COLEMAN DELIVERS!

The Hornets today completed the signing of prolific non-league striker Omari Coleman to a one-year contract.
The former Dulwich Hamlet marksman has been on trial since July after being spotted by chief scout Frank Sibley and recommended to manager Ray Lewington.
"I'm very excited to have signed a contract with Watford,'' he said, minutes after putting pen to paper. "It's been going on for a while now so I'm glad to get it over and done with and now I'm just looking forward to the next chapter.
"I've got so much to prove at the moment, but I believe in myself that I can make it happen at this level. I'm looking forward to getting fitter and getting some games under my belt. The manager has signed me so he must have belief in me, so I've got to prove to him that he has made the right decision.''
The 23-year-old, who was on schoolboy forms with Wimbledon, has had several trials with league clubs over the years but never quite made it. At his age, he could have thought his chance had gone, but he puts his reversal in fortunes all down to old-fashioned hard work.
"I was with Croydon for a year, then I went to Dulwich Hamlet and scored a lot of goals over two seasons and it really took-off for me towards the end of last season. There was a lot of interest from other clubs, but I didn't really read too much into it when the Watford situation came up, but after meeting the manager and the rest of the lads things really started happening for me here, leading up to today's great news.
"I'm getting on a bit in football terms, so I said to myself at the start of last season to give myself one last push and get myself really fit and sharp - then I started scoring for Dulwich so I thought that if I didn't make it after that then I would have missed my chance but given it my best shot.''
This week the roads around Watford are once again clogged up with traffic - so that must mean the kids have gone back to school! That's what Omari would have been doing had he not been given this opportunity by the Hornets.
"I was a teaching assistant working with kids who have learning and behavioural difficulties,'' he explained. "I taught sport and a variety of other subjects to kids who found it hard to concentrate and learn simple things.I should have been going back to school this week, my school said to me because I have been on other trials before, if I went to Watford then I might not be able to come back to work in September, so that was a risk I took and fortunately it paid off.''
Swapping the classroom for a professional football club is a huge step, particularly in the fitness stakes, but it's a career change he is adapting well to, although competition is fierce at Vicarage Road in the very healthy striker department.
"You have got to be professional about everything you do here,'' he said. "You have to rest at every opportunity as the different training patterns take a toll on your body. It has taken me a while to get used to it, at Dulwich Hamlet I trained twice a week and now it's almost every day. It's a mental and physical thing that in time you get used to.
"There are a lot of good strikers here at Watford and it's up to the individuals to fight for the two positions up front. I'm not fazed by it though, I'm just here to do my best and I believe that then things will go well.
"My goal for this season is just to get myself known here, establish myself and earn the respect of the management and players here. I just want to do well, whether it's in the reserves or if I get a sniff of the first team. I just want to make sure I do myself justice.''

From the Watford Official Website

Crawley Town Youth 1 Dulwich Hamlet Youth 3

Crawley Town Youth 1 Dulwich Hamlet Youth 3
FA Youth Cup – Third Qualifying Round
Friday 29th October 2004

For the third year running since being reformed Dulwich Hamlet Youth Team will be competing in the FA Youth Cup competition proper after overcoming stiff opposition and a serious injury to keeper Tope David in registering a 3-1 victory at Crawley Town last Friday night. The Hamlet got off to a flying start when Crawley’s keeper lost a corner and in the ensuing mêlée, skipper Asher Hudson was on hand to smack the ball home from 6 yards. With the two sides evenly matched, chances were rare with Mutiu Lamidi striking wide after some good approach play and Jason Mabbs putting a freekick over the bar after Ohran Stewart had been brought down on the edge of the penalty area. A controversial penalty gave Crawley a route back into the match when a freekick appeared to strike Mabbs in the face only for the referee to whistle for a spot kick, one that Liam Buchan converted well to give David no chance. However celebrations were cut short as Dulwich took just three minutes to regain their lead. A freekick looked to have been overhit but Cedric Meeko refused to give up, collecting the ball before finding Stewart whose low ball into the box was met by Hudson stretching to stab the ball home via the underside of the crossbar.
Hudson came mighty close to completing his hat trick on 69 minutes only for Crawley’s Stuart Robinson to pull off a stunning point save but a minute later it was 3-1 as Stewart showed a clean pair of heels to the defence before beating Robinson with an angled low drive. However the latter part of the game was made nerve-racking as David was injured in making a save and with no reserve keeper on the bench the onerous task of donning the gloves fell on the shoulders of Hudson. Against all the odds Dulwich held for an anxious quarter hour or so to ensure a first round tie away to Wycombe Wanderers on Wednesday 10th November, kick-off 7-45 p.m.

