‘Rather a fool make me merry, than experience make me sad’. So spoke the immortal bard, Stuart Hall. It was a pity then that Dulwich Hamlet’s last full campaign of the 20th Century should see the merriment of the opening months turn sour as the old millennium faded and reality took a nasty grip in the year 2000. Champions of London at the start of the season even that title was ripped from their grasp by the cruel lottery of the penalty shoot-out, Veli Hakki’s effort from the spot being beaten away by Uxbridge keeper Sean Dawson.
July
Plenty of familiar faces around the club as the pre-season challenge matches began with the visit of Barnet on 17th July. Billy Smith arrived back at Champion Hill to lend a hand to his former assistant at Crawley, Dave Garland. On the playing front, captain Russell Edwards moved on to pastures new in Welling, where he was unable to prevent the Kent club slipping out of the conference. Veteran Lee Akers also tasted relegation blues as he moved down the line to Carshalton. Cup final hero Luke Anderson also departed to Gravesend & Northfleet.
A smattering of new faces also appeared, among them Paul Harding, who returned home after a successful career in league football, along with Kevin Smith back from New Zealand. Some amongst the new faces would go on to make their mark during coming months, whilst others would fall by the wayside. Andy Riley and Dean Green would both contribute to Hamlet victories, whilst those that fell among the latter would include former West Ham player Matthew Rush and Gary Odlum, unlucky with injuries.
On to the pre-season and the first of those matches saw the Hamlet lose 2-1 to Barnet in searing heat, although they were far from disgraced and the high point of the afternoon was a corker of a goal from Tyrone Myton. The following Thursday and it was a trip into the heart of the stockbroker belt as the Hamlet were guests of Whyteleafe. Two goals in a minute from Dave Stevens and Danny Carroll with the first ten minutes were not capitalised on and in the end Dulwich were much relieved to hang on for a 2-1 victory. A hastily arranged fixture against Brentford on the Sunday, meant the Saturday match at Whitstable found itself downgraded. A number of graduates of the youth team made appearances but it was a player who began his career when most were still in nappies that outshone them all. With a magnificent display on the right, Gary Hewitt showed that less than a month from his 36th birthday he still has something to offer the first team.
The Sunday saw another dose of midday madness but the Hamlet were not overawed by Ron Noade’s Division 3 Champions but could not penetrate their rock solid rearguard which ensured a 1-0 victory for the visitors.
On the Wednesday Millwall hopped on the P13 for the annual Jack Kennedy Cup match. The Lions honoured one of Dulwich’s most loyal supporters by sending down a strong side, indeed too strong for the Hamlet as they registered a 3-1 victory after Paul Harding had given the Hamlet the lead. The Lions triumph was thanks in the main to Paul Ifill who grabbed a brace. The month ended with a storming 3-all draw at Bromley. Former Hamlet hero Joe Odegbami scored twice in quick succession to put the hosts 3-1 just after half-time, but Danny Carroll, whose header had had given Dulwich the lead, and Gareth Mitchell grabbed goals in the last 15 minutes to ensure honours finished even.
August
Dulwich finished their pre-season warm-ups with a couple of road trips. On Tuesday 3rd they met Banstead Athletic in a match that saw Justin Gregory make his first appearance in a Pink and Blue shirt. The bumpy state of Banstead’s back pitch did not inhibit the Hamlet as goals from Harding, Carroll (2) and a stonker from Tony Houghton sealed a straightforward 4-1 victory. Next stop was the Surrey Docks Stadium for the annual Battle of Southwark and what a cracker it was although home keeper Maurice Munday may have other opinions, being fault for Dean Green’s winner in a 4-3 thriller. Bryon Harper and two from Danny Carroll were the other scorers.
A week later the Ryman League began in earnest with the visit of those old killjoys from Hertfordshire, Boreham Wood won at Champion Hill by the odd goal in three. The visitors had been expected to struggle with numerous off field problems but they turned round 2-0 up. A second half penalty converted by Peter Garland pulled it back to 2-1 but despite their best efforts, Dulwich ended up on the wrong end of a defeat. The game marked the full debuts of Dean Green and Dave McEwen up front. Both battled hard but could not break down a stubborn rearguard. Matthew Rush appeared for the last 18 minutes of the game but was released shortly afterwards to join Dagenham & Redbridge.
The following Tuesday came a more purposeful display away to one of the perennial bogey sides – Walton & Hersham. 3-0 was the result and this was all the more pleasing as the Hamlet had played the entire second half with only ten men following Paul Harding dismissal for violent conduct 4 minutes after the Hamlet had taken the lead through Danny Carroll. Andy Riley was a rock in defence and this allowed the Dulwich strikers ample opportunity to probe the Swans’ defence. Further goals from Dave McEwen and Peter Garland with an exquisite free-kick gave Dulwich their first points of the new season.
The momentum did not carry through to the next game, a trip to once proud Enfield, who were soon to lose their Southbury Road home to developers and become the nomads of the Isthmian League. Dave Stevens returned from suspension, but Andy Riley was absent and it showed as an early advantage was blown. Stevens grabbed a goal within 4 minutes and the crossbar twice saved Enfield from going further behind but it always seemed as if Dulwich’s shaky defence would leak the odd goal. Three goals, one a debatable penalty, gave the home side a 3-1 cushion and despite the dismissal of Kevin Rattray and a goal from Tony Houghton Dulwich came away with nothing to show.
Dave Garland’s men had a chance to redeem themselves 2 days later when Basingstoke Town were the visitors to Champion Hill and so they did in a game played at a frenetic pace. Four goals came in the opening half-hour as Dulwich built a 3-1 lead after Gus Hurdle had converted a penalty in the 10th minute. A brace from Dave Stevens, enjoying an almost physic understanding with Dave McEwen, and Peter Garland scored a penalty after a trip on Justin Gregory. Stevens might have claimed a hat-trick but a fine save denied him. The opposition pulled one back with 6 minutes left, but despite one or two hairy moments Dulwich hung for a second victory of the season.
Three more point came the way of Dulwich the following Saturday when a wasteful Hampton & Richmond Borough failed to convert territorial advantage into goals. Despite dominating possession, they failed to create a single chance. Goals in either half from Dave Stevens, courtesy of Dave McEwen’s delicate delivery, sent the visitors home pointless.
The month ended on a high note as the Hamlet completed a third straight victory that sent them fourth in the Premier Division thanks to a 2-1 victory at Chesham United. A triumph made all the sweeter for being the first ever Dulwich victory on this ground. Despite being under the cosh early on, Danny Carroll nodded the Hamlet into a 16th minute lead as home players squealed for offside. An evil deflection deceived Les Cleevely to bring matters level shortly after the break. It seemed as if it might stay this way until the 75th minute, when Justin Gregory’s battling set up Dave Stevens for a clear run on goal giving Preddie in the home goal no chance.
September
September began badly as Slough Town brought the Hamlet back down to earth with a severe bump. Andy Riley had returned to shore up Sutton United’s defence in their ultimately unsuccessful bid to stay in the Conference. Into his place came Alan Pardew. Les Cleevely was by far the busiest man on the pitch and constantly frustrated the home supporters with a string of fine saves. Danny Carroll missed an early chance, but after having one effort scrambled off the line and seen Mark Hall miss the target with the goal gaping in front of him; hesitancy in the Dulwich defence allowed Chris White to stab home from inches. The lead was doubled in the 57th minute. Despite a goal from Carroll and sustained pressure to the final whistle, few could complain about the eventual outcome.
