It's been quite a while since our last round-up of the local newspapers...

Almost three weeks, in fact. Apologies for this, but a combination of spending a lot of time in preparation of the Harry Ottaway Benefit Quiz Night, and then simply not having the energy to type things up, the result of trying to shake of a bit of cold.

Hopefully this will cover the last fortnight, prior to the current week, and we shall bring you this weeks coverage tomorrow!

I was due begin with the midweek edition of the 'South London Press', from way back on Tuesday 19th November, which led it's non-league column with our home draw with Concord Rangers in the FA Trophy third qualifying round, unfortunately I can't seem to find my copy, so we shall start with the 'Southwark News...

On Thursday 21st November the Trophy replay was covered in the 'Southwark News':

Concord down Hamlet

Concord Rangers bagged two goals in injury time on Tuesday night to finally defeat a dogged Hamlet side at the second time of asking.
The Skrill South side looked to have won things in normal time thanks to goals from James White and Sam Higgins.
However Hamlet's Ian Daly scored a dramatic late equaliser that, along with a Dean Lodge effort, sent the FA Trophy replay into extra-time.
In the additional 30 minutes Reece Harris and Higgins scored again for the home side and a late Xavier Vidal effort could not stop Hamlet falling to defeat.
That contest followed a high quality game at the weekend, which ended 1-1, when Hamlet should have got the job done. Rangers took the lead on Saturday when Higgins curled a lovely low free kick around the wall and into the bottom corner of Phil Wilson's net. Lodge was central to the equaliser on the hour mark when he was taken down by Concord keeper Jamie Butler. who was yellow carded, and Erhun Oztumer slotted away the resultant spot-kick.

In the same edition of the 'Southwark News' was a plug for the quiz night:

Hamlet striker benefit night

A quiz night to raise funds for injured Hamlet striker Harry Ottaway takes place tomorrow night at Champion Hill.
The young frontman, who is self-employed, broke his leg playing for Dulwich back in August when the Pink and Blues took on Carshalton Athletic.
As a result of the injury he has not been able to work and insurance payments are not covering his losses.
The club, and fans, are hosting the event in the bar tomorrow in order to help him through until he can get back to work and playing.
The quiz which is £10 per team to enter, starts at 8pm and there will also be a raffle and auction of a signed Dulwich Hamlet football.

But the main story, still in the same edition of the 'Southwark News', was a headline feature on our player/coach Kevin James:

Dual role not likely to mellow spiky James
Kevin James on his role as player and in management trio

Kevin James has many roles at Dulwich.
He is a key player on the pitch and is part of a management trio that has taken Hamlet to their first Championship in 35 years.
He is also one of the most prominent voices you will hear when Dulwich play. He is demanding, which often comes across as aggressive, but he is a smart footballer with a non-nonsense attitude.
Speaking to him off the pitch he is nothing like that, indeed he is very affable, but he is aware of his playing persona and he won't be changing that anytime soon.
He told the News: "Some of the boys really hate me at times, but they know what I'm about. Even if I'm not playing they know I will be on their back. In a way I have to be more on their back as I need them to play well because I am not. Sometimes they will shout 'You're shouting at me but you're rubbish at the miinute'. But I want people to argue their case but they have to be doing their job. If they are then of course they should argue their case."
James acknowledges that he has learnt much from the management duo of Gavin Rose and Junior Kadi in their four years together, and he knows he has to set a high standard whenver he dons a jersey.
"Gavin wanted me to be an example when I joined the team. We wanted to show the players how it is done, especially if they are a player who wants to make a name in the game. We want to show that I have been there [a professional footballer] and yet he still has the desire to play at this level, through just loving football." James said.
He added: "I have to set a standard as a player as I am a coach as well. It helps being able to play as Gavin and Junior can relay messages to me quite quickly and they will get it done straight away as I am a loudmouth."
James played for Charlton, Gillingham and Notts Forest during his pro career but aged just 33 he is now ensconced in the Aspire coaching academy, set up by Rose and Kadi twelve years ago, that develops youngsters often spat out by professional football and turns them into role models on and off the pitch.
"One of the highlights of being at the academy is helping the guys develop as people first and foremost, with discipline and taking responsibility as young men. We also get their studies right and their football right." James stated.
"The additional plus side is if they go on to fulfil a dream to become a pro player, but there are some who have not done that and done well outside football and that is a huge plus as well."
James is ready to play on as long as possible and he doesn't imagine his spiky on the pitch persona will change any time soon.
He added: "Mustapha Carayol, who plays at Middlesbrough, who I used to play with came to watch the game on Saturday with Daniel Carr. Mustapha said 'There we go, Kev is moaning again', so I haven't changed but we have a standard that we set and we want to fulfil it at all times at Dulwich. We want to take the club forward, we want to win all the time and we don't want to be just a number in the league."
Even though in footballing terms he is more experienced than his coaching colleagues, James feels he has met two talented individuals and he is keen to let all his younger players know that.
James said: "I would like to say thank you to Gavin and Junior, and I say this to the younger players, as I have played at a higher level than them but they have taught me more than I learned when I was playing as a pro and I respect that."

