Dulwich Hamlet 2 v Margate 1 - FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

Saturday 17th September 2022

FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying

at Champion Hill

Dulwich Hamlet (1) 2

George Porter 42

Danny Mills 74

Margate FC (0) 1

Harvey Smith 52

Attendance: 1.725

The alluring aura of Dulwich Hamlet FC is built upon the foundation of their many past glories, from back when they were a very successful amateur club; winning the FA Amateur Cup four times along with numerous Isthmian League and Dulwich League titles. They also lifted the London Senior Cup on five occasions (most recently in 2004), and won the Surrey Senior Cup sixteen times... as well as picking up the London Junior Cup at the turn of the twentieth century and the London Challenge Cup in 1998-99

The Hamlet currently play in the National League South, meaning that they didn't enter this season's FA Cup until today's Second Qualifying Round stage.

Their visitors Margate FC, who ply their trade in the Isthmian League Premier Division, saw off Aylesbury United of the Southern League Division One Central 1-0 in the First qualifying Round, courtesy of a seventieth minute Harvey Smith goal.

That game was played at Chesham United's Meadow Ground; where Aylesbury are currently ground-sharing, having led a fairly nomadic existence since being evicted from their Buckingham Road enclosure in 2006. 

But, that in itself is a fairly lengthy tale that will have to go on the back-burner to be told at a later date. Because, today's hosts, who were formed in 1893, have more than enough history of their own to delve into for the time being.

If I had a pound for every time somebody told me today that: 'This isn't the original Champion Hill ground', I would probably have collected enough money together to cover the train fare from St. Pancras to East Dulwich station and back. 

But, I was already aware of this information, because back in the day, when I lived just nine miles to the north of Champion Hill (as opposed to the 330 mile round trip that I travelled today), I'd attended a couple of Dulwich Hamlet home games at the 'old stadium' on consecutive Saturday's in the October of the 1979-80 season, when the Dulwich Hamlet entertained Sutton United and Hayes. 

Wherever I lay my hat.

Initially, the Hamlet played at a ground on Woodwarde Road until 1895, at which time they moved to College Farm. A further move twelve months later saw them flitting again, this time to Sunray Avenue, where they remained in situ until 1902. 

During the decade between 1902 and 1912 they used the Freeman's Ground (which was also on Champion Hill). And in 1912 finally arrived at their 'old ground' which the current 'new ground' is built on the original footprint of, give or take a few yards that have vanished underneath the adjacent Sainsbury's supermarket.

While the splendid old arena was developed further, the football club played on the land beside it, which probably meant that their centre-circle during the building work was somewhere near where the dairy aisle in Sainsbury's is currently situated.

The stadium in all of its former glory, officially opened in 1931 and it currently still holds the record for the highest crowd attendance for any league fixture played outside the auspices of the Football League, when an impressive 16,245 spectators turned up to see an Isthmian League fixture between Dulwich Hamlet and Nunhead that same year.

The actual  record crowd to have attended a game at the former Champion Hill ground is the 20,744 that turned out for the FA Amateur Cup Final of 1932–33 between Kingstonian and Stockton, 

The current ground's record Stands at 3,336, who watched the FA Cup first round tie against Carlisle United in November 2019.

In 1991, sixty years after it had first been used, the 'old stadium' was demolished, as it was considered to be in a dangerous condition and in far too much of a state of disrepair to modernise sufficiently enough to adhere to the new health and safety regulations that had been implemented by the Taylor Report, in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster of April 1989.

So, the club played at Tooting & Mitcham United's Sandy Lane ground for the duration of the 1991–92 season. And meanwhile, the smaller 'new stadium' was built on the Champion Hill site and was opened in time for the 1992–93 season.

The funding for the building work was financed by the sale of the club's training pitch to Sainsbury's (who must owe me at least a trolley full of groceries by now, for all of the free advertising I'm given them today) on the north side of the 'old stadium', a project that also swallowed up the back of what was a decent sized covered terrace along that same side of the ground.