Billy Smith’s involvement with the club also came to an end at this point. Deciding he missed the day-to-day involvement with the players, he tendered his resignation, which the club accepted with regret. He later rejoined his old club, Crawley Town.
If the trip to Slough was tough, the prospect of entertaining title favourites Dagenham & Redbridge two days later was terrifying. Once again, the Hamlet rose to the occasion with a courageous performance that could have brought a surprise victory but for the referee who denied both teams penalties, most blatant of all when Dave Stevens was bundled over with 11 minutes left on the clock. Still the result was enough to lift the Hamlet to 6th place; seven points behind shock leaders Enfield. They maintained that 6th place with a 2-0 victory over Harrow Borough who saw their defence ripped to shreds by the two Daves, Stevens and McEwen. With Peter Garland excellent in midfield, it was only the bravery of Harrow keeper Eric Talbot that kept the score down. However Talbot was at fault for the first goal, allowing McEwen’s shot to squirm into the path of Stevens for him to open the scoring. Number two took a long time coming, but on 81 minutes Dean Green turned in Kevin Smith’s unselfish pass to complete the scoring.
On Monday night came a nice diversion from the rigours of the League with the visit of Wivenhoe in the 1st Round of the League Cup. With the FA Cup just around the corner, few regulars were risked and so fans were greeted to the rare sight of Engin Salih between the sticks and Pettier Garland on the bench. As expected the reselect was a rout but nit before the Essex men had given the home side a few shocks. They even had the audacity to take the lead through a 6th minute penalty. However, Dave Stevens and Dean Green gave Dulwich a 2-1 lead by half time. Dave McEwen made it 3-1 just after the break. Despite pulling it back to 3-2, the Dragons ran out of puff and further goals from Dean Holness, Tony Chin and Stevens completed a 6-2 victory.
For the second successive year the FA Cup had paired Dulwich with Newport (IoW), but this time the Islanders were to be hosts. Three coachloads of Dulwich fans made the long journey through choppy seas to St George’s Park but in squally conditions they were to be denied celebration by a late, late equaliser from the hosts. The conditions were far from ideal but after Newport had been denied by Cleevely almost straight from the kick-off; it was only Newport’s veteran keeper Neil Hards who stood between the Hamlet and a place in the 3rd qualifying round. Kevin Smith missed a sitter in the first half, but 7 minutes into the second half a clumsy challenge in the box gave Peter Garland the chance to make it 1-0 from the spot, which he did with consummate ease. It seemed as this would be enough, until that late heartbreak. The replay was set for the following Monday but with torrential rain battering Champion Hill all morning and well into the afternoon, an early decision was taken to postpone the match. In the meantime, Dulwich warmed up with a 5-0 demolition of Carshalton Athletic. Justin Gregory opened the scoring with a brave diving header in the 26th minute, which was doubled in the 39th minute when Dave McEwen drilled an unstoppable shot past the keeper. An own goal, followed by two more from leading scorer Dave Stevens pushed Dulwich to within one win of the top of the table. The team didn’t even miss Alan Pardew who had returned to Reading to take on the mantle of caretaker manager.
The goal feast continued in the rearranged cup-tie against Newport as they too were put to the sword. Kevin Smith opened the scoring hooking in a left foot shot on 13 minutes. Within 7 minutes the visitors were level after a mistake at the back but this was merely an aberration as Tony Houghton soon restored the Hamlet’s lead. Dave Stevens increased the lead early in the second half with a cracker of a shot from the edge of the box, and then capped the night with number 4, dancing round the keeper before slotting the ball into a empty net.
October
The next round pitted the Hamlet against Hastings Town from the Southern League Eastern Division. A scoreline of 2-1 was hard earned but closer than it should have been. The visitors came determined not to be beaten and it took a wonderful free-kick from Peter Garland to break the deadlock. Dave McEwen made it 2-0 late on at which point Hastings decide it would be a good idea to employ some attacking ideas which saw the score pulled back to 2-1, but was not to prevent the Hamlet going into the hat for the next round where Hayes of the Conference were to be the guests.
On the Tuesday, the defence of the London Challenge Cup began with a comprehensive demolition of Metropolitan Police in front of a paltry crowd of just 70. Goals from Holness, Green and Stevens (2) clinched a place in the quarterfinals. Again a number of youngsters and reserves got run outs.
Th goal glut continued as Dulwich got the best of an eight-goal thriller at Billericay as they made a rare return to League action. Defensive skills were conspicuous by their absence but with an overabundance of goalmouth action, the game was an adrenaline packed thrillfest. First the Blues went ahead then Dave Stevens created a goal out of nothing. 1-1. 35 minutes and the home were back in front but not for long. Two minutes later a deflection helped Dave McEwen’s shot past a visibly jittery young keeper. In second half goals from McEwen and a Peter Garland penalty made it 4-2 before a screamer made for a tense last few minutes before Stevens 2nd sealed a remarkable 5-3 victory.
The cup-tie with Hayes was something of an anticlimax in the light of this with neither team able to make a breakthrough. With Peter Garland suspended the Hamlet lacked creativity in midfield, but they still had the bulk of the play in the first half with Houghton and Stevens both going close. However it took a fine piece of defensive work from Francis Duku to keep the scores level after he got back to clear a goalbound shot off the line. Hayes had the better of the second half but still could not end the deadlock sending both teams to Church Road for a replay. Under the cosh from the first whistle, Dulwich made the worst possible start conceding a goal after just 4 minutes. A highly-dubious penalty on stroke half-time gave the players a mountain to climb in the second half, one that was to prove ultimately insurmountable as a third Hayes goal send them into the Final Qualifying Round and an eventual meeting with Hull City in the First Round.
If there was an hangover it was quickly blown away as a 3-2 victory at Aylesbury United moved Dulwich up to 3rd place in the league a mere point behind the leaders Dagenham. Key instigator of the triumph was Peter Garland a target for the boo-boys throughout and his winner deep into stoppage time silenced them. The game had seesawed both ways before this with both sides having led at some point, Dulwich’s earlier goals coming from Stevens and Carroll.
The nuisance of the Full Member Cup was quickly dismissed from the schedules as the Hamlet made a swift exit losing 3-0 to Farnborough Town. However on the night the result was largely unimportant following a horrific (accidental) injury to Nick Hooper of the Boro' after a seemingly innocuous fall. Dulwich fans showed where their heart lies with a generous collection for the youngster at the next game.
Victory over bottom of the table Heybridge Swifts maintained the momentum at the end of the month, but 2-1 in a scrappy game was hardly Championship form. A freak goal gave the visitors the lead after just 3 minutes. After wasting a number of openings, two goals in a minute were to clinch the points. First the arch predator, Dave Stevens, scored from close range then, straight from the kick-off Kevin Smith was the provider for Danny Carroll to get the second.
November
It became six wins in a row at the start of November with a 2-1 win at Hendon against the odds. Danny Carroll and Mark Garland were both missing. Dave Stevens managed to get caught in traffic and missed the kick-off and Dean Green had become frustrated with his lack of first team football and upped sticks to Crawley. Former Bulgarian international Bonctcho Guentchev gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half time but the Hamlet stormed back in the second half. Francis Duku saw his header kicked off the line before a spectacular overhead kick from Peter Garland brought things level. That man Garland would set up the winner with a delightful chipped cross for Tony Houghton to grab the winner.
Cups seemed not to be the Hamlet’s speciality this season and they were dumped out of the league cup this month by Croydon FC, also as the Home for Retired Dulwich Players. Unfortunately the old boys got the better of their alma mater this time with a 2-1 victory, where the only moment of a great enjoyment was when the referee was knocked cold and had to be replaced.
