Dulwich Hamlet’s Youth Team repeated their Southern Youth League success of 1998, when they were awarded a share of the title in controversial circumstances. Having lost their final divisional game 3-1 at Sutton, where Marcus Dussard made his 50th appearance for the side, the youngsters had an agonising wait until the following Friday for rivals Kingstonian to finish their campaign against Croydon FC. Kingstonian had to win to climb above Dulwich, a draw would give the Hamlet the division. A nerve-wracking game to watch ended with Croydon victorious by the odd gaol in seven and Dulwich had retained the East Division and progressed to the Championship play-offs. There they would face the other two divisional champions, Three Bridges and Walton & Hersham, in a round robin mini league, one game home and one away. Walton had already beaten Three Bridges 4-1 in the opening game. The late finish meant that the two games would have to be played in the space of three days. On Tuesday 25th May Dulwich travelled to Three Bridges and won 4-1, thanks to goals from Michael Azzopardi (penalty), Dan Mulligan, Steve Shevel and Rob Hughes (penalty). An unfortunate deflection off Mully in the dying seconds gave Three Bridges their consolation.
Thus was the scene set for the title decider - a winner takes all clash. A draw and the title was shared. With Champion Hill being reseeded, the game was due to take place at Midland Bank’s sports ground in Beckenham. However the day before the Walton manager was on the phone to try and switch the tie, pleading lack of transport. Mysteriously that transport would have been available the following day and Saturday, for which grounds were offered, including the New Den. Dulwich refused to countenance a switch as Walton had been aware of the tie for a week, surely enough time to make provision. Come the Thursday and no Walton and no game. The matter was referred to a League Management Committee. Nearly two weeks later, the decision was announced. Unsurprisingly, it was a total fudge. ‘Since both Dulwich Hamlet FC and Walton & Hersham FC defeated Three Bridges FC by four goals to one both sides had equal goals fore (sic) and against and were equal on points’, so the decision was that the title would be shared. One shudders to imagine their decision should the records not be identical. The penultimate sentence is tragically comic, ‘the League will not tolerate being put in this situation again’. A highly unsatisfactory ending to the Youth Team that will be disbanded next season after Martin Eede’s unilateral decision on financial grounds to withdraw from the Southern Youth League.
Thus was the scene set for the title decider - a winner takes all clash. A draw and the title was shared. With Champion Hill being reseeded, the game was due to take place at Midland Bank’s sports ground in Beckenham. However the day before the Walton manager was on the phone to try and switch the tie, pleading lack of transport. Mysteriously that transport would have been available the following day and Saturday, for which grounds were offered, including the New Den. Dulwich refused to countenance a switch as Walton had been aware of the tie for a week, surely enough time to make provision. Come the Thursday and no Walton and no game. The matter was referred to a League Management Committee. Nearly two weeks later, the decision was announced. Unsurprisingly, it was a total fudge. ‘Since both Dulwich Hamlet FC and Walton & Hersham FC defeated Three Bridges FC by four goals to one both sides had equal goals fore (sic) and against and were equal on points’, so the decision was that the title would be shared. One shudders to imagine their decision should the records not be identical. The penultimate sentence is tragically comic, ‘the League will not tolerate being put in this situation again’. A highly unsatisfactory ending to the Youth Team that will be disbanded next season after Martin Eede’s unilateral decision on financial grounds to withdraw from the Southern Youth League.