During the interim, Champion Hill was also used for home games played by: Corinthian-Casuals, from 1963 until 1968, Fisher Athletic from 2004 until their demise in 2009, and later by the new Fisher FC from their formation in 2009 until 2016, when they relocated to their own new ground on Salter Road in Rotherhithe, approximately five miles to the north-east of Champion Hill, almost next to the River Thames.

Believe it or not, Dulwich Hamlet's ground timeline doesn't end there. Well, not just yet anyway.

Because, in 2014 Meadow Residential purchased the Champion Hill site for £5.7million. And some four years later, became embroiled in a dispute with the football club and unceremoniously ejected them in March of 2018. Which resulted in the Hamlet having to groundshare, yet again, with their rivals Tooting & Mitcham, this time at the Imperial Fields Stadium. After much campaigning by the Dulwich fans and a storm of public protest and support, the Hamlet eventually returned to Champion Hill in December 2018... and that is where you'll still find them happily plying their trade.

I chose to 'let the train take the strain' today. Services run regularly from London Bridge to East Dulwich station, just a few minutes away from the Champion Hill Stadium and reaching the ground by by rail couldn't be any easier. 

Whichever platform you alight on at East Dulwich, walk down the slope to the exit, turn left in front of the East Dulwich wall mural under the rail bridge and walk along Dog Kennel Road for a short distance, to the entrance of St. Francis Park, from where you'll see the ground and it's floodlights immediately to your left. The footpath through the park leads straight to the turnstiles, but if it's a night match you're attending and the park is locked, it's only a few yards further to the next left turn: Edgar Kail Way, which also leads straight to the ground (and Sainsbury's if you should so desire).

I had plenty of time to kill so I stopped off briefly on a park bench to enjoy the Autumn sunshine and check my phone for any updated information about this afternoon's game, blissfully unaware of the abject peril I was exposing myself to.

Across the other side of the path I spotted a rat unselfconsciously going about its business, nonplussed by the fact that a procession of people were passing by just a few feet away, 'Hmm, that's a big 'un!' I pondered. But, moments later, I jumped out of my skin when another, even bigger rodent, ran across my foot and began foraging in the carrier bag my 'meal deal' from WH Smith's was tucked inside (the staple diet of northerners who arrive in London via King's Cross). 

I decided that the beast could keep my by now opened BLT sandwich (I had no wish to share) and promptly legged it. I got the distinct impression that the brute would happily have fought me for ownership of my dinner if I'd challenged it to a bout of fisticuffs and beaten me quite convincingly.

Making a mental note to tuck my jeans into my socks before retracing my steps after the game, lest any of these dog-sized vermin might fancy a dessert course for afters, I showed the barcode ticket on my phone at the turnstiles and made good my escape.

Upon entering the ground, I chuckled at a sign that points towards Tuscany (or thereabouts). The story goes: in 1991, an objection was put in against the proposed plans for the 'new stadium', whereby a local lady had said the ground would take away from the ambience of an area that reminded her of Tuscany.

Well madam, there was a football ground here years before you arrived on the scene, East Dulwich isn't without a certain charm, but it looks nothing like Florence, it never has and it never will... so you'll just have to stick your spoilsport agenda right where the sun doesn't shine. 

Although the objection was overruled, it is still celebrated in song to this very day, whereby the DHFC Ultras AKA 'The Rabble' belt out a heartfelt retort of: "Tuscany! Tuscany! We're the famous Dulwich Hamlet and we look like Tuscany".

Champion Hill has a capacity of around 3,000 and consists of hard standing on all sides, an open terrace behind each goal, a covered terrace spanning approximately the middle third of one side of the ground which is amusingly called 'The Toilets Opposite Stand' after the signage that was previously displayed there before there was a vast assortment of Portaloo facilities throughout the stadium, a covered bar area in one corner of the ground, another outdoor bar diagonally opposite, two food outlets and the centrepiece of the whole scene: the 500 seated main stand, which has a decent sized and well appointed bar up the stairs and too the rear of it, from where you can watch the game from inside, if you should desire to do so. And just to the left as you come through the turnstiles are the well stocked club shop (AKA The Mega Container) and supporters trust cabin.