So to the last report from three weeks ago, which was from the weekend edition of the 'South London Press', that was published back on Friday 22nd November, whose feature led with Lewis Gonsalves:

SPURRED ON

Dulwich Hamlet defender Lewis Gonsalves believes two seasons of play-off heartache was good for the Champion Hill side-and says they are now reaping the benefits.
Gavin Roses's men reached the final of the knock-out stages of the Ryman League Division One South in both 2011 and 2012. But on both occasions they had their dreams shattered-first by Leatherhead (4-3 after extra time in 2011) and then Bognor Regis (1-0 in 2012).
Gonsalves arrived ar Champion Hill halfway through that first promotion assault and has seen the team grow into last-year's champions. And they have carried that form into the Premier Division and are involved in yet another promotion battle.
"We felt we had to di it [get promotion] last year", the 31-year-old said. We were more motivated and we didn't want to go through that play-off stress again because even though we would have been the best team there, anything could have happened in a one-off game. The 2012 final was especially hard to take because we should have won the league on the last day of the season. We should have beaten Leatherhead in 2011 but maybe it wasn't the right time for us. After that we grew together, signed a few more players and became a better team".
And Dulwich's transition into the Premier Division has been seamless, thanks to what former Sutton player Gonsalves, a plasterer by trade, believes is continuity and cameraderie withing the squad. "We have some exceptional young players and much of the squad is the same," he said. "Players like myself, Peter Adeniyi, Ellis Green and Phil Wilson have also played at a higher level, so we have adapted well. The likes of myself and Peter are more experienced and can look after the young lads. They are brilliant but sometimes need a sensible head around them. I wish I had someone to advise me better when I was younger-maybe I would have gone further in the game. I'm sure many of them will go onto a higher level. A few are already being looked at by pro clubs and that is testament to Gavin's coaching and the set-up here. His training sessions are intense, but it means we are ready for anything on a Saturday. His coaching is the best I've ever had in football. Players who have been in a pro set-up say it's just as good. There is a noticable difference in standard though. Teams finish their chances morre clinically in this league, whereas in Division One you could get away with the odd defensive mistake. Gavin has been key to our spirit because he kept the team together. We all socialise together away from football. I don't think the top of this league is much different to the bottom of the league above, so we believe we have the potential to be a Conference South side. We showed against Concord Rangers that we can compete with the teams at the next level. We are definately looking at at least the play-offs this year."
Gonsalves is expected to be fit for tomorrow's trip to Enfield Town. Full-bakc Ahmed Deen has been struggling with shin splints and so may be rested, as could Nyren Clunis.
Ellis Green's comeback from a hamstring injury has stalled after he felt a similar problem in his other leg, and Harry Ottaway is still out with a broken leg.

So onto a fortnight ago, and the following week. Beginning with the midweek edition of the 'South London Press', from Tuesday 26th November:

Star showing from Erhun in victory

Erhun Oztumer bagged a hat-trick as Dulwich Hamlet won a Ryman League Premier Division 4-3 thriller at Enfield Town on Saturday.
Oztumer's first two gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break, which was cancelled out by Liam Hope and Anton Olondo in a six-minute spell in the second half. The playmaker got his and Dulwich's third on 81 minutes befor fellow in-demand star Xavier Vidal looked to have sealed the points with three minutes left. Tyler Campbell's late goal for Enfield set up a nervvous finish, but Gavin Rose's men held on to stay in touch with the top of the table. They are fifth and one of three teams on 35 points but have games in hand on the top two.
Dulwich visit Cray Wanderers in the League Cup tonight.