Team: Tope David (Lamin Ojo); Tariq Ahmed; Craig Braham-Barrett; Cedric Meeko; Asher Hudson; Michael Makas; Jason Mabbs; Ohran Stewart; Mutiu Lamidi (Tyran James); Chris Kiganda (Kobi Degraft-Johnson); Ryan Martin
Subs not used: Brett Lambert-Wright; Dominic Weston

DULWICH SUPPORTERS’ ITALIAN JOB

As Britain’s war heroes made their way to Normandy to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, another troop of gallant Brits were making their way back to Blighty as Dulwich Hamlet Supporters Football Team returned from their annual foray into Europe. This time it was the Torfeo Delfino, held in Rimini, Italy and the side were celebrating yet another achievement as for the first time they avoided the wooden spoon in their group.
The tournament opened at the Spontricciolo ground where the Hamlet lads were first on pitch against Corsica team, C.F.A. Bastia and it proved to a torrid test as the sprightly opposition displayed immaculate skills in taking a two-nil lead into the break, increasing that in the second half. Dulwich were not helped by the idiosyncratic decisions of the local referee whose eccentric decisions brought British bewilderment and Gallic shrugs in equal measure. However Dulwich would not lie down and forced their way back into the game with a classic English goal. Winning a freekick wide on the left, Dulwich took full advantage as skipper Andy Tucker’s pinpoint delivery allowed Lee Shailer to rise and head a powerful header home. As the clock ticked down Dulwich continued to press but further goals did not come. A final score of 3-1 to Bastia was deserved particularly in light of sporting manner in which they conducted themselves.
A long wait ensued before Dulwich were next on pitch against local A.C. Grottino who’d won their opening game in none too convincing style giving the Hamlet Supporters every confidence that they would be able to record a maiden victory on continental soil. However Lady Luck was not smiling upon the boys in Pink and Blue as the Italians went on to record a flattering 4-0 triumph courtesy of a trio of scrappy goals, loose balls tucked away despite the best attempts of keeper Matt Hammond and his overworked defenders. Dulwich might have claimed a consolation late on when Lawrence Marsh received the ball in the penalty area but could only hold his head in dismay as his steam-hammer effort cracked against the crossbar.
Out of contention for progression to the knockout stages, Dulwich still had the opportunity to clinch third place in the group as their final opponents, G.E Factofrance, from St Ouen l’Aumone, north west of Paris, had suffered two defeats (3-0 and 4-0), meaning a draw would ensure Dulwich avoided the wooden spoon. However it was to be a long wait as the match was not scheduled until 10 to seven that evening in Argentina, a hamlet on the outskirts of town not the country! The delay probably did more to unsettle the opposition as Dulwich came out all guns blazing, taking the lead through the head of Marsh meeting a twice nodded on freekick from a throw-in to plant a header firmly past the French keeper. The Hamlet paid for some lackadaisical defending, though, as a freekick found a French player unmarked in the box and his well placed header gave Hammond no chance but a fine strike from Hamlet’s Man of the Tournament Phil Doyle restored Dulwich’s lead before the half time break. However Dulwich were denied what would have been a deserved victory when Factofrance pulled back a goal in the second half with a close range effort and despite a myriad of chances the game petered out into a draw as the day took its toll on the fast wearying combatants.

Squad: Matt Hammond (GK); Alex Bushell; Steve Rickerby; Lucas Green; Paul Griffin; Andy Tucker (Capt.); Damon Green; Phil Doyle; Lee Shailer; Ferenc Morath; Phil Baker; Mark Hutton; Ian Wright; Dave Blyth; Mick O’Shaughnessy

THE COLEMAN COMETH!