At noon on the day of that match at Hampden, the Hamlet faced another great test of how far they’d come this year when Canvey Island were the visitors. Backed by a generous chairman and large travelling support, the Essex men had made an instant impact on the Premier Division in their inaugural season. However despite playing some neat football, they seemed to forget one of the fundamental tenets of the game. To win you must score goals. Dulwich did that, Canvey did not. Barry Horne was the busier of the two keepers, picking the ball out of his net twice in the 90 minutes after goals from Dave McEwen and Danny Carroll.
A run of seven successive wins had propelled Dulwich to within sight of the league leaders but all that was to come crashing down around their ears the visit to St Albans saw the Hamlet on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing courtesy of a Steve Clarke hat-trick and disastrous 6 minute spell in the 2nd half that saw the scoreline go from 1-1 to 1-4.
Another cup run vanished in the FA Trophy when lowly Burnham dumped the Hamlet out of that competition. The home tie was woeful with Dulwich hardly able to string a pass together. This was exacerbated when the visitors silenced Champion Hill by taking the lead in the 10th minute. Dave McEwen missed a brace of sitters within a minute, but it was almost the hour before Danny Carroll levelled things. Both sides could have snatched it at the death, but a replay had to be endured. What a culture shock that was. A railed off pitch, that might have had hippos wallowing in it for the amount of mud on it. Still no sour grapes, the home keeper pulled off a number of cracking saves to keep Hamlet out. Normal time brought no goals. Then in the very first minute of extra-time Burnham scored to end Dulwich’s Wembley dreams.
December
As winter set so form seemed to evaporate. A two-goal lead was blown at home to Slough Town. Peter Garland’s header from Dave McEwen’s cross, following by a glorious 18-yard effort from Dave Stevens had Dulwich cruising. A deflected free kick pulled it back to 2-1, then a second half capitulation saw the visitors go ahead. The game finished on a sour note when both sides were reduced to 10 men. An atrocious foul on Lee Macken saw Slough scorer Mark Hall dismissed and he was joined by Dave Stevens, scapegoat for an unseemly mêlée that followed.
Another five-goal game followed 7 days later at Aldershot. In front of 1696 supporters, the two sides laid on a pre-Christmas feast of flowing football. Gary Abbott’s penalty gave the home side the lead that was doubled by their record signing Grant Payne before the half-hour was up. However Dulwich refused to lie down and die. Dave McEwen pulled back one before the break then levelled late on. He might well have grabbed a hat-trick, but 3 minutes from time the defence was sliced open and Payne made no mistake for the winner. Having claimed 42 goals in his 59 starts, this was to be Dave Stevens’s last appearance in a Pink and Blue shirt. After this game he began a three-match suspension and, just before Christmas in came Hayes to whisk him away to the Conference where he was to claim even more goals.
The last home match of the millennium saw Purfleet entertained along with the crowd who witnessed another 5-goal game. Purfleet grabbed an early lead but Lee Macken smashed home his first senior goal to pull things level within 5 minutes. Dave McEwen found himself with a new partner in Carl Bartley, making another return to Champion Hill and both had chances before Dave made it 2-1. Danny Carroll made it 3-1 before the visitors pulled one back but the Hamlet held on for a welcome three points.
The year ended on a disappointing note at Gravesend & Northfleet. In front of the Kent side’s largest crowd of the season, Dulwich simply fell apart. A 45th penalty gave Fleet the lead. Dave McEwen got a 52nd minute equaliser before it all turned sour. A second penalty made it 2-1, Carl Bartley and Peter Garland both got their marching orders and to put the tin hat on it former Dulwich player Steve Restarick made it 3-1 in stoppage time.
January
Many talk of fairytales but few expect it to happen on your doorstep. Less than 18 months previous, Dave McEwen graced the Southern Amateur League with Crouch End Vampires. Now after 11 goals in 30 appearances, Premiership Tottenham had swooped and signed him to a professional contract. Then the realisation set in. The entire strike force gone at a stroke. Where would the goals come from? Could Carl Bartley deliver? What of Young Mark McGibbon knocking them in the reserves? Prehaps Dean Green newly returned from Crawley.
Dave McEwen signed off his Dulwich career in the New Year fixture, which resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory over Hendon. Truth be told the scoreline flatters the visitors, but it was hard ground out and symbolic of harder times to come. The decisive goal from Carl Bartley on 36 minutes.
Like sparrows scratching for corn on winter’s stony ground, Dulwich fans were forced to take what few crumbs of comfort came their way. Nil-nil draws against Enfield and Boreham Wood followed. A new name in the shape of Kamu Laird, a Trinidad & Tobago International player, impressed early, especially with a cracker that rattled the bar at Wood, but he would not remain long.
Light relief came in the shape of a visit to Ashford Town (Middx.) in the Surrey Senior Cup where Dulwich got the better of their hosts by the odd goal in five – all scored in the first 30 minutes.
The month ended with Dulwich completing a rare double over Walton & Hersham – their first for more than quarter of century. On a windswept field, Danny Carroll’s goal was to prove the difference between the two sides. However the result was tempered by the news that one of the club’s most loyal servants and most colourful characters, John Hugh-Jones, had lost a long fight against illness. His comments as he read the score on the celestial Teletext would be worth noting!
Despite the paucity of goals and entertainment in January, there was one good note. Conceding not one goal during the month ensured Les Cleevely of the League’s Safe Hands Award.
February
The first reverse of the New Year came at Basingstoke where Dave Garland unveiled new signing Gary Fisher from Whyteleafe. However it was to be someone who’d spent most of the season in the reserves that was to impress most despite the defeat. Mark McGibbon made an instant impact coming off the bench in the 53rd minute with Dulwich already 1-0 down. However his heroics were not enough and a final score of 2-0 was fair reward for the home side.
Another defeat followed in quick succession with Chesham United winning 2-1. Mark Xavier was this week’s new striker bringing with him a pedigree of scoring freely at his previous clubs. However he could find a way through Chesham revitalised side and it was only Les Cleevely that kept the scoreline respectable. After taking a 18th minute lead through Tony Houghton, Dulwich dozed off and by the time they woke up again Chesham were 2-1. Carl Bartley walked for the second time this season and the slide down the table had begun.
Like a fly in the ointment sat the London Challenge Cup tie with Welling. Postponed from the 8th February, then subject to a late postponement the following Tuesday, indeed too late to stop many Dulwich fans travelling, it was eventually played just a day later on the Wednesday. Once again this Cup provided footballing Prozac as Dulwich ran their supposed Conference betters ragged with a first half display to warm the heart. A own or Peter Garland, take your pick, then two absolute beauties from Mark McGibbon and Veli Hakki were enough to clinch a home semi-final with Romford.
Off course, there is a downside to success and that is that the struggling moneyed clubs will soon come sniffing around your best players. So it was that Justin Gregory was the next to depart luring away by Graham Westley’s 30 pieces of silver at Farnborough Town. Things were too get worse as a trip to the leaders Dagenham resulted in a 3-0 hammering and the loss of Peter Garland.
Walton & Hersham gained some revenge for that league double by dumping Dulwich out of the Surrey Senior Cup for the third year running. It was a poor performance all round with only Les Cleevely coming out of it with any credit, pulling off a string of fine saves in a 0-2 defeat.
