Tonight’s Match Preview – Dulwich Hamlet vs Altona ’93 for the Pa Wilson Memorial Trophy

Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome! Fremder, Etranger, Stranger, Glücklich zu sehen, Je suis enchanté, Happy to see you, Bleibe, reste, stay.

Willkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome! Im Champion Hill, Au Champion Hill, To Champion Hill! Meine Damen und Herren, Mes dames et Messieurs, Ladies and Gentlemen, Comment ça va?

Leave your troubles outside. So life is disappointing, forget it! At Hamlet life is beautiful. The football is beautiful. Even the stewards are beautiful.

Well it might have been a long wait for the playoff semi down at Margate but that’s nothing compared to the wait for this return match.

Back in April 1925, on one of Dulwich Hamlet’s famed Easter tours abroad to spread the gospel of English football, they travelled to Germany for three matches against some of the best of Teutonic football. First of those matches was in Altona, still an independent city prior to being gobbled up by Hamburg some 12 years later, and the crowds were out in force to witness an impressive win for the men in Pink and Blue. Altona ’93 were almost at full strength and boasted their finest player in the ranks, Adolf Jager. Dulwich had a few absentees from their strongest squad but one man stood head and shoulders above his teammates, the incomparable Edgar Kail. Both players would find the back of the net that Good Friday with Kail bagging a hat trick in Dulwich’s 4-1 win whilst Jager would strike late to secure his side a consolation.

Fast forward more than ninety years, and thanks to the determination of a pair of fans from either side of the North Sea it is time for the return match. After finishing a respectable seventh in the Oberliga Hamburg last season, Altona ’93 have a bit of a head start on the Hamlet in terms of preseason preparation with five “Testspiel” already under their belts coming into this evening’s encounter. Four of those have resulted in victories with a tasty 27 goals scored so far. They opened with a 6-2 win against SC Nienstedten, followed that by beating TSV Krupp 2-1 then managed a creditable draw against Hamburger SV II (Reserves) 2-2. The goals rally began to flow in their last two outings with SC Ellerau hammered 10-0 and Cosmos Wedel demolished 7-1.

Key players to watch out for include striker Sven Körner, who also plays for the German national beach soccer team, and his cohort in attack Jan Luka Segedi both of whom have already proved prolific in preseason.

At stake this evening will be the Pa Wilson Memorial Trophy which has kindly been donated for the match by Jack McInroy of the excellent Hamlet Historian publication. A beatifically crafted piece that has been designed and cast by Jim Virgo. Thank you both.

This evening’s game kicks off at 6.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

The turnstiles will be open from approximately 4.00 pm with refreshment facilities available in the ground for early arrivals. As a very healthy crowd is expected, why not avoid the late rush and relax. Before the game 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?

Remember that tonight that adults can pay in Euros (notes preferred please!)

ADMISSION PRICES

• Free with your Dulwich Hamlet 2014/2015 Season Ticket
• £10 / €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)
• 12 year olds and under FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

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

Programmes: £2.00