During the summer, TEB held a Twitter poll to find out which non-league club we should lend our support to this coming season for our Grass Roots feature.
The nominations were narrowed down to four teams but there was one clear winner in our poll so we are pleased to confirm that our Grass Roots feature will be following the fortunes of Dulwich Hamlet.
So, to kick off our Grass Roots feature and to follow in the footsteps of Sutton United, Croydon and Bromley that have gone before them, with take a little look at Dulwich Hamlet and delve into their history.
PRE SECOND WORLD WAR ERA
- 1893 – Club was formed
- 1907 – Joined the Isthmian League
- 1919/20 – Won first Isthmian League title and FA Amateur Cup
- 1925/26 – Won league title again
- 1931/32 – Won FA Amateur Cup for a second time
- 1932/33 – Won third league title
- 1933/34 – Runners-up in FA Amateur Cup
- 1936/37 – Won FA Amateur Cup
POST SECOND WORLD WAR
- 1948/49 – Won Isthmian league title for a fourth time
- 1977/78 – Won fifth league title in the restructured First Division
- 1989/90 – Finished bottom of Premier Division and relegated to Division One
- 1991/92 – Promoted back to Premier Division after finishing third in Division One
- 1998/99 – Reached first round of FA Cup for first time since 1948
- 2000/01 – Finished bottom of Premier Division and relegated back to Division One
- 2003/04 – Finished seventh but lost promotion play off after league re-organisation
- 2010/11 – Finished fifth but lost play off final
- 2011/12 – Finished third but lost the play off final
- 2012/13 – Won league title and promoted back to Premier Division
- 2014/15 – Finished fourth but lost in the play offs
- 2015/16 – Finished fifth but lost the play off final
The club played at Woodwarde Road until 1895 before moving to College Farm and Sunray Avenue in quick succession. The up sticks once again in 1902 to take residence at Freeman’s Ground on Champion Hill. They moved to an adjacent plot of land, where they played until the opening of the Champion Hill Stadium in 1931 which was used for amateur international matches, including the 1948 Summer Olympics.
After becoming run down, the stadium was demolished so the club played at Tooting & Mitcham during the 1991/92 season while a new stadium was being built which was funded by the sale of land to Sainsburys.
The club had the highest attendance in the Isthmian League in 2015/16, with an average of 1,343, more than double the next highest which was Hampton & Richmond Borough. The club has gained a reputation for the activist element of the support, with fans going by the nickname of ‘The Rabble’. In recent seasons, the Football Club Committee, Supporters Trust and fans have backed anti-discrimination and anti-homophobia initiatives, amongst many other initiatives within the community.
Palace have clear links with Dulwich having seen players such as Leon Cort, Jimmy Glass, Andy Gray, George Ndah, Alan Pardew and Ian Wright appear for both clubs in their careers.
Hamlet kick off their season in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League on the 13th August, the same as the Premier League. The division is the seventh level of the English football pyramid and feeds directly into the National League South. This means that the club is only three promotions away from the English Football League (EFL).
Playing their home games at Champion Hill, the site is the subject of redevelopment, plans for which can be viewed HERE. The club are urging supporters to lend their support to the proposal for a new state of the art stadium which includes new home and leisure facilities.
AUGUST FIXTURES
- 13/08/2016 AFC Sudbury (a)
- 16/08/2016 Enfield Town (h)
- 20/08/2016 Leiston (h)
- 23/08/2016 Harlow Town (a)
- 27/08/2016 Canvey Island (h)
- 29/08/2016 Hendon (a)
The Grass Roots feature will return at the beginning of September to have a look at how Dulwich have start the new campaign and we hope to have some quotes from the club and fans alike. In the meantime, make sure you check out the official club website and follow them on Twitter.