The same scoreline came at Farnborough Town where the only entertainment value was to be gained for taunting Gregory. The Hamlet were always chasing the game after conceding a goal 4 minutes in and then a penalty just after halftime. Even their chairman played, although Martin Eede is pretty noncommittal on the subject of his return to the game. A point for the record books – Richard White on as substitute in the 67th minute, recipient of his second yellow card 18 minutes later. The shortest Dulwich League career on record. Answers on a postcard.
February turned into March and 2 former giants of the amateur game were brought together as Romford made their first trip to Champion Hill for 27 years. Then they knocked Dulwich out of the FA Cup but tonight they were not to be so triumphant as goals from Danny Carroll, Tony Houghton (penalty) and Dean Green booked Hamlet’s passage back to the final.
March
March was a battle of attrition. With relegation still a distant possibility, manager Dave Garland was struggling to find the right mix. Kamu Laird, Gary Fisher, Carl Bartley and Mark Xavier were all shown the door. Injuries to the likes of Peter Garland and Kevin Smith further restricted choices. Against Billericay three new signings came abroad – the vertiginous Peter Crouch, on loan from Spurs as part of the McEwen deal, Declan Perkins, a former Republic of Ireland U-21 international, and Nabil Ouidirene, some French bloke recommended by Tony Finnigan. All were make an impression for varying reasons. 6’ 7” Crouch, quickly dubbed the ‘20 Ft Chicken’ by supporters scored on his debut but was unable to prevent Billericay winning 2-1. At Hampton & Richmond Borough in midweek, a further defeat sank Dulwich further down the table as the home side ran out easy 3-0 winners. Defeat followed defeat as Dulwich sank into a spiral of decline. Carshalton, despite their lowly league position, avenged the 5-0 home defeat with a 3-1 victory at Champion Hill. Declan Perkins was both hero and villain, scoring the opener then putting the ball from a matter of inches with the goal unguarded. At Harrow Borough a single goal on the stroke of halftime was enough to give the home side all the points, but Dulwich failed to make any inroads even after both Harrow’s centre halves had been forced to leave the pitch after a clash of heads.
The poor run finally came to an end at Heybridge Swifts as the clouds cleared both metaphorically and meteorologically to reveal a brief glimpse of a rainbow. Dulwich deserved more than a point from the game after taking the lead through Danny Carroll’s screaming volley in the first half, but the Swifts keeper played a blinder and a freak goal ensured a share of the points.
April
April Fools Day saw the Ducks of Aylesbury lost without a paddle on the M40. Peter Crouch’s last game saw gloomy clouds leave Champion Hill for a bit and follow the Ducks back to Bucks. Not really a pretty sight, but Aylesbury never looked like scoring and in the end it was an easy victory even if it bit start ten minutes late. Green, Chin and Carroll goalscorers.
Next stop the hinterlands of Purfleet and another point safely collected. Purfleet always seem to be a surprise package finishing fourth in the last two seasons, so a point even if was gained through a late oggie is always welcome. Indeed Jimmy McFarlane won everything in the air for Purfleet so it was quite apt that he should outjump everyone for Dulwich’s equaliser, especially in the light of the sour aftertaste of Purfleet’s first half penalty that had given them the lead.
Happier news from the Reserve team came the same day as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Metropolitan Police. Not a great result but enough to clinch the Suburban League Premier Division title with four games to spare.
The following day around 300 fans were present for a match between a Dulwich Hamlet Old Stars XI and the Millwall Veterans in aid of Gary Hewitt’s Testimonial Fund. The Millwall Veterans won 2-1 but a great time was had by all and a tidy sum raised for a loyal servant, only the second player in Dulwich history to be granted a Testimonial.
Against Hitchin Town Dulwich slipped back into their old ways blowing a 1-0 lead through Dean Green to lose 2-1. This followed by the visit of Aldershot Town and with more than 1200 fans in the ground Dulwich gave a display to be proud of only to be undone at the death. A bizarre goal credited to Peter Garland had seen the Hamlet lead from the fifth minute. Spirited defending and a touch of luck kept the Shots out until 18 minutes from the end when a lapse in concentration allowed Mark Bentley the chance to equalise. A point seemed a fair result but deep into stoppage time, the league’s leading goalscorer Gary Abbott, having spent the game securely in the pocket of Mark Garland, slipped away to nod in a cross at the back post.
The next visitors to the Hill were Aldershot’s neighbours and deadly rivals Farnborough. For the third time this season, they came away with a victory (3-1) although this time at least Dulwich managed to get on the scoresheet through Perkins.
Good Friday at Canvey Island was not looked forward too but once again Dulwich surprised themselves. The Islanders hospitality was second to none even allowing Dulwich to steal a win when Dean Green’s deflected shot looped over the keeper’s head for the only goal. However Canvey should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute but for one of the worst penalty misses of all time. Who was that strange bloke with the South African accent?
Pleasure is often followed by pain, but I’m not sure winning 1-0 at Canvey was pleasurable enough to warrant the next two matches that followed. On Easter Monday, Dulwich must have overdosed on Easter Eggs as they were thumped 5-1 at home by Gravesend & Northfleet. Les Cleevely seemed on another planet, as he allowed dropped a simple free-kick among other howlers. Slightly more determined performance at Hitchin the following Saturday but still the same result – nul points – as Hitchin Town scored twice in 5 minutes to complete a double and ensure their own safety.
The same day Dave McEwen completed the massive step from Ryman to Premiership, when he came off the bench to replace David Ginola against Derby County. He even came close to getting on the scoresheet, but missed a couple of good chances.
May
If there is one spark of light that can illuminate a dark season, then it is the prospect of a cup final. Unfortunately after last season’s delirium at Charlton, the London FA decreed that their most prestigious competition should take place in the depths of industrial Essex at Dagenham, ostensibly on the grounds that it was free. Still the gloomy surroundings were apt for the final result as twice Dulwich needlessly blew a lead against First Division opposition in the shape of Uxbridge. First Peter Garland gave the Hamlet a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the first half, only for Dean Green’s inexplicable back pass let in Tunnell for the equaliser. No further goals in normal time. But on 99 minutes, Tony Chin pounced on a loose ball in the box to ram in the second. Again the lead was wasted as Francis Duku was caught in possession allowing Uxbridge to make it 2-2. For the first time and in the last final for the foreseeable future the fate of the cup would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Uxbridge looked cool, Dulwich nerves shattered. Uxbridge’s first kick was buried, then Kevin Smith put his effort somewhere in Ford’s backyard. No more misses until Uxbridge’s 5th. Smashed against the base of the post. A glimmer. Mark Garland despatches his to make it 4-4. Sudden death. Uxbridge convert. Anxious looks among the Dulwich players. Up steps Veli Hakki, but his effort lacks conviction and Dawson, in his testimonial year, becomes the hero of the hour.
With heavy hearts, the league season was wrapped up on the 6th May with the visit of St Albans. So cheer is restored to Dulwich hearts as a 3-2 victory is recorded thanks in part to graduates of the youth team like Dean Palmer, who scores. Also on the scoresheet is Francis Duku, heading in Marcus Dussard’s cross as a 1-2 deficit is overturned. Dulwich end a season of up and down in 10th place.
The final game on the ground sees Gary Hewitt honoured with a Testimonial match against West Ham United. The Hammers send along a strong Youth/Reserve side but unusually for a Testimonial, the game finishes goalless in front of a healthy crowd of 300+.
Summary
If you could take a knife and slice this season down the middle, it would be two different teams playing in each half. At the start of the season talk of could the hamlet stay in the title race, at the end talk of avoiding relegation. 10th place is respectable, but to lose 20 games – as many as Aylesbury who were relegated. Key players went and were not adequately replaced. Next season will be tough with finances stretched. The burden will be passed to younger, less experienced players, but somehow come July 15th those that care about the Hamlet will be at the gate expecting, hoping, worrying but never surrendering.
