It is well known that our recent history in the FA Cup can only be described as abysmal. For a team consistently in the higher levels of non-league football it is a baffling 50 years since we last reached the first round proper! Next year we celebrate, if that is the right word, the Golden Anniversary of that last venture in the competition proper. On top of this we also hold the record for first round appearances by a non-league club who have never gone further, an unlucky 13. It is only in recent years that we have entered the Youth Cup, however our performances in the last six seasons have established us as one of the leading non-league clubs in the country at youth level.
Our first appearance in the First Round Proper came back in 1987/1988 when we crashed out in a 2nd round replay, 6-0 losers on the infamous artificial pitch at Loftus Road. The pitch was very icy and we were 3-0 down within 15 minutes as we struggled to find our feet. By 1992/1993 we were back down in the Extra Preliminary Round. From this inauspicious starting position Gary Todd’s youth team enjoyed an incredible run that was only ended by the full time professionals of Reading 1-2 in a replay after a 2-2 draw at Elm Park. A match we were perhaps unlucky only to draw. Even so no non-league team went further that season.
By 1993/1994 Gary Todd had moved on to concentrate on the Reserve team leaving as his legacy an exemption until the first round proper. Micky Read emulated his predecessor during his first season in charge, again we reached the second round, again no non-league team went further. We struggled to overcome East Thurrock in the first round, another team who had gone all the way from the Extra Preliminary Round. After a 2-2 draw at Champion Hill they were defeated 4-2 away. The draw however was not kind to us and we had to face Crystal Palace at Champion Hill, not a novel experience for a Southern Youth League side. There could be no complaints at the outcome this time however, a comprehensive defeat, 5-0 the final score. The important thing was that the exemption survived for another season.
1994/1995 saw many of the regular supporters suggesting that we had one of the weaker youth teams of recent seasons. Given their second place in the league and FA Youth Cup run it would appear that the team had the last laugh. We were again exempt to the First Round, where we easily defeated Allied Counties Youth League side Feltham & Hounslow, 4-1. In a physical match we were by far the better side and won through with goals from Denver Birmingham, John Phillips, Richard Galloway and Eddie Appiah.
The Second Round draw was not what we wanted, Welling at home. They came to Champion Hill unbeaten, and would go on to win the Southern Youth League. Welling run a full time Youth set up at a reputed cost of £25,000 p.a. They reaped the benefit when one of the team who played in this match joined Birmingham City for £100,000. Many of the team they fielded were already playing in the GMVC. John Phillips gave us the lead in the first half, only for Welling to grab a late equaliser from the penalty spot. It was a match we deserved to win, only fine goalkeeping and resolute defending had denied us victory. Our best chance of victory had gone.
The replay at Welling saw us play appallingly in the first half. Welling, aided by a gale and the slope, took a deserved lead and only some fine goalkeeping by Wayne Austin prevented a rout. Come the second half however the picture was reversed with only some fine goalkeeping denying us. It had all the makings of 'one of those days' as the ball resolutely went everywhere but the back of the net. In the dying seconds a cross was fired at Steve Lewington, he allowed to ball to run past him before dragging it back, wrong footing his marker, before gleefully firing home into the roof of the net. From that moment there was only going to be one winner, Despite being professionals Welling had no obvious fitness advantage on a heavy pitch, goals from Tony Chin and Rodney MacLean settled the matter. It was a fine game, one of the most enjoyable moments of the whole season, an achievement to be proud of.
That took us into the Third Round for the first time ever. A home draw to Fulham was our reward. Sadly it was a real let down. Our players seemed a bit over-awed by the occasion and lost 2-0. To add to the misery John Phillips broke his leg. Fulham were not that good a side, we could have won. As it was it proved not to matter, Fulham found they had played a suspended player and we were reinstated.
It was not the most satisfying method of reaching the 4th Round but we weren't complaining. Dulwich Hamlet stood proudly in the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. This was a fact that did not go unnoticed by the national press. We got another home draw, this time Bristol City provided the opposition. Sadly we again seemed a touch over awed and were three down before we began to settle. A brave fight back left Bristol hanging on for the final whistle, but it wasn't quite enough and we lost 2-3. To put this achievement into perspective we were the first non league team to go so far since 1978, and one of only a handful to do so in the competition's history. For the third consecutive year we were the last non league team to be knocked out of the competition.