Dulwich Hamlet goalscoring sensation Omari Coleman is the latest in a long line of Champion Hill youth team graduates to make the leap into the professional game although he has had to wait a little longer than some for his call up to the big leagues. At the age of 23, perhaps he though his chance had gone, but following a high scoring trial with Coca-Cola Championship Watford, impressed by exploits with the Hamlet, this week Coleman put pen to paper on a one-year deal with the Hornets.
Coleman had been on trial since July after being spotted by chief scout Frank Sibley and recommended to manager Ray Lewington.
Speaking to the official Watford FC website, minutes after completing his signing, Coleman said, "I'm very excited to have signed a contract with Watford,’’ "It's been going on for a while now so I'm glad to get it over and done with and now I'm just looking forward to the next chapter.
"I've got so much to prove at the moment, but I believe in myself that I can make it happen at this level. I'm looking forward to getting fitter and getting some games under my belt. The manager has signed me so he must have belief in me, so I've got to prove to him that he has made the right decision.''
The 23-year-old, who was on schoolboy forms with Wimbledon, has had several trials with league clubs over the years but never quite made it. At his age, he could have thought his chance had gone, but he puts his reversal in fortunes all down to old-fashioned hard work.
"I was with Croydon FC for a year, then I went to Dulwich Hamlet and scored a lot of goals over two seasons and it really took off for me towards the end of last season. There was a lot of interest from other clubs, but I didn't really read too much into it when the Watford situation came up, but after meeting the manager and the rest of the lads things really started happening for me here, leading up to today's great news.
"I'm getting on a bit in football terms, so I said to myself at the start of last season to give myself one last push and get myself really fit and sharp - then I started scoring for Dulwich so I thought that if I didn't make it after that then I would have missed my chance but given it my best shot.''
This week the roads around Watford are once again clogged up with traffic - so that must mean the kids have gone back to school! That's what Omari would have been doing had he not been given this opportunity by the Hornets.
"I was a teaching assistant working with kids who have learning and behavioural difficulties,'' he explained. "I taught sport and a variety of other subjects to kids who found it hard to concentrate and learn simple things. I should have been going back to school this week, my school said to me because I have been on other trials before, if I went to Watford then I might not be able to come back to work in September, so that was a risk I took and fortunately it paid off.''
Swapping the classroom for a professional football club is a huge step, particularly in the fitness stakes, but it's a career change he is adapting well to, although competition is fierce at Vicarage Road in the very healthy striker department.
"You have got to be professional about everything you do here,'' he said. "You have to rest at every opportunity as the different training patterns take a toll on your body. It has taken me a while to get used to it, at Dulwich Hamlet I trained twice a week and now it's almost every day. It's a mental and physical thing that in time you get used to.
"There are a lot of good strikers here at Watford and it's up to the individuals to fight for the two positions up front. I'm not fazed by it though, I'm just here to do my best and I believe that then things will go well.
"My goal for this season is just to get myself known here, establish myself and earn the respect of the management and players here. I just want to do well, whether it's in the reserves or if I get a sniff of the first team. I just want to make sure I do myself justice.''

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Sutton United 1

Dulwich Hamlet 1 Sutton United 1
Pre-Season Challenge Match
Thursday 5th August 2004