July
Plenty of familiar faces around the club as the pre-season challenge matches began with the visit of Barnet on 17th July. Billy Smith arrived back at Champion Hill to lend a hand to his former assistant at Crawley, Dave Garland. On the playing front, captain Russell Edwards moved on to pastures new in Welling, where he was unable to prevent the Kent club slipping out of the conference. Veteran Lee Akers also tasted relegation blues as he moved down the line to Carshalton. Cup final hero Luke Anderson also departed to Gravesend & Northfleet.
A smattering of new faces also appeared, among them Paul Harding, who returned home after a successful career in league football, along with Kevin Smith back from New Zealand. Some amongst the new faces would go on to make their mark during coming months, whilst others would fall by the wayside. Andy Riley and Dean Green would both contribute to Hamlet victories, whilst those that fell among the latter would include former West Ham player Matthew Rush and Gary Odlum, unlucky with injuries.
On to the pre-season and the first of those matches saw the Hamlet lose 2-1 to Barnet in searing heat, although they were far from disgraced and the high point of the afternoon was a corker of a goal from Tyrone Myton. The following Thursday and it was a trip into the heart of the stockbroker belt as the Hamlet were guests of Whyteleafe. Two goals in a minute from Dave Stevens and Danny Carroll with the first ten minutes were not capitalised on and in the end Dulwich were much relieved to hang on for a 2-1 victory. A hastily arranged fixture against Brentford on the Sunday, meant the Saturday match at Whitstable found itself downgraded. A number of graduates of the youth team made appearances but it was a player who began his career when most were still in nappies that outshone them all. With a magnificent display on the right, Gary Hewitt showed that less than a month from his 36th birthday he still has something to offer the first team.
The Sunday saw another dose of midday madness but the Hamlet were not overawed by Ron Noade’s Division 3 Champions but could not penetrate their rock solid rearguard which ensured a 1-0 victory for the visitors.
On the Wednesday Millwall hopped on the P13 for the annual Jack Kennedy Cup match. The Lions honoured one of Dulwich’s most loyal supporters by sending down a strong side, indeed too strong for the Hamlet as they registered a 3-1 victory after Paul Harding had given the Hamlet the lead. The Lions triumph was thanks in the main to Paul Ifill who grabbed a brace. The month ended with a storming 3-all draw at Bromley. Former Hamlet hero Joe Odegbami scored twice in quick succession to put the hosts 3-1 just after half-time, but Danny Carroll, whose header had had given Dulwich the lead, and Gareth Mitchell grabbed goals in the last 15 minutes to ensure honours finished even.
August
Dulwich finished their pre-season warm-ups with a couple of road trips. On Tuesday 3rd they met Banstead Athletic in a match that saw Justin Gregory make his first appearance in a Pink and Blue shirt. The bumpy state of Banstead’s back pitch did not inhibit the Hamlet as goals from Harding, Carroll (2) and a stonker from Tony Houghton sealed a straightforward 4-1 victory. Next stop was the Surrey Docks Stadium for the annual Battle of Southwark and what a cracker it was although home keeper Maurice Munday may have other opinions, being fault for Dean Green’s winner in a 4-3 thriller. Bryon Harper and two from Danny Carroll were the other scorers.
A week later the Ryman League began in earnest with the visit of those old killjoys from Hertfordshire, Boreham Wood won at Champion Hill by the odd goal in three. The visitors had been expected to struggle with numerous off field problems but they turned round 2-0 up. A second half penalty converted by Peter Garland pulled it back to 2-1 but despite their best efforts, Dulwich ended up on the wrong end of a defeat. The game marked the full debuts of Dean Green and Dave McEwen up front. Both battled hard but could not break down a stubborn rearguard. Matthew Rush appeared for the last 18 minutes of the game but was released shortly afterwards to join Dagenham & Redbridge.
The following Tuesday came a more purposeful display away to one of the perennial bogey sides – Walton & Hersham. 3-0 was the result and this was all the more pleasing as the Hamlet had played the entire second half with only ten men following Paul Harding dismissal for violent conduct 4 minutes after the Hamlet had taken the lead through Danny Carroll. Andy Riley was a rock in defence and this allowed the Dulwich strikers ample opportunity to probe the Swans’ defence. Further goals from Dave McEwen and Peter Garland with an exquisite free-kick gave Dulwich their first points of the new season.
The momentum did not carry through to the next game, a trip to once proud Enfield, who were soon to lose their Southbury Road home to developers and become the nomads of the Isthmian League. Dave Stevens returned from suspension, but Andy Riley was absent and it showed as an early advantage was blown. Stevens grabbed a goal within 4 minutes and the crossbar twice saved Enfield from going further behind but it always seemed as if Dulwich’s shaky defence would leak the odd goal. Three goals, one a debatable penalty, gave the home side a 3-1 cushion and despite the dismissal of Kevin Rattray and a goal from Tony Houghton Dulwich came away with nothing to show.
Dave Garland’s men had a chance to redeem themselves 2 days later when Basingstoke Town were the visitors to Champion Hill and so they did in a game played at a frenetic pace. Four goals came in the opening half-hour as Dulwich built a 3-1 lead after Gus Hurdle had converted a penalty in the 10th minute. A brace from Dave Stevens, enjoying an almost physic understanding with Dave McEwen, and Peter Garland scored a penalty after a trip on Justin Gregory. Stevens might have claimed a hat-trick but a fine save denied him. The opposition pulled one back with 6 minutes left, but despite one or two hairy moments Dulwich hung for a second victory of the season.
Three more point came the way of Dulwich the following Saturday when a wasteful Hampton & Richmond Borough failed to convert territorial advantage into goals. Despite dominating possession, they failed to create a single chance. Goals in either half from Dave Stevens, courtesy of Dave McEwen’s delicate delivery, sent the visitors home pointless.
The month ended on a high note as the Hamlet completed a third straight victory that sent them fourth in the Premier Division thanks to a 2-1 victory at Chesham United. A triumph made all the sweeter for being the first ever Dulwich victory on this ground. Despite being under the cosh early on, Danny Carroll nodded the Hamlet into a 16th minute lead as home players squealed for offside. An evil deflection deceived Les Cleevely to bring matters level shortly after the break. It seemed as if it might stay this way until the 75th minute, when Justin Gregory’s battling set up Dave Stevens for a clear run on goal giving Preddie in the home goal no chance.
September
September began badly as Slough Town brought the Hamlet back down to earth with a severe bump. Andy Riley had returned to shore up Sutton United’s defence in their ultimately unsuccessful bid to stay in the Conference. Into his place came Alan Pardew. Les Cleevely was by far the busiest man on the pitch and constantly frustrated the home supporters with a string of fine saves. Danny Carroll missed an early chance, but after having one effort scrambled off the line and seen Mark Hall miss the target with the goal gaping in front of him; hesitancy in the Dulwich defence allowed Chris White to stab home from inches. The lead was doubled in the 57th minute. Despite a goal from Carroll and sustained pressure to the final whistle, few could complain about the eventual outcome.
Billy Smith’s involvement with the club also came to an end at this point. Deciding he missed the day-to-day involvement with the players, he tendered his resignation, which the club accepted with regret. He later rejoined his old club, Crawley Town.