The League Cup game was mentioned in the 'Southwark News', on Thursday 28th November, but briefly. The main Hamlet headline concentrated on the sending off of Dean Lodge at Enfield Town:

Rose thinks Lodge red harsh

Hamlet manager Gavin Rose thinks winger Dean Lodge was harshly dealt on Saturday after getting his marching orders against Enfield Town.
Dulwich appeared to be cruising to victory in north London when Lodge reacted to a rash tackle and was sent for an early bath himself.
Enfield managed to pull back the two goal lead Dulwich held at the time of the incident, but in a topsy turvy second period Hamlet eventually prevailed 4-3 thanks to a fantastic late strike from Xavier Vidal and an Erhun Oztumer hat-trick.
Rose told the News: "At 2-0 up we were playing good football and it looked like we were going to get a few more. The sending off changed that and I thought it was harsh on Dean. The Enfield player raked him and he was not going for the ball. The ref said that Dean hit him but we were nearby and he didn't."
The Hamlet gaffer added: "There was no intention to get the ball from the Enfield player, and he barely got there in time to make contact with Dean. It was also not the first bad challenge he put in. It was not a sending off for Dean, it was a yellow card at worst, but now we have to suffer with the ban."
Whilst Lodge will have to lick his wounds the performance of Oztumer left the Hamlet faithful salivating as the midfield magician once again put on a top notch display.
Rose said: "In footballing terms Erhun has got better. He has lots of ability but his game awareness is much improved and he is also a very good team player. He was good on Saturday as he was against Concord Rangers the previous game."
He added: "The squad as a whole are playing well at the minute. We decided to rest some people at the wekeend and I thought the guys that came in done really well. I am really happy with the squad and the way they are developing and playing when needed right now."
On Tuesday night Dulwich took on Cray Wanderers in the Robert Dyas League Cup and fell to a hefty 5-1 defeat.
Four second half goals from Wanderers blew away Hamlet with Ethan Pinnock being credited with a late consolation for the Pink and Blues.
A positive for Dulwich was the return of midfielder Gerry Gonella, who came off the bench in the 69 minute, having been ravaged by injury in the last two seasons.

Below that article, in the 'Southwark News' was the report from the Enfield Town game:

Oztumer hat-trick seals Enfield win

Erhun Oztumer struck a hat trick as Dulwich made hard work of securing a victory after a moment of madness saw Dean Lodge sent off before half time.
It took until the 25 minute for Dulwich to establish a lead as Oztumer received the ball some 35 yards from goal and was allowed to advance unchallenged towards the penalty area. His shot then took a large deflection that gave the keeper no chance.
Three minutes later the lead was doubled as Peter Adeniyi made a rampaging run down the right and, after he was crowded out, the ball was played to Lodge on the left. His cross was headed home by the unmarked Oztumer.
Hamlet were reduced to ten men when Lodge took exception to a tackle from behind and aggressively confronted the perpetrator, shoving him in the chest.
Within a minute of the restart the game should have been put to bed as Abdul Mansaray was played into space some ten yards out. However, he managed to strike his shot straight at the keeper.
This let off buoyed the home side and they were level by the hour as first Liam Hope flicked a header beyond Wilson on 53 minutes, and then poor defending was punished as Anton Olondo thumped the ball home emphatically.
On 72 minutes Xavier Vidal replaced Mansaray and seven minutes later the game took a further twist.
Oztumer found space in a crowded penalty area and produced an outrageous chip that was heading into the net until Enfield captain Mark Kirby pushed the ball over with his hand, resulting in a penalty and red card. Oztumer stepped up and completed his hat trick.
With two minutes remaining Dulwich re-established their two goal lead as Vidal received a pass around thirty yards from goal and he let fly with a shot that dipped into the net.
Tyler Campbell scored again for Enfield before the final whistle but it proved to be a consolation effort.