A last minute goal rescued a share of the honours for a determined Hamlet against a much rejigged Sutton XI whose long serving manager John Rains took the opportunity to give match exposure to more new faces prior to the start of the season. Indeed copious substitutes were the order of the day for this was Dulwich’s third game in six days, having been used as a glorified trial match for Barnet just 48 previous.
Having lost John Wilfort to injury, one that would curtail a promising career in Pink and Blue, Dulwich shifted Julian Curnow to centre-half and brought young full back Russell Bedford into the fray.
For the U’s, a central defensive pairing of Crystal Palace juniors Glen Wilson and Jay Conroy, aided and abetted by erstwhile AFC Wimbledon centre-back Danny Oakins, though the niceties of the professional youth game were soon upset as they received the warm Camberwell greeting of Dulwich’s pocket battleship, the belligerent Charley Side. The striker with dynamite in his boots showed he had it elsewhere as an early thumping header brought a breathtaking save from experienced Sutton stopper Andy Iga. That save proved telling for soon after, in the 18th minute, the visiting suburbanites had snatched the lead totally
An entirely new central defensive partnership of Crystal Palace juniors Glen Wilson and Jay Conroy, and former AFC Wimbledon centre back Danny Oakins lined up in front of Andy Iga, while experienced midfielder Peter Fear, who played in the Football League for Wimbledon and more recently was with Crawley, was also in U's starting line-up.
Iga marked his first outing of the season with a brilliant early save to keep out Charlie Side's header before Sutton went ahead in the 18th minute, slightly against the run of play, as Matt Gray's innocuous looking 25 yard shot evaded the grasp of goalkeeper Paul Seuke. Oakins missed a good chance to extend the lead when he headed wide from a Gray corner, but there were some positive moments from all three centre backs, with both Palace youngsters looking good on the ball.
The dangerous Sebastian Schoburgh headed against the post for Dulwich just before half time, and at the interval the visitors made a trio of changes. On came Phil Wilson between the sticks, experienced Stuart Booth replacing Fear and out to prove his worth to the U’s and David Kennedy on in the vanguard for Andy Martin.
Wilson had barely reached the goal-line before he was facing a penalty after Conroy tangled with Meshach Nugent. Conroy clearly aggrieved to see the decision had go in favour of the Hamlet as he protested in vain that his shirt had been tugged by his troublesome tormentor, but Nugent rendered any arguments academic by slamming the spot kick into the ether. Sutton responded as Joff Vansittart had a powerful header finely battered out by Dulwich's second half custodian, Danny Harwood. The danger not over the rebound was lifted back in by Nigel Brake to the still lurking Vansittart but this time his radar was out and the strike was driven wide of the mark.
A fearsome tackler from Glen Wilson on Kemal Bulent as he scampered down the lefty wing led to a lengthy delay in play as the speedy winger took treatment but to not avail and the stretcher bearers were sent for. The injury would prove serious with the unfortunate Bulent expected to miss a lengthy swathe of the coming season. Soon after a myriad of substitutions saw the miscreant Wilson amongst those replaced as Sutton took off their central defensive pairing lock, stock and barrel, the Oakins/Wilson/Conroy partnership replaced by Martin Dunne, Scott Corbett and Lewis Gonsalves. For Dulwich David Moore replaced the injured Bulent, soon to be joined Levi Coleman and Justin Georgiou who took on the strikers mantle from Side and Nugent. Whilst the Hamlet were settling back into their rhythm, the U’s almost took advantage as Kennedy found that extra gear to burst away from the shackles of defence. Lifting the ball over the advancing Harwood he let out a silent scream first of exultation then of ululation as he could only watch as the bounced up off the turf against the underside of the bar and, amidst a furry of pink and blue, chocolate and amber, be scrambled away to safety.
Yet more subs stepped into the fray. Of Sutton’s brace Danny Jeffreys almost cost his side a goal as he relinquished possession to Coleman, the Hamlet replacement denied only by Phil Wilson’s smart reflexes. Jeffreys’ fellow understudy, Benson Paka, was experiencing the flip side of fortunes coin as he proved instigator of a fluent move which might have sealed victory had not an overstretched Kennedy larruped his strike from Brake’s drilled low cross wide once more.
Buoyed by that Dulwich rallied for the final assault, the relentless Danny Ward sent in a cracker of a strike that had Phil Wilson seemingly beaten until he pulled one of those frustratingly good saves out of his magic hat. But at the death, not even Hecate’s arts could have saved Wilson for though he found yet another quality save to keep out the drive of late substitute Nicolas Plumain, he found himself toothless as Coleman pounced upon the loose ball and directed past the stricken earthbound custodian and into the net to rescue a deserved share of the spoils for a Hamlet side that refused to except defeat.

