Old rivalries renewed as Tooting come to town..

With the New Year dawning, Dulwich Hamlet sit astride the summit of Division One South, welcoming our old friends and foes from Tooting and Mitcham United to Champion Hill. The Terrors have had a mixed season so far, rock bottom early days after winning just two of their opening nine league games. That sorry spell put paid to the job of manager, Roberto Forzoni, who departed in acrimonious circumstances after a 5-2 thrashing away to Hythe Town. The former Dulwich Hamlet reserve team boss and erstwhile first team coach at Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford arrived as the new manager in May 2012 after the Terrors had slumped out of the Premier in second last spot and with a goals against tally of 116, the worst in the division by a country mile. The arrival of the magic circle member failed to spark a revival in the fortunes of Tooting and in the wake of Forzoni’s departure, the poisoned chalice passed to another late of this parish, terrier-ish former Dulwich midfielder Jamie Martin.

Despite losing his first two games in charge, the new broom quickly got to work as a number of players were shown the door whilst others were recruited to the cause including many once of the Pink and Blue persuasion.

One of these Carl Wilson-Denis was on target as the Terrors [picked up a welcome three points away to Ramsgate. That victory seemed to light a candle of hope at Imperial Fields and at the fifth time of trying, Tooting finally managed to pick up a point on their own manor with a battling draw at home to Burgess Hill.

Martin continued his revolution capturing the signature of French striker Laurent Hamici from Cray Wanderers, bringing the number of new arrivals at Imperial Fields to six, with Adam Thompson, Jamie Lawrence, Anthony Joseph, George Landais and Francis Quarm the other new acquisitions. Martin released Sos Yao and Sol Pinnock, who joined Carshalton Athletic, to make room for Hamici's arrival.

On the pitch things perked up as first Corinthian-Causals, one-time table toppers Crawley Down Gatwick and Whitstable Town left Mitcham pointless, the only blot on an otherwise perfect November defeat away to Sittingbourne. Having been adrift at the bottom just five games earlier that victory over the Oystermen of Whitstable lifted the Terrors to the heady heights of ninth spot and dreams of gate-crashing the promotion party began to reawaken in the minds of supporters. However their bubbles were burst as they suffered a shutout away to Worthing in a 2-0 defeat remarkably the Rebels first home league victory since bookies’ favourites Maidstone were beaten some three months earlier. the struggle for points continued as Luke Webb’s 76th minute goal settled a drab affair away to Folkestone whilst despite being back on home turf for the next three games they could only garner a single point in a draw with Chipstead before first Merstham took the honours with a 4-2 win on Boxing Day then struggling Horsham, for whom away wins are rarer than hens’ teeth, bagged a 3-1 victory dropping the Terrors back to 17th slot and casting a wary eye over their shoulder at the drop zone.

With Wilson-Denis and Hamici, both former Dulwich men in the vanguard the Terrors possess a potent strike force whilst in former Bradford City midfielder Lawrence, they have a skipper who is always prepared to lead by example, a leader first over the top and into the hail of enemy fire.

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? Sample our new Hamlet beer, the first every beer brewed just for Dulwich Hamlet at just £1.50 a pint all day!

ADMISSION PRICES

• £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.

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

Programmes: £1.50