number 1 shirt after Andrew Reynolds was forced to retire due to injury and out of contract Andrew Plummer was allowed to sign for Needham Market. Long-term midfield star Joe Francis departed for local rivals Leiston whilst forwards Hakeem Araba and Joe Benjamin were allowed to leave the club, the latter later signing for St Neots Town.

Things went quiet for a bit but then the transfer market burst in to life as The Trawlerboys Town finally made some significant progress in strengthening their squad for the forthcoming season with the signings of Jack Ainsley and defender Curtis Haynes-Brown. Fans' favourite Haynes-Brown returned to the club two years after leaving for Yeovil, a move that failed to work out along with short spells at AFC Wimbledon and Cambridge United, the club quick to re-sign the centre-half after he was released on a free transfer. Local lad Ainsley turned out for Ipswich Town in the Championship last season and is seen by the club as quite a coup. Also joining is last season’s Canvey Island goalkeeper Ashlee Jones, who signed after an impressive trial period with the club. Jones came through the ranks at Southampton where he was a member of the squad that reached the FA Youth Cup Final in 2005 alongside Gareth Bale, Leon Best, Nathan Dyer and Theo Walcott. No stranger to to South London with Fisher Athletic one of experienced shot stopper’s former clubs.

Latest to put open to paper at Crown Meadow is Bradley Woods-Garness, another latterly of Canvey Island. With 24 goals in last season’s Ryman Premier campaign for the Seagulls, Woods-Garness finished second in the race for the Golden Boot and with strike rate of around a goal every other game should prove a valuable weapon in the Trawlerboys’ arsenal.

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?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £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