Teams:
DHFC: Paul Seuke (Danny Harwood HT); Russell Bedford (Nicolas Plumain 85); Paul Reed; Errison Ahwan (Tom Ababio 76); Julian Curnow; Danny Ward; Terry Bowes (Craig Prendergast 85); Kemal Bulent (David Moore 70); Charley Side (Levi Coleman 72); Meshach Nugent (Justin Georgiou 72); Sebastian Schoburgh
Sub not used: Jason Turley

SUFC: Andy Iga (Phil Wilson (HT); Matt Gray (Danny Jeffreys 76); Nigel Brake; Danny Oakins (Glenn Boosey 72); Glen Wilson (Lewis Gonsalves 72); Jay Conroy (Martin Dunne 72); Peter Fear (Stuart Booth HT); Paul Honey (Benson Paka 76); Joff Vansittart; Eddie Akuamoah (Scott Corbett 72); Andy Martin (David Kennedy HT)

The future’s pink and blue

Dulwich Hamlet boss Martin Eede insists his club still has a bright future despite the heartbreak of missing out on a place in the Ryman Premier League.
Hamlet were well set for promotion most of the way through the season only to fall away in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Their seventh-placed finish sent them into a winner-takes-all play-off with Wealdstone at Champion Hill.
The scars of surrendering their promotion hopes in a penalty shoot-out remain fresh for Eede.
But with the club's reserve and youth teams enjoying great success this season, Eede still has plenty to look forward to.
"Our reserves have won the Suburban Premier League with the youngest ever squad in the club's history, while our youth side are in the final of the Southern Youth League Cup," he said.
"That tells me the club is very strong and we have some excellent young players here.
"Quite a few have already broken into the first-team squad."
Dulwich will be in the Isthmian League Division One next season, where AFC Wimbledon will provide lucrative opposition.
Eede has pledged to stay at the club and hopes he can take them one step further this time.
"I'll definitely be here next season to have another crack at getting promotion," he said.
"What we achieved this year was excellent considering the financial strength of the other teams who went up.
"That doesn't mean anything now, but hopefully the players will come back stronger for the experience."
The boss doesn't know how many of the squad will remain at the club over the summer, but is confident there won't be too many jumping ship.
"This is the time when everybody wants to take a holiday," he said.
"No-one has intimated to me that they want to leave, but there is always some movement.
"I'm already concentrating on next season and have arranged a pre-season friendly with Millwall for July, 22.
"There is work to do to the stadium and the pitch, so I will be keeping very busy!"

Dulwich secured the Suburban League title with a 3-2 win over Wingate & Finchley last week. Nathan Lother, George Gibson and Nicolas Plumain scored the vital goals.

Dulwich Hamlet supporters have produced a video and DVD of their London Senior Cup final victory over Tooting & Mitcham. Videos are £10 and DVD's £12, with postage £1.50. To place an order e-mail Bill Azzi at bazzi@btinternet.com

CHANGES ARE COMING

May 18 2004
By Chris Fidler, South London Press
DULWICH Hamlet boss Martin Eede said he wouldn't swap any of his players - but there will be changes in the summer, he has admitted.
Hamlet missed out on promotion after a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Ryman Division One play-off with Wealdstone - and some players may have had enough.
Eede will now see his side compete in the Isthmian League Division One Southern Eastern Division against local rivals Tooting and AFC Wimbledon, rather than a higher level.
"It is inevitable there will be changes to the side, but at the moment I am still reflecting on how we missed out on promotion after such a good season," said Eede.
"I wouldn't swap any of my players. They were brilliant for me. In the end it was the lack of a big squad that let us down."
Eede is hoping his stars, such as top-scorer Omari Coleman, will want to stay at the club for next season, but added: "Of course people like Omari want to play at the highest level, but I'll be tackling those issues in a few weeks' time and hope most will want to stay."
As for the new league, Eede has one or two reasons to be excited about what is in store for his side and the Champion Hill faithful.
"With teams like AFC Wimbledon, Tooting and Bromley in it, there will be some big, big games," he said.
"There will also be some new challenges from the likes of Newport Isle of Wight and Bashley, so there's a lot to keep the interest."
But Eede is anxious that any success Hamlet have on the field should not mean people forget the club's problems off it. Last summer Hamlet's planning application for a Homebase on their existing ground and a new stadium next door was thrown out at appeal. The plan would have given the club financial security according to Eede.
He added: "If it had been allowed it would have meant we could be major players in the non-league world. We have a fight for survival here to keep the club going, which we do thanks to a small number of people who work above and beyond the call of duty.
"There are a lot of well-heeled people in Dulwich and it would be nice for them to get involved in helping the club out. Dulwich Hamlet is an important part of Dulwich life and a cash injection would go a long way.
"But whatever happens, nothing can shake us. We'll dust ourselves down and have another crack at promotion next season."
*Fisher Athletic's leading scorer of last season has left the club. Richard Brady, who netted 22 goals last term, walked after manager Wayne Burnett couldn't guarantee him a starting place for next season as he looks to reshape the squad.