If the trip to Slough was tough, the prospect of entertaining title favourites Dagenham & Redbridge two days later was terrifying. Once again, the Hamlet rose to the occasion with a courageous performance that could have brought a surprise victory but for the referee who denied both teams penalties, most blatant of all when Dave Stevens was bundled over with 11 minutes left on the clock. Still the result was enough to lift the Hamlet to 6th place; seven points behind shock leaders Enfield. They maintained that 6th place with a 2-0 victory over Harrow Borough who saw their defence ripped to shreds by the two Daves, Stevens and McEwen. With Peter Garland excellent in midfield, it was only the bravery of Harrow keeper Eric Talbot that kept the score down. However Talbot was at fault for the first goal, allowing McEwen’s shot to squirm into the path of Stevens for him to open the scoring. Number two took a long time coming, but on 81 minutes Dean Green turned in Kevin Smith’s unselfish pass to complete the scoring.
On Monday night came a nice diversion from the rigours of the League with the visit of Wivenhoe in the 1st Round of the League Cup. With the FA Cup just around the corner, few regulars were risked and so fans were greeted to the rare sight of Engin Salih between the sticks and Pettier Garland on the bench. As expected the reselect was a rout but nit before the Essex men had given the home side a few shocks. They even had the audacity to take the lead through a 6th minute penalty. However, Dave Stevens and Dean Green gave Dulwich a 2-1 lead by half time. Dave McEwen made it 3-1 just after the break. Despite pulling it back to 3-2, the Dragons ran out of puff and further goals from Dean Holness, Tony Chin and Stevens completed a 6-2 victory.
For the second successive year the FA Cup had paired Dulwich with Newport (IoW), but this time the Islanders were to be hosts. Three coachloads of Dulwich fans made the long journey through choppy seas to St George’s Park but in squally conditions they were to be denied celebration by a late, late equaliser from the hosts. The conditions were far from ideal but after Newport had been denied by Cleevely almost straight from the kick-off; it was only Newport’s veteran keeper Neil Hards who stood between the Hamlet and a place in the 3rd qualifying round. Kevin Smith missed a sitter in the first half, but 7 minutes into the second half a clumsy challenge in the box gave Peter Garland the chance to make it 1-0 from the spot, which he did with consummate ease. It seemed as this would be enough, until that late heartbreak. The replay was set for the following Monday but with torrential rain battering Champion Hill all morning and well into the afternoon, an early decision was taken to postpone the match. In the meantime, Dulwich warmed up with a 5-0 demolition of Carshalton Athletic. Justin Gregory opened the scoring with a brave diving header in the 26th minute, which was doubled in the 39th minute when Dave McEwen drilled an unstoppable shot past the keeper. An own goal, followed by two more from leading scorer Dave Stevens pushed Dulwich to within one win of the top of the table. The team didn’t even miss Alan Pardew who had returned to Reading to take on the mantle of caretaker manager.
The goal feast continued in the rearranged cup-tie against Newport as they too were put to the sword. Kevin Smith opened the scoring hooking in a left foot shot on 13 minutes. Within 7 minutes the visitors were level after a mistake at the back but this was merely an aberration as Tony Houghton soon restored the Hamlet’s lead. Dave Stevens increased the lead early in the second half with a cracker of a shot from the edge of the box, and then capped the night with number 4, dancing round the keeper before slotting the ball into a empty net.
October
The next round pitted the Hamlet against Hastings Town from the Southern League Eastern Division. A scoreline of 2-1 was hard earned but closer than it should have been. The visitors came determined not to be beaten and it took a wonderful free-kick from Peter Garland to break the deadlock. Dave McEwen made it 2-0 late on at which point Hastings decide it would be a good idea to employ some attacking ideas which saw the score pulled back to 2-1, but was not to prevent the Hamlet going into the hat for the next round where Hayes of the Conference were to be the guests.
On the Tuesday, the defence of the London Challenge Cup began with a comprehensive demolition of Metropolitan Police in front of a paltry crowd of just 70. Goals from Holness, Green and Stevens (2) clinched a place in the quarterfinals. Again a number of youngsters and reserves got run outs.
Th goal glut continued as Dulwich got the best of an eight-goal thriller at Billericay as they made a rare return to League action. Defensive skills were conspicuous by their absence but with an overabundance of goalmouth action, the game was an adrenaline packed thrillfest. First the Blues went ahead then Dave Stevens created a goal out of nothing. 1-1. 35 minutes and the home were back in front but not for long. Two minutes later a deflection helped Dave McEwen’s shot past a visibly jittery young keeper. In second half goals from McEwen and a Peter Garland penalty made it 4-2 before a screamer made for a tense last few minutes before Stevens 2nd sealed a remarkable 5-3 victory.
The cup-tie with Hayes was something of an anticlimax in the light of this with neither team able to make a breakthrough. With Peter Garland suspended the Hamlet lacked creativity in midfield, but they still had the bulk of the play in the first half with Houghton and Stevens both going close. However it took a fine piece of defensive work from Francis Duku to keep the scores level after he got back to clear a goalbound shot off the line. Hayes had the better of the second half but still could not end the deadlock sending both teams to Church Road for a replay. Under the cosh from the first whistle, Dulwich made the worst possible start conceding a goal after just 4 minutes. A highly-dubious penalty on stroke half-time gave the players a mountain to climb in the second half, one that was to prove ultimately insurmountable as a third Hayes goal send them into the Final Qualifying Round and an eventual meeting with Hull City in the First Round.
If there was an hangover it was quickly blown away as a 3-2 victory at Aylesbury United moved Dulwich up to 3rd place in the league a mere point behind the leaders Dagenham. Key instigator of the triumph was Peter Garland a target for the boo-boys throughout and his winner deep into stoppage time silenced them. The game had seesawed both ways before this with both sides having led at some point, Dulwich’s earlier goals coming from Stevens and Carroll.
The nuisance of the Full Member Cup was quickly dismissed from the schedules as the Hamlet made a swift exit losing 3-0 to Farnborough Town. However on the night the result was largely unimportant following a horrific (accidental) injury to Nick Hooper of the Boro' after a seemingly innocuous fall. Dulwich fans showed where their heart lies with a generous collection for the youngster at the next game.
Victory over bottom of the table Heybridge Swifts maintained the momentum at the end of the month, but 2-1 in a scrappy game was hardly Championship form. A freak goal gave the visitors the lead after just 3 minutes. After wasting a number of openings, two goals in a minute were to clinch the points. First the arch predator, Dave Stevens, scored from close range then, straight from the kick-off Kevin Smith was the provider for Danny Carroll to get the second.
November
It became six wins in a row at the start of November with a 2-1 win at Hendon against the odds. Danny Carroll and Mark Garland were both missing. Dave Stevens managed to get caught in traffic and missed the kick-off and Dean Green had become frustrated with his lack of first team football and upped sticks to Crawley. Former Bulgarian international Bonctcho Guentchev gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half time but the Hamlet stormed back in the second half. Francis Duku saw his header kicked off the line before a spectacular overhead kick from Peter Garland brought things level. That man Garland would set up the winner with a delightful chipped cross for Tony Houghton to grab the winner.
Cups seemed not to be the Hamlet’s speciality this season and they were dumped out of the league cup this month by Croydon FC, also as the Home for Retired Dulwich Players. Unfortunately the old boys got the better of their alma mater this time with a 2-1 victory, where the only moment of a great enjoyment was when the referee was knocked cold and had to be replaced.