On Sunday (11th September), the Hamlet chairman: Ben Clasper announced, that their long-serving first team manager: Gavin Rose, would be vacating his role at the club with immediate effect, thus relinquishing the role that he had filled since 2009.

The reaction throughout the ranks of the Champion Hill fan base was universally sad and massively respectful towards Rose and the sterling job that he has done over the years... and understandably so.

But, given the over-bearing and grim predicament surrounding Hamlet's present lowly standing in the National League South pecking order, there was also a groundswell of realism among the numerous views posted on social media, deeply rooted in the acceptance that although it was obviously a very difficult and even painful decision for the club hierarchy to have reached, at the current time, it was probably the right one too.

Jack Holland and Danny Mills took temporary charge of the Hamlet side on Tuesday night, when they were beaten 3-1 by Hemel Hempstead Town at Champion Hill. Elsewhere, on the same night, Margate were battering Herne Bay 4-0 at Hartsdown Park, where they netted all four of their goals inside the opening twenty-eight minutes.

Then two just days ago, Paul Barnes was instilled as the new manager at Dulwich Hamlet in an interim capacity. Barnes has held numerous management posts over the years, including a six month spell as first team coach at today's visitors Margate in 2016.

Right, after that bijou, brief and truncated introduction, while I'm still here, shall we have some football?

I was invited to join the ranks of 'The Rabble' to watch the game from behind whichever goal the hosts were attacking in either half, but opted to go rogue and get a completely neutral view of the game (and the ground) from a number of different vantage points instead. 

It would be fair to say that Liam Corbett, the match referee, didn't endear himself to the home crowd this afternoon in any way, shape or form whatsoever. He seemed to be operating under under instruction of an edict from the FA that went along the lines of: Under no circumstances shall any team wearing a pink and navy kit, be awarded a penalty kick in the second qualifying round of the cup this season, regardless of how blatantly obvious it might be that they have been transgressed against. 

Such a scenario, would certainly have explained a lot.

While he was playing for Dulwich Hamlet, Margate's goalkeeper: Amadou Tangara, saved two penalties in the 2017-18 Bostik League Premier Division Play-off Final victory against Hendon... and he was a commanding presence during the opening exchanges of the game, helping to keep the hosts at bay as they used the whole width of the pitch well to put the Gate goal under a lot of pressure.

Danny Mills adopted a 'straight down the middle' policy as he collected a ball infield from Will Wood and tried his luck from the edge of the box, but Tangara was well placed to deal with it.

Prior to kick-off. A minute's silence for Queen Elizabeth II

Jayden Clarke on the left of Dulwich's three-pronged attack was proving to be a real handful for the Kent based visitors. It was Clarke who had the first penalty shout ruled out by the referee, when he pushed the ball past Harrison Hatfull, who clipped the heels of the pacey front man as he motored away.

But the referee was unmoved... a stance that he was about to persevere with for the remainder of the afternoon, much to the chagrin of the Rabble.

Stung into action after absorbing a lot of forward play from the home side, Margate began to make a few inroads into the Hamlet half of the field. Kieron McCann's long range shot was charged down by Kreshnic Krasniqi, while moments later Ben Greenhalgh's well struck free-kick was pushed around the right hand post, at full stretch, by Charlie Grainger.

Dulwich countered from the resulting corner and in an instant Clarke was tearing into the area, Hatfull got a foot in and once again the Hamlet players momentum saw him go to ground under the challenge. 

Mr Corbett, went straight for his pocket and while most people present were wondering what colour card Hatfull was about to be shown, Clarke was booked for assimilation instead. 

In my humble opinion, surveying the ensuing carnage from just a few yards away from the incident, I would have to say that Clarke's yellow card was more than a little bit harsh.

A bout of finger-pointing, posturing and squabbling broke out. as players took the law into their own hands. Never a sensible option, but when the man in the middle is making such a fur cup of the job he's been assigned to do, then it's perhaps understandable that things might get a bit tetchy from time to time.