Cadette's verdict

May 11 2004
South London Press
TOOTING & Mitcham boss Richard Cadette took heart from his side's display.
"There's no way I can criticise anyone after that performance," he said.
"We played well, created chances but the fact of the matter is we lost because we just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.
"Dulwich had their two minutes when they scored twice and that was the difference."
Cadette added: "It made it worse that we had to lose to Dulwich, but sometimes you have to taste that bitter defeat to make sure you never want to taste it again. We have a very young side and they have been on a learning curve this season."
As for striker Elliot Onochie, Cadette is now waiting to hear whether he wants to stay at Tooting after his contract expired.
Cadette said: "He has been offered a new contract and I want him to stay, but only if he is happy to stay. I hope he is."

COLEMAN DELIVERS

May 11 2004
DULWICH 2 TOOTING & M 0
Chris Fidler Reports From Claremont Road, South London Press
AFTER the season of disappointment these two rivals have had, the London Senior Cup provided some light relief.
It may not have the kudos it used to, but the competition final was a chance for two South London sides to regain some pride in a small corner of North London.
Dulwich were in the greater need of a pick-me-up after missing promotion from Ryman Division One South by one penalty kick 48 hours earlier. However, the cup was also a chance for Tooting's players to prove they are not so dispensable for next season, after a disappointing Ryman South finish of 11th.
As it was, one man was the difference between the sides at the ramshackle home of Hendon FC.
Omari Coleman's forward play has stood out for Dulwich all season long, and it was fitting that the best player on show should grab the glory with two quick-fire second half goals in the space of 120 seconds.
It was tough on Tooting, who just have not been able to find a consistent winning formula all season. For all their enterprise, the Terrors just could not get that ball in the back of the net.
It was they that settled the quicker and tried to take advantage of Hamlet's play-off hangover.
Right winger Goma Lambu looked dangerous for Tooting and he was the first to threaten a goal in the seventh minute. He turned Dulwich skipper, and former Tooting favourite, Alex O'Brien on the wing before whipping in a tasty ball that Paul Seuke had to tip over his bar.
Another player facing his former club, Tooting striker Eben Allen, prodded just wide from James Husband's ninth minute free kick.
Former Dulwich manager, and now Tooting keeper, Les Cleevely had to be alert to smother Coleman's shot on the turn following a Scott Edgar flick-on on the quarter-hour mark.
Tooting were playing the better stuff but could not find the net. Scott Kinch saw his shot deflected off Dulwich's Julian Curnow after some tricks from Elliot Onochie in the box, but that was the nearest they came. Allen then headed a Husband free kick straight at Seuke, before Dulwich created two good chances just before half time. The first saw Kemal Bulent pump a long free kick into the box, only for David Moore to head past the post. The second was the best flowing move of the half that ended with Cleevely saving well from Edgar's head.
As the players made their way down the tunnel at half time there was some pushing and shoving as tempers flared - the sides have never been the best of friends.
The second half started slowly and it looked like Tooting were the likelier side. However, in the 54th minute they got a warning shot from Coleman who carved out a decent chance that Cleevely did well to get down and smother.
Four minutes later, Coleman had the ball in the net after he latched on to a long ball, outpaced the Tooting defence before poking past Cleevely - pure route one stuff. Tooting's composure obviously took a knock as they failed to pick up Coleman two minutes later as he sent the ball spinning past Cleevely with a superb diving header from a stunning Bulent delivery to make it 2-0.
Terrors manager Richard Cadette decided to change things as he hauled off Kinch and the disappointing Onochie, replacing them with Steven Cant and Durrand Jemmott. The move seemed to pay off as Tooting spent the final 15 minutes bombarding the Dulwich goal. Allen skewed a shot wide before Cant pulled another effort the wrong side of the post from distance.
Tooting deserved to pull a goal back, but Dulwich packed their own box for some last-ditch defending.
With five minutes to go, Hamlet somehow managed to keep the ball out of the goal after a Husband shot was cleared off the line and the follow-up was saved by Seuke.
Tooting then hit the bar, before the ball was sent across the face of goal, but no Terror was on hand to finish. Lambu hit the side-netting before Dulwich went up the other end, only for Cleevely to somehow keep out Edgar's free header with a save Gordon Banks would have been proud of.
The whistle saw fans invade the pitch. The Dulwich faithful proclaiming "we are the champions of London" and "we're the pride of South London".
Both sets of supporters were a credit to their clubs, travelling north to cheer on their local sides. And they can, at least, console themselves with the thought that, after disappointing campaigns, they have the Tooting-Dulwich derbies to look forward to next season.
Goals: Dulwich - Coleman (58, 60). Dulwich: Seuke, Amwoan (sic), Curnow, O'Brien, Bowen, Moore, Bulent, Edgar, Coleman (Nugent 89), Turley, Side. Not used: Quarm, Green, Kyezu, Bedford.
Tooting: Cleevely, Tanner (Lasbrey 40), Symes, Nwanze, Twin, Hunt, Lambu, Kinch (Cant 65), Onochie (Jemmott 65), Allen, Husband. Not used: Pinnock, Davies.

