The fields of Champion Hill will be ringing to the patter of tiny feet as Dulwich Hamlet Youth continue their quest for glory in the FA Youth Cup.

The fields of Champion Hill will be ringing to the patter of tiny feet as Dulwich Hamlet Youth continue their quest for glory in the FA Youth Cup at home to Corinthian FC this evening, kick-off 7.45 pm.

Those who might be a thinking we have been paired with the Tolworth Irregulars once more, it is not the case for tonight we welcome first time visitors to Champion Hill. Corinthian FC was founded in 1972 by Ron Billings to provide football in a safe environment, whilst teaching the players the principles that he believed to be important in sport following in the traditions once espoused by the progenitors of the game such as the original Corinthians.

The motto was simply “pro omnium beneficio”- for the benefit of all, but on the pitch the principles were simple, “Hard, but fair.” Losing was not considered before the game, but if the result went against them then the team were taught to take it graciously.

For the first ten years of the club's existence they welcomed such teams as Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and Norwich City amongst other league teams as well as county and district representative sides as opposition. On top of these games there were many regular visitors to Gay Dawn Farm from local clubs making up a fixture list of 60 games per season.

During the 1980s with the arrival of an experienced football manager, Tony Sitford, they progressed from youth football into competitive men’s football playing in the Southern League, at the time a level 7 league in the English football league system. This level of football by a totally amateur club made them unique, but caused problems in the long run in attracting new players. In their first season in the league they finished a creditable fifth, but subsequent seasons saw them slide down the table until they finished bottom and were relegated to the Kent League in 1991. They subsequently slipped into the Kent League Division Two (renamed Division One in 1998).

Early in the new century they reviewed the whole football club and decided that they had lost their roots in youth football and this was having a detrimental effect on the senior side, so decided to withdraw temporarily from senior football, whilst rebuilding the lower levels of the club. In 2008 they had managed to create a club running five sides from 13 years old through to 18 years old and needed progression. They integrated a senior side within Welling United and developed a reserve side playing in the Kent League Division Two. This set up has moved on now to the Suburban league, but is still being run from Gay Dawn Farm.

The current Corinthian FC Under 18’s compete in the Premier Division of the Kent Youth League, a division newly established this term to foster top quality youth football across Kent and South East London. So far Corinthian have played twice in the league, twice n the FA Youth Cup and once in the One5Nine Challenge Cup (the KYL League Cup) the winning four of those five games. In the FA Youth Cup they progressed to this stage via narrow wins at home to Chipstead (2-1) and away to Erith Town, coming out on top in a five-goal thriller by all accounts. A heavy opening day defeat in the KYL, 4-1 at home to Lordswood was cancelled out last weekend when they returned from Folkestone Invicta victorious after a 3-0 triumph whilst the Challenge Cup brought victory in the shape of a hard fought 3-2 win away to Maidstone United. Key danger man would seem to be Farai Maganaga who has been bagging regular goals.

Meanwhile Dulwich will be looking to continue a magnificent start to the season that seen comprehensive victories in the FA Youth Cup, KYL North Division and One5Nine Challenge Cup, a 100% record in those competitions enhanced by 29 goals scored in five games. In addition Dulwich have made a solid start in the Football Conference Youth Alliance, unbeaten and second in Division D after two games.

Tonight’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm. Please note Dulwich Hamlet season tickets are NOT valid for this game, as FA Cup games are ALL PAY at the gate. Admission is just £3 for adults with concessions priced at a mere £1.