The Harry Ottaway Quiz Night aslo got some coverage in the 'Southwark News':

A grand gesture for striker Harry

A benefit night, organised by the club and fans, for injured striker Harry Ottaway raised more than £1,000 last Friday.
The injured frontman is self-employed and has been struggling financially since breaking his leg against Carshalton Athletic last August.
Last week a quiz night held in the bar at Champion Hill was well supported and the evening, supplemented by a donation from Ottaway's fellow players, accumulated £1,161.
Hamlet manager Gavin Rose said: "The majority of people at this club are fantastic and they care hugely about the club and the players and they become very attached to them. Sometimes when a player moves on you can see that attachment that has formed."
He added: " That effort for Harry says it all about the club. Harry said it himself that he has never felt that family feel elsewhere. I'm happy to see that develop here as that is a key ethos we encourage. It is not just about producing professional footballers but it is about how we carry ourselves and the night showed what this club is all about."
A comment from fan Mishi Morath on the club's website said: "Many thanks to everyone who helped out in making the night a success, too many to mention, but you know who you are! And also a thank you, of course, to everyone who made the effort to come along and take part, to ensure it was such a great success, Harry Ottaway closed the night by presenting the prizes to the winners and then drawing the raffle, before taking centre stage to humbly thank everyone, from the heart, for supporting him."

That wasn't the end of our coverage in the 'Southwark News' Xavier Vidal's representative appearance was also covered:

Vidal stars for FA XI

Teenage midfielder Xavier Vidal made a real impact after being selected for a FA XI who took on the Royal Engineers at Maidstone United on Monday night.
The Hamlet youngster started on the bench for the FA XI, in a contest that ended 3-0 to the representative outfit, but Vidal netted for the england side in addition to getting as assist when he left the sidelines.
The contest is part of the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations with the team being managed by Paul Fairclough who looks after England 'C', a national side made up of non-league players.
Hamlet manager Gavin Rose said of Vidal before the contest: "He played on Saturday and he is playing agains in this game tonight [Monday]. I cannot remember another Dulwich player taking part in a game like this and for him to get this recognition is good for both him and the club".

The final story in this copy of the 'Southwark News' was listed as an 'exclusive' on the back page, and was about the problem with an unpaid bill:

Hamlet battle to pay electricity bill

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club's electricty supply could be cut off this week after the club failed to cough up almost £29,000 in outstanding bills., writes Reena Kumar...
Energy company EDF confirmed the speculation on Wednesday and have now given the club a £13,000 payment plan as well as asking thwm to pay £5,000 per month via Direct Debit until the toal debt is paid.
Jack Payne, the chairman of the club said he was "totally amazed and shocked" that the club owed £29,480 to the company. Fears have been raised that EDF were due to cut off the club's electricity supply today, but this was not confirmed by the company as the News went to press.

And to complete the news from a week go, it's to Friday 29th November, to see what the weekend edition of the 'South London Press' had to say, where they focussed on last weekend's match, which went ahead after the problems mentioned in the 'Southwark News' had been sorted out:

ROLLING STONES
Rose: Win on Saturday can be mental boost

Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose believes that defeat to Wealdstone tomorrow will not kill his side's season, but a win will do wonders psychologically.
Fifth-placed Dulwich are locked on 35 points with tomorrow's opponents in the Ryman Premier Division-and have two and three games respectively in hand on leaders Kingstonian and hornchurch, in second, who are just three points ahead.
"It should be a really exciting game," Rose said. "Their manager Gordon Bartlett has a reputation for having his teams always near the top. If we want to stay in the top five, we need to compete with teams like Wealdstone. We know that if we don't come out with a win it won't make a huge difference but if we beat them, it will help the lads to really believe that they are good enough to be where they are on merit and they belong at the top end."
Ahmed Deen is available again after being given last weekend off to recover from muscle strains that he had been playing through, while Nyren Clunis is also back in the squad. Ellis Green's hamstring trouble will keep him away from the substitutes bench for another couple of weeks. Rose revealed that striker Harry Ottaway has now started tentative steps on the road to recovery after breaking his leg early on in the campaign.
"This week he started extrmely light jogging for the first time," Rose said. "It's great to see him on his feet again but this is just the very beginning of his rehabilitation. When you break a leg it's about more than just bones-it's about the ligament damage and muscle deterioration. Harry has a great physique and has not put on any weight, which is good. We aren't expected to have him back this season but if it happened in a few months we will be delighted."
On Tuesday, a young Dulwich side were unceremoniously dumped out of the League Cup by Cray Wanderers, wh othrashed rose's side 5-1.
"They've done really well this season but they will lwarn far more from the manner of defeats like that then they will from winning," Rose said. "It's a necessary experience in the long run."