THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – BILLERICAY TOWN (HOME) 3.00 PM KICK-OFF

There is a place for reality and that place is Champion Hill as Dulwich Hamlet entertain Billericay Town with crucial playoff points at stake

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. Yet something is stirring in the heart of Essex, the blue beast awakening at Billericay Town after the big money takeover of the club by local millionaire magnate Glenn Tamplin. The New Lodge revolution has already seen the departure of manager Craig Edwards and a slew of the team the former Dulwich Hamlet supremo built. In Edwards’ place has come Tamplin himself with the new boss committed to heavy investment in the playing squad. That commitment has already seen a raft of new signings piped aboard the Mayflower. These included the likes of Billy Bricknell, prolific goalscorer returning to the club where he first made his name, Rob Swaine, National League South winning skipper with Bromley, and Adam Cunnington, another former Raven with an impressive goalscoring record on his CV.

Though these signings may have raised a few eyebrows amongst the nonleague cognoscenti, it as small change as what would follow. In February came the news that ‘Ricay had swooped to sign former Liverpool, West Ham United and Fulham full-back Paul Konchesky. Konchesky won two England caps and was a Europa League runner-up with Fulham in 2010. He also lost an epic FA Cup final on penalties with the Hammers against Liverpool in 2006. The 35-year-old joined after a stint at Gillingham and was the first ‘marquee’ signing under Tamplin’s ambitious tenure.

Next came the news that former The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright was set to become involved in the club with the erstwhile semi-pro footballer taking a 20% share in the club to become a director. Perhaps this was not much of surprise given that Wright played at a professional level during his teenage years for West Ham, Arsenal and Spurs before joining the semi-pro ranks and playing for the likes of Bishop’s Stortford, Fisher Athletic and St. Neots Town, even making an appearance for the England C team. Only this week the Blues grabbed the national headlines as it was announced that Jamie O’Hara had joined the club, the former Spurs defensive midfielder most recently reduced to appearances on Celebrity Big Brother after being released from Gillingham due to a persistent injury. That news rather overshadowed the signing of Jake Robinson from Hemel Hempstead Town for a club record fee of £24,000. Already this season the former Brighton striker has bagged 25 goals in National League South and adds to an already potent strikeforce. Robinson has another claim to fame being crowned Sexiest Footballer in the World a decade ago. Then, just 18, he beat off stiff competition from England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who were second and third respectively, to top the pile in a poll conducted by the Gay Football Supporters Network.

Having climbed as high as 5th spot and a place in the playoff places by the time Grays Athletic succumbed to Goldy Capela double on Guy Fawkes Day, Billericay had slipped back into the midtable morass by the time Tamplin completed his coup in early December. With a mountain to challenge for a place at the postseason playoff revels, revamped ‘Ricay went about their task with all the enthusiasm of a pack of hounds getting the fresh scent of the fox in their nostrils. Along the way, the Blues dished out a 6-0 pummelling to the dark horses of Needham Market, still clinging to the coattails of the South Coast 2 at the head of the field, and returned victorious from Havant & Waterlooville. Meanwhile they booked their place in the final of the Alan Turvey Trophy after a 7-0 battering of Worthing’s Mackerel Men before surviving a late South Park revival after the dismissal of Joseph Ellul, the ten men holding on 4-3 at the death. It came as something of a shock when, with the club clambering back up the table, manager Craig Edwards chose to fall on his sword after a 2-2 draw away to Enfield Town. Perhaps less of surprise when the new owner announced that he would stepping into Edwards shoes, taking charge for the first time in the Essex derby away to Harlow Town as goals either side of half time from Cunnington & Bricknell ensured a 2-0 victory. However, without their new manager to inspire them from the bench, victory was followed by defeat as Khale da Costa struck in stoppage time to settle a largely forgettable encounter at Hendon’s Silver Jubilee Park. A karmic victory perhaps for Hendon had been two goals to the good when the original tie had been abandoned due to fog. The boss was back on the bench when relegation-threatened Burgess Hill Town visited the New Lodge rousing ‘Ricay to a resounding 4-0 triumph as Swaine & Bricknell both bagged braces. Bricknell continued to add to his impressive tally of goals last Saturday grabbing another pair as the Blues added to Kingstonian woes with a 3-0 win at Kingstonian. The game was nip and tuck until an infringement saw Bricknell tuck away a spot kick past Rob Tolfrey, the striker added a second with superb strike on the stroke of half time. K’s worked hard throughout the second half but impotency in front of goal kept the scoreline unchanged until Mekhi McLeod added a third late at the end of the game. The win left Billericay deftly poised for a late assault on the playoff spots in 9th, four points shy of the Hamlet and a further point in arrears of the last playoff place currently inhabited by Tonbridge Angels.

And so to Saturday. The game kicks off at 3.00 pm and takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. Turnstiles open just after 1.00 pm and all the usual outlets will be in operation including the outside bar. They’ll be a few surprises on offer in both so keep your eyes on the official Dulwich Hamlet Twitter feed @DulwichHamletFC for details.

Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception as may Season Ticket holders on presentation of their Dulwich Hamlet Season Ticket.

Admission prices:

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Tickets can be purchased on line by clicking here

Programmes: £2