As the game entered the thirtieth minute, another stand-off flared up on the halfway line, this time amid an undignified shouting match, the referee singled out Dulwich's Krasniqi and gave him a straight red card for effing and Jeffing while verbally abusing one of his assistants.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Hamlet were still putting the squeeze on Margate, but Tangara continued to impress as he thwarted both Mills and Clarke, while George Porter put a shot narrowly over the bar.

Mills combined with Porter to send him through the left channel and as he bore down on the visitors goal, Tangara raced out to narrow the angle and spread himself in an attempt to claim the ball, but Porter cleverly nudged the ball past the keeper and took a tumble over his prostrate body. Seemingly the ever popular Corbett had redeemed himself to the home faithful this time, by awarding a spot-kick. But, once the dust had settled it transpired that he actually hadn't after all.

To compound matters he then added Porters name to the ever growing list of Dulwich players in his book. 

For what it's worth, I think that Porter had been a crafty so and so, nicking the ball past Tangara at the last second before falling over him, while the keeper was justifiably miffed when it initially looked as though he'd been suckered into conceding a penalty. But the referee wasn't such a thing today, so hey ho!

Just four minutes before the interval, Dulwich finally opened the scoring when Robbie Vint's free-kick into the Margate area was headed forward by Mills for Porter to run onto and he stabbed the ball past Tangara at full stretch. Alas, it was a stretch too far for Porter who limped off the pitch shortly after giving the Hamlet their slender half-time advantage.

In stoppage time, Mills headed narrowly wide and there was another contentious moment, when the big number nine was pushed to the ground as Margate defended a corner. But it was on the referee's blind -side, although the way that the first half had shaped up, it might even have been the Corbett guy that had shoved Mills.

"She bangs the drum"

Margate, who had been on the back foot for most of the opening forty five minutes, began to look more impressive going forward after the restart and they were soon on level-terms when James Bassey-Saldanha got free on the left and crossed for Harvey Smith, who glanced a header beyond the reach of Grainger that nestled just inside the left hand upright. Game on!

Dulwich were almost made to rue not consolidating their first-half lead, while they were still in the ascendancy, when the Blues were the width of a fag paper away from taking the lead when Bassey-Saldanha put the ball narrowly wide of the target after getting onto the end of  Greenhalgh's delivery.

It's a goal!

Hatfull was rather fortunate when the ball bounced up under his arm and he appeared to virtually trap it with his armpit inside the Margate area. "Ball to hand referee!? I thought so you f*cking cheat! You should have gone to space-savers!", called out an elderly chap stood beside me. I'm led to believe it's the storage-solutions shop on the opposite side of the High Street from Spec-Savers that he was referring to.

It was beginning to look for all the world as if this one was heading for a replay, but in the seventy-fourth minute Frankie Raymond's right wing corner corner picked out Mills, who met the ball with a towering header to restore Dulwich's narrow advantage.

It's a winning goal!

Margate had to pile forward in numbers now, that left them exposed at the back as both Ibby Akanbi and Jack Holland went close to adding a third for the home side, that would effectively have killed the game off.

Right at the death it looked as though Harry Hudson was going to net a late equaliser for the Gate, but Grainger kept the ball out with an outstanding save. He obviously didn't fancy a midweek outing to the seaside.

And that was that. Dulwich Hamlet were through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, while Margate had given it their all, particularly in the second-half, to play their part in what had been a high-tempo and very entertaining game of football.

FT: Dulwich Hamlet 2 v Margate 1

Forty-three years since my previous visit to a completely different looking Champion Hill ground, I cautiously retraced my steps back across the park, towards the station, with my jeans tucked inside my socks, just in case the rat-pack had planned an ambush, while a jubilant Hamlet supporter sang: "Wem-ber-lee! Wem-ber-lee! We're the famous Dulwich Hamlet and we look like Tuscany".

His mate chipped in with: "We're the famous Dulwich Hamlet and we don't need penalties!"

It had been a thoroughly enjoyable game and a great experience all round at the Hamlet... and well worth the extra mileage and logistics of venturing off of my usual beaten track. I can heartily recommend that you make the effort to go there yourself, you won't be disappointed... but be wary of the local wildlife in St. Francis Park.