At noon on the day of that match at Hampden, the Hamlet faced another great test of how far they’d come this year when Canvey Island were the visitors. Backed by a generous chairman and large travelling support, the Essex men had made an instant impact on the Premier Division in their inaugural season. However despite playing some neat football, they seemed to forget one of the fundamental tenets of the game. To win you must score goals. Dulwich did that, Canvey did not. Barry Horne was the busier of the two keepers, picking the ball out of his net twice in the 90 minutes after goals from Dave McEwen and Danny Carroll.
A run of seven successive wins had propelled Dulwich to within sight of the league leaders but all that was to come crashing down around their ears the visit to St Albans saw the Hamlet on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing courtesy of a Steve Clarke hat-trick and disastrous 6 minute spell in the 2nd half that saw the scoreline go from 1-1 to 1-4.
Another cup run vanished in the FA Trophy when lowly Burnham dumped the Hamlet out of that competition. The home tie was woeful with Dulwich hardly able to string a pass together. This was exacerbated when the visitors silenced Champion Hill by taking the lead in the 10th minute. Dave McEwen missed a brace of sitters within a minute, but it was almost the hour before Danny Carroll levelled things. Both sides could have snatched it at the death, but a replay had to be endured. What a culture shock that was. A railed off pitch, that might have had hippos wallowing in it for the amount of mud on it. Still no sour grapes, the home keeper pulled off a number of cracking saves to keep Hamlet out. Normal time brought no goals. Then in the very first minute of extra-time Burnham scored to end Dulwich’s Wembley dreams.
December
As winter set so form seemed to evaporate. A two-goal lead was blown at home to Slough Town. Peter Garland’s header from Dave McEwen’s cross, following by a glorious 18-yard effort from Dave Stevens had Dulwich cruising. A deflected free kick pulled it back to 2-1, then a second half capitulation saw the visitors go ahead. The game finished on a sour note when both sides were reduced to 10 men. An atrocious foul on Lee Macken saw Slough scorer Mark Hall dismissed and he was joined by Dave Stevens, scapegoat for an unseemly mêlée that followed.
Another five-goal game followed 7 days later at Aldershot. In front of 1696 supporters, the two sides laid on a pre-Christmas feast of flowing football. Gary Abbott’s penalty gave the home side the lead that was doubled by their record signing Grant Payne before the half-hour was up. However Dulwich refused to lie down and die. Dave McEwen pulled back one before the break then levelled late on. He might well have grabbed a hat-trick, but 3 minutes from time the defence was sliced open and Payne made no mistake for the winner. Having claimed 42 goals in his 59 starts, this was to be Dave Stevens’s last appearance in a Pink and Blue shirt. After this game he began a three-match suspension and, just before Christmas in came Hayes to whisk him away to the Conference where he was to claim even more goals.
The last home match of the millennium saw Purfleet entertained along with the crowd who witnessed another 5-goal game. Purfleet grabbed an early lead but Lee Macken smashed home his first senior goal to pull things level within 5 minutes. Dave McEwen found himself with a new partner in Carl Bartley, making another return to Champion Hill and both had chances before Dave made it 2-1. Danny Carroll made it 3-1 before the visitors pulled one back but the Hamlet held on for a welcome three points.
The year ended on a disappointing note at Gravesend & Northfleet. In front of the Kent side’s largest crowd of the season, Dulwich simply fell apart. A 45th penalty gave Fleet the lead. Dave McEwen got a 52nd minute equaliser before it all turned sour. A second penalty made it 2-1, Carl Bartley and Peter Garland both got their marching orders and to put the tin hat on it former Dulwich player Steve Restarick made it 3-1 in stoppage time.
January
Many talk of fairytales but few expect it to happen on your doorstep. Less than 18 months previous, Dave McEwen graced the Southern Amateur League with Crouch End Vampires. Now after 11 goals in 30 appearances, Premiership Tottenham had swooped and signed him to a professional contract. Then the realisation set in. The entire strike force gone at a stroke. Where would the goals come from? Could Carl Bartley deliver? What of Young Mark McGibbon knocking them in the reserves? Prehaps Dean Green newly returned from Crawley.
Dave McEwen signed off his Dulwich career in the New Year fixture, which resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory over Hendon. Truth be told the scoreline flatters the visitors, but it was hard ground out and symbolic of harder times to come. The decisive goal from Carl Bartley on 36 minutes.
Like sparrows scratching for corn on winter’s stony ground, Dulwich fans were forced to take what few crumbs of comfort came their way. Nil-nil draws against Enfield and Boreham Wood followed. A new name in the shape of Kamu Laird, a Trinidad & Tobago International player, impressed early, especially with a cracker that rattled the bar at Wood, but he would not remain long.
Light relief came in the shape of a visit to Ashford Town (Middx.) in the Surrey Senior Cup where Dulwich got the better of their hosts by the odd goal in five – all scored in the first 30 minutes.
The month ended with Dulwich completing a rare double over Walton & Hersham – their first for more than quarter of century. On a windswept field, Danny Carroll’s goal was to prove the difference between the two sides. However the result was tempered by the news that one of the club’s most loyal servants and most colourful characters, John Hugh-Jones, had lost a long fight against illness. His comments as he read the score on the celestial Teletext would be worth noting!
Despite the paucity of goals and entertainment in January, there was one good note. Conceding not one goal during the month ensured Les Cleevely of the League’s Safe Hands Award.
February
The first reverse of the New Year came at Basingstoke where Dave Garland unveiled new signing Gary Fisher from Whyteleafe. However it was to be someone who’d spent most of the season in the reserves that was to impress most despite the defeat. Mark McGibbon made an instant impact coming off the bench in the 53rd minute with Dulwich already 1-0 down. However his heroics were not enough and a final score of 2-0 was fair reward for the home side.
Another defeat followed in quick succession with Chesham United winning 2-1. Mark Xavier was this week’s new striker bringing with him a pedigree of scoring freely at his previous clubs. However he could find a way through Chesham revitalised side and it was only Les Cleevely that kept the scoreline respectable. After taking a 18th minute lead through Tony Houghton, Dulwich dozed off and by the time they woke up again Chesham were 2-1. Carl Bartley walked for the second time this season and the slide down the table had begun.
Like a fly in the ointment sat the London Challenge Cup tie with Welling. Postponed from the 8th February, then subject to a late postponement the following Tuesday, indeed too late to stop many Dulwich fans travelling, it was eventually played just a day later on the Wednesday. Once again this Cup provided footballing Prozac as Dulwich ran their supposed Conference betters ragged with a first half display to warm the heart. A own or Peter Garland, take your pick, then two absolute beauties from Mark McGibbon and Veli Hakki were enough to clinch a home semi-final with Romford.
Off course, there is a downside to success and that is that the struggling moneyed clubs will soon come sniffing around your best players. So it was that Justin Gregory was the next to depart luring away by Graham Westley’s 30 pieces of silver at Farnborough Town. Things were too get worse as a trip to the leaders Dagenham resulted in a 3-0 hammering and the loss of Peter Garland.
Walton & Hersham gained some revenge for that league double by dumping Dulwich out of the Surrey Senior Cup for the third year running. It was a poor performance all round with only Les Cleevely coming out of it with any credit, pulling off a string of fine saves in a 0-2 defeat.
The same scoreline came at Farnborough Town where the only entertainment value was to be gained for taunting Gregory. The Hamlet were always chasing the game after conceding a goal 4 minutes in and then a penalty just after halftime. Even their chairman played, although Martin Eede is pretty noncommittal on the subject of his return to the game. A point for the record books – Richard White on as substitute in the 67th minute, recipient of his second yellow card 18 minutes later. The shortest Dulwich League career on record. Answers on a postcard.
