I always enjoy paying a visit to nearby Dulwich Hamlet FC, and with the team currently battling hard for a promotion place, there was a good crowd at the Champion Hill stadium on Saturday, joined by a throng of visiting German supporters.
The Hamlet currently play in the Isthmian League Division One South (tier 8 of English football), and average crowds of around 400 – a far cry from their glory days of the 1920s, when over 20,000 would pack into the ground.
Around fifty German supporters came down for their game as part of their football weekend in England, and they made a fantastic noise throughout the game.
Dulwich went 1-0 up before we could get through the turnstiles, but we didn’t miss the second goal, which came in the 9th minutes, courtesy of a Xavier Vidal unleashed 25 yarder.
It was all Dulwich in the first half, and Nyren Clunis made it 3-0 just before half time.
Unlike big clubs, where you’re forced to stay put in your seat for the entire 90 minutes, you can walk all around Hamlet’s ground – and kids can run free and enjoy themselves.
The Hamlet threatened a few times in the second half, but Sittingbourne grew stronger.
The Altona 93 supporters from Germany. They certainly got into the spirit of things and very much enjoyed the bar facilities at the stadium.
Handbags!
Dulwich has one fine stand, the envy of most clubs at this level.
Inside the first floor bar.
Watching the game from inside the bar.
Looking out from the main stand. You can see the away end opposite.
Merchandise shed.
Hamlet free kick goes wide in the second half.
More handbags!
Some Sittingbourne fans get a bit carried away.
The diminutive Erhun Oztumer played a blinding game for Hamlet and was rightly awarded Man Of The Match.
He’s a fantastic player, full of energy and innovation.
Sittingbourne managed to grab one back at the death, but this Hamlet were well worth the win, and now sit well placed to push for automatic promotion. Come on the Hamlet!
We’re definitely going to make a few more games before the season is out – here’s the remaining fixtures:
March 2013
Thu 14th 19:45 HOME Kingstonian Cup
Sat 23rd 15:00 HOME Whitstable Town League
Tue 26th 19:45 HOME Maidstone United League
April 2013
Mon 1st 15:00 HOME Chipstead League
Sat 13th 15:00 HOME Walton Casuals League
Tue 23rd 19:45 HOME Crawley Down Gatwick League
Sat 27th 15:00 HOME Burgess Hill Town League
Chat about Dulwich Hamlet on urban75.
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