The last two seasons have not seem the same level of success with the Youths falling at the first hurdle on each occasion. In 1995/1996 we drawn at home to Exeter City and following a 0-0 draw at Champion Hill, the team eventually made the long journey to Devon on a wet Wednesday in late November. The result a 2-3 reverse was not what the doctor ordered but the Devonians’ hospitality will remain in Dulwich legends for many years to come. Dulwich goalscorers that night were Steve Wiszk and Keith Henry.
The following season we also up against league opposition in the shape of Reading who had ended our hopes in 1992. This time too the dream died early but the Hamlet team can be proud of themselves though, they were in no way outclassed by their professional counterparts. The match started badly when diabolical defending left Reading's Neville Roach totally unmarked on the penalty spot. Richard Curtis broke down the left wing and put over an accurate cross leaving Roach with the simple task of putting the ball into the net. To their credit Dulwich did not fold up after this goal and bounced back effectively. Whilst Reading always looked the more likely to score you would be hard pushed to say that they were a better team than Dulwich. The game was fairly equal but with Reading always more dangerous. Roach scored his second on 58 minutes, again it was a poor goal. The Hamlet defence wasted copious opportunities to clear the ball, allowing him to fire home from the edge of the area. A consolation goal was secured after 78 minutes with Eddie Duah jumping well to head home Marlon King’s cross. Dulwich were unable to work any more real opportunities, indeed the best chances went to Reading who were guilty of one very bad miss.
In the 1997/1998 season Welling ended hopes early when a two goal lead was surrendered in the first match at Park View Road, albeit deep in injury time. In the replay Dulwich did everything but score and an unfortunate handball by Caleb Kamara-Taylor on the stroke of half-time led to the only goal, from the penalty spot.
Dulwich’s most recent appearance in the competition saw them exempted to the 2nd Qualifying Round where they had the dubious pleasure of a protracted journey into deeepest Oxfordshire to take on their counterparts from North Leigh. In the scenic surroundings, the two sides could not be separated, a cracker from Clement Ogbonnaya being canceeled four minutes into the second half. This being the days before extra-time and penalties a replay at Champion Hill was called for and despite being under the cosh for a lot of the game, Nana Asante’s goal was emough to win the game. In the following round they found themselves paired with Eastleigh from Hampshire and this time the boot was on the other foot, as Dulwich failed to convert pressure into goals, going out 2-1.
The last two years have been devoid of action in this competition but at last the Hamlet are back and determined to emulate the glories of their predecessors. Previous teams have established a fine tradition in this competition, but it will not be easy for this team to equal the achievements of their predecessors. What we have proven is that there is no reason for us to be scared of anyone at this level.
Our first appearance in the First Round Proper came back in 1987/1988 when we crashed out in a 2nd round replay, 6-0 losers on the infamous artificial pitch at Loftus Road. The pitch was very icy and we were 3-0 down within 15 minutes as we struggled to find our feet. By 1992/1993 we were back down in the Extra Preliminary Round. From this inauspicious starting position Gary Todd’s youth team enjoyed an incredible run that was only ended by the full time professionals of Reading 1-2 in a replay after a 2-2 draw at Elm Park. A match we were perhaps unlucky only to draw. Even so no non-league team went further that season.
By 1993/1994 Gary Todd had moved on to concentrate on the Reserve team leaving as his legacy an exemption until the first round proper. Micky Read emulated his predecessor during his first season in charge, again we reached the second round, again no non-league team went further. We struggled to overcome East Thurrock in the first round, another team who had gone all the way from the Extra Preliminary Round. After a 2-2 draw at Champion Hill they were defeated 4-2 away. The draw however was not kind to us and we had to face Crystal Palace at Champion Hill, not a novel experience for a Southern Youth League side. There could be no complaints at the outcome this time however, a comprehensive defeat, 5-0 the final score. The important thing was that the exemption survived for another season.
1994/1995 saw many of the regular supporters suggesting that we had one of the weaker youth teams of recent seasons. Given their second place in the league and FA Youth Cup run it would appear that the team had the last laugh. We were again exempt to the First Round, where we easily defeated Allied Counties Youth League side Feltham & Hounslow, 4-1. In a physical match we were by far the better side and won through with goals from Denver Birmingham, John Phillips, Richard Galloway and Eddie Appiah.
The Second Round draw was not what we wanted, Welling at home. They came to Champion Hill unbeaten, and would go on to win the Southern Youth League. Welling run a full time Youth set up at a reputed cost of £25,000 p.a. They reaped the benefit when one of the team who played in this match joined Birmingham City for £100,000. Many of the team they fielded were already playing in the GMVC. John Phillips gave us the lead in the first half, only for Welling to grab a late equaliser from the penalty spot. It was a match we deserved to win, only fine goalkeeping and resolute defending had denied us victory. Our best chance of victory had gone.