February turned into March and 2 former giants of the amateur game were brought together as Romford made their first trip to Champion Hill for 27 years. Then they knocked Dulwich out of the FA Cup but tonight they were not to be so triumphant as goals from Danny Carroll, Tony Houghton (penalty) and Dean Green booked Hamlet’s passage back to the final.
March
March was a battle of attrition. With relegation still a distant possibility, manager Dave Garland was struggling to find the right mix. Kamu Laird, Gary Fisher, Carl Bartley and Mark Xavier were all shown the door. Injuries to the likes of Peter Garland and Kevin Smith further restricted choices. Against Billericay three new signings came abroad – the vertiginous Peter Crouch, on loan from Spurs as part of the McEwen deal, Declan Perkins, a former Republic of Ireland U-21 international, and Nabil Ouidirene, some French bloke recommended by Tony Finnigan. All were make an impression for varying reasons. 6’ 7” Crouch, quickly dubbed the ‘20 Ft Chicken’ by supporters scored on his debut but was unable to prevent Billericay winning 2-1. At Hampton & Richmond Borough in midweek, a further defeat sank Dulwich further down the table as the home side ran out easy 3-0 winners. Defeat followed defeat as Dulwich sank into a spiral of decline. Carshalton, despite their lowly league position, avenged the 5-0 home defeat with a 3-1 victory at Champion Hill. Declan Perkins was both hero and villain, scoring the opener then putting the ball from a matter of inches with the goal unguarded. At Harrow Borough a single goal on the stroke of halftime was enough to give the home side all the points, but Dulwich failed to make any inroads even after both Harrow’s centre halves had been forced to leave the pitch after a clash of heads.
The poor run finally came to an end at Heybridge Swifts as the clouds cleared both metaphorically and meteorologically to reveal a brief glimpse of a rainbow. Dulwich deserved more than a point from the game after taking the lead through Danny Carroll’s screaming volley in the first half, but the Swifts keeper played a blinder and a freak goal ensured a share of the points.
April
April Fools Day saw the Ducks of Aylesbury lost without a paddle on the M40. Peter Crouch’s last game saw gloomy clouds leave Champion Hill for a bit and follow the Ducks back to Bucks. Not really a pretty sight, but Aylesbury never looked like scoring and in the end it was an easy victory even if it bit start ten minutes late. Green, Chin and Carroll goalscorers.
Next stop the hinterlands of Purfleet and another point safely collected. Purfleet always seem to be a surprise package finishing fourth in the last two seasons, so a point even if was gained through a late oggie is always welcome. Indeed Jimmy McFarlane won everything in the air for Purfleet so it was quite apt that he should outjump everyone for Dulwich’s equaliser, especially in the light of the sour aftertaste of Purfleet’s first half penalty that had given them the lead.
Happier news from the Reserve team came the same day as they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Metropolitan Police. Not a great result but enough to clinch the Suburban League Premier Division title with four games to spare.
The following day around 300 fans were present for a match between a Dulwich Hamlet Old Stars XI and the Millwall Veterans in aid of Gary Hewitt’s Testimonial Fund. The Millwall Veterans won 2-1 but a great time was had by all and a tidy sum raised for a loyal servant, only the second player in Dulwich history to be granted a Testimonial.
Against Hitchin Town Dulwich slipped back into their old ways blowing a 1-0 lead through Dean Green to lose 2-1. This followed by the visit of Aldershot Town and with more than 1200 fans in the ground Dulwich gave a display to be proud of only to be undone at the death. A bizarre goal credited to Peter Garland had seen the Hamlet lead from the fifth minute. Spirited defending and a touch of luck kept the Shots out until 18 minutes from the end when a lapse in concentration allowed Mark Bentley the chance to equalise. A point seemed a fair result but deep into stoppage time, the league’s leading goalscorer Gary Abbott, having spent the game securely in the pocket of Mark Garland, slipped away to nod in a cross at the back post.
The next visitors to the Hill were Aldershot’s neighbours and deadly rivals Farnborough. For the third time this season, they came away with a victory (3-1) although this time at least Dulwich managed to get on the scoresheet through Perkins.
Good Friday at Canvey Island was not looked forward too but once again Dulwich surprised themselves. The Islanders hospitality was second to none even allowing Dulwich to steal a win when Dean Green’s deflected shot looped over the keeper’s head for the only goal. However Canvey should have taken the lead in the 22nd minute but for one of the worst penalty misses of all time. Who was that strange bloke with the South African accent?
Pleasure is often followed by pain, but I’m not sure winning 1-0 at Canvey was pleasurable enough to warrant the next two matches that followed. On Easter Monday, Dulwich must have overdosed on Easter Eggs as they were thumped 5-1 at home by Gravesend & Northfleet. Les Cleevely seemed on another planet, as he allowed dropped a simple free-kick among other howlers. Slightly more determined performance at Hitchin the following Saturday but still the same result – nul points – as Hitchin Town scored twice in 5 minutes to complete a double and ensure their own safety.
The same day Dave McEwen completed the massive step from Ryman to Premiership, when he came off the bench to replace David Ginola against Derby County. He even came close to getting on the scoresheet, but missed a couple of good chances.
May
If there is one spark of light that can illuminate a dark season, then it is the prospect of a cup final. Unfortunately after last season’s delirium at Charlton, the London FA decreed that their most prestigious competition should take place in the depths of industrial Essex at Dagenham, ostensibly on the grounds that it was free. Still the gloomy surroundings were apt for the final result as twice Dulwich needlessly blew a lead against First Division opposition in the shape of Uxbridge. First Peter Garland gave the Hamlet a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the first half, only for Dean Green’s inexplicable back pass let in Tunnell for the equaliser. No further goals in normal time. But on 99 minutes, Tony Chin pounced on a loose ball in the box to ram in the second. Again the lead was wasted as Francis Duku was caught in possession allowing Uxbridge to make it 2-2. For the first time and in the last final for the foreseeable future the fate of the cup would be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Uxbridge looked cool, Dulwich nerves shattered. Uxbridge’s first kick was buried, then Kevin Smith put his effort somewhere in Ford’s backyard. No more misses until Uxbridge’s 5th. Smashed against the base of the post. A glimmer. Mark Garland despatches his to make it 4-4. Sudden death. Uxbridge convert. Anxious looks among the Dulwich players. Up steps Veli Hakki, but his effort lacks conviction and Dawson, in his testimonial year, becomes the hero of the hour.
With heavy hearts, the league season was wrapped up on the 6th May with the visit of St Albans. So cheer is restored to Dulwich hearts as a 3-2 victory is recorded thanks in part to graduates of the youth team like Dean Palmer, who scores. Also on the scoresheet is Francis Duku, heading in Marcus Dussard’s cross as a 1-2 deficit is overturned. Dulwich end a season of up and down in 10th place.
The final game on the ground sees Gary Hewitt honoured with a Testimonial match against West Ham United. The Hammers send along a strong Youth/Reserve side but unusually for a Testimonial, the game finishes goalless in front of a healthy crowd of 300+.
Summary
If you could take a knife and slice this season down the middle, it would be two different teams playing in each half. At the start of the season talk of could the hamlet stay in the title race, at the end talk of avoiding relegation. 10th place is respectable, but to lose 20 games – as many as Aylesbury who were relegated. Key players went and were not adequately replaced. Next season will be tough with finances stretched. The burden will be passed to younger, less experienced players, but somehow come July 15th those that care about the Hamlet will be at the gate expecting, hoping, worrying but never surrendering.
