We can see you sneaking on!

Making his debut last Saturday against The Hamlet was Dulwich season ticket holder Ben Caldecourt!

Seventeen-year-old Ben Caldecourt, who has even been a regular for the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Team for the last couple of seasons, came off the bench at Church Road, to make his Whyteleafe First Team debut against his Hamlet heroes in our friendly last weekend.

The 'Leafe are Ben's local side, being a Warlingham boy, but his family pedigree is solidly Pink & Blue.

Ben has been a Hamlet terrace regular, home & away, for over a decade, one of his first heroes being Chris Dickson, from that era. He follows in the footsteps of his father Ian, who has also been a Dulwich fan since he was a young boy in the early Seventies. Whilst before that his dad had watched The Hamlet in the Forties & Fifties, & Ian can recall him reminiscing about the likes of Arthur Phebey, Pat Connett & Dave Darvill all gracing the hallowed Champion Hill turf.

A proud Ian gushed:

" I was really chuffed for him, he's worked really hard to get there, & although there was some sentiment involved in bringing him on from the bench against us on Saturday, he was also there on merit. Whyteleafe have a good policy of having one of their younger players involved at every first team match."

Ian went on to tell us here at the official Dulwich Hamlet website that Ben was only informed he was in the squad a couple of hours before kick off:

"It was just as well really, I don't think I'd have been able to sleep the night before. The Whyteleafe management were encouraging & supportive, as always, but it was also nice for Gavin Rose to also encourage & talk to him, which just shows the pure class of the man.
No matter what Ben goes on to achieve in later years I think that Saturday will stay with him forever. What a game to make your debut in!"

It goes without saying all at Dulwich Hamlet Football Club, from the terraces, through to the Boardroom & the dressing rooms, wish Ben all the best in his fledgling non-league career...except for if he ever has to lace up his boots again against our boys!