The replay at Welling saw us play appallingly in the first half. Welling, aided by a gale and the slope, took a deserved lead and only some fine goalkeeping by Wayne Austin prevented a rout. Come the second half however the picture was reversed with only some fine goalkeeping denying us. It had all the makings of 'one of those days' as the ball resolutely went everywhere but the back of the net. In the dying seconds a cross was fired at Steve Lewington, he allowed to ball to run past him before dragging it back, wrong footing his marker, before gleefully firing home into the roof of the net. From that moment there was only going to be one winner, Despite being professionals Welling had no obvious fitness advantage on a heavy pitch, goals from Tony Chin and Rodney MacLean settled the matter. It was a fine game, one of the most enjoyable moments of the whole season, an achievement to be proud of.
That took us into the Third Round for the first time ever. A home draw to Fulham was our reward. Sadly it was a real let down. Our players seemed a bit over-awed by the occasion and lost 2-0. To add to the misery John Phillips broke his leg. Fulham were not that good a side, we could have won. As it was it proved not to matter, Fulham found they had played a suspended player and we were reinstated.
It was not the most satisfying method of reaching the 4th Round but we weren't complaining. Dulwich Hamlet stood proudly in the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. This was a fact that did not go unnoticed by the national press. We got another home draw, this time Bristol City provided the opposition. Sadly we again seemed a touch over awed and were three down before we began to settle. A brave fight back left Bristol hanging on for the final whistle, but it wasn't quite enough and we lost 2-3. To put this achievement into perspective we were the first non league team to go so far since 1978, and one of only a handful to do so in the competition's history. For the third consecutive year we were the last non league team to be knocked out of the competition.
The last two seasons have not seem the same level of success with the Youths falling at the first hurdle on each occasion. In 1995/1996 we drawn at home to Exeter City and following a 0-0 draw at Champion Hill, the team eventually made the long journey to Devon on a wet Wednesday in late November. The result a 2-3 reverse was not what the doctor ordered but the Devonians’ hospitality will remain in Dulwich legends for many years to come. Dulwich goalscorers that night were Steve Wiszk and Keith Henry.
The following season we also up against league opposition in the shape of Reading who had ended our hopes in 1992. This time too the dream died early but the Hamlet team can be proud of themselves though, they were in no way outclassed by their professional counterparts. The match started badly when diabolical defending left Reading's Neville Roach totally unmarked on the penalty spot. Richard Curtis broke down the left wing and put over an accurate cross leaving Roach with the simple task of putting the ball into the net. To their credit Dulwich did not fold up after this goal and bounced back effectively. Whilst Reading always looked the more likely to score you would be hard pushed to say that they were a better team than Dulwich. The game was fairly equal but with Reading always more dangerous. Roach scored his second on 58 minutes, again it was a poor goal. The Hamlet defence wasted copious opportunities to clear the ball, allowing him to fire home from the edge of the area. A consolation goal was secured after 78 minutes with Eddie Duah jumping well to head home Marlon King’s cross. Dulwich were unable to work any more real opportunities, indeed the best chances went to Reading who were guilty of one very bad miss.
In the 1997/1998 season Welling ended hopes early when a two goal lead was surrendered in the first match at Park View Road, albeit deep in injury time. In the replay Dulwich did everything but score and an unfortunate handball by Caleb Kamara-Taylor on the stroke of half-time led to the only goal, from the penalty spot.
Dulwich’s most recent appearance in the competition saw them exempted to the 2nd Qualifying Round where they had the dubious pleasure of a protracted journey into deeepest Oxfordshire to take on their counterparts from North Leigh. In the scenic surroundings, the two sides could not be separated, a cracker from Clement Ogbonnaya being canceeled four minutes into the second half. This being the days before extra-time and penalties a replay at Champion Hill was called for and despite being under the cosh for a lot of the game, Nana Asante’s goal was emough to win the game. In the following round they found themselves paired with Eastleigh from Hampshire and this time the boot was on the other foot, as Dulwich failed to convert pressure into goals, going out 2-1.
The last two years have been devoid of action in this competition but at last the Hamlet are back and determined to emulate the glories of their predecessors. Previous teams have established a fine tradition in this competition, but it will not be easy for this team to equal the achievements of their predecessors. What we have proven is that there is no reason for us to be scared of anyone at this level.