DHFC: Paul Seuke; Errison Ahwan, Julian Curnow; Alex O'Brien; Justin Bowen; David Moore; Kemal Bulent; Scott Edgar; Omari Coleman (Meshach Nugent 88); Jason Turley; Charley Side
Subs not used: Francis Quarm; Meshach Nugent; Ronnie Green; Aliy Kyezu; Russell Bedford.
Bookings: None
T&MFC: Les Cleevely, Craig Tanner (James Lasbrey 39), Steve Symes, Daniel Nwanze, Danny Twin, Oliver Hunt, Goma Lambu, Scott Kinch (Jason Pinnock 65), Elliot Onochie (Durrand Jemmott 65), Eben Allen, James Husband.
Subs not used: Stephen Cant, Jimmy Davies.
Bookings: None
Referee: O. Saliy
Assistants: R. Albert & M. Wise

Eede's verdict

May 11 2004
South London Press
VICTORIOUS Dulwich manager Martin Eede reckoned his side had the edge over rivals Tooting.
"I thought there was a bit of resolve there and the edge was always with us, even when parts of the game weren't," he said.
"It was pleasing to have something to show for our season after losing that play-off. Before the game we had a heart-to-heart. The players were marvellous in the way they managed to put Monday behind them. After that game a lot of them had to take a day off work, they were so gutted."
Eede added: "Although we didn't get what we wanted in promotion, after a terrific season which saw us get 84 points, and lose just eight games, we won something. I am pleased for the supporters, fans and everyone at the club. It was well-deserved."Eede said he will start to turn his attentions to who stays and who goes for next season later this month, adding: "I've not even thought about it yet.

Hamlet pay the penalty

May 7 2004
DULWICH 2 WEALDSTONE 2 Wealdstone win 5-4 on pens
Chris Fidler Reports From Champion Hill, South London Press
THERE were tears at Dog Kennel Hill on Monday night after a season that promised so much ended in despair for Dulwich.
Twice they were on the brink of beating Wealdstone in the biggest game of the season, and twice they blew it.
This was a time when it was acceptable for grown men to cry - because all their hard work over the past nine months had, ultimately counted for nothing. Wealdstone go up into the revamped Ryman Premier Division, while Dulwich, who accrued enough points to challenge for the championship in any other year, have missed the boat in the non-league revamp.
It was harsh on Dulwich who fought back from a poor first half showing to look certainties to win.
Those opening 45 minutes were a nervy affair for Martin Eede's side as the visitors created several good chances. But for the keeping of Paul Seuke, Hamlet would have been dead and buried by half time. He parried well from a fourth minute Dave Ryan free kick as Wealdstone settled first. Hamlet were struggling to create things and it took until the 18th minute for their first serious attack - but Craig Dundas dallied with the ball at his feet before firing against Andy Carter in the visitors' goal, then smacking the rebound against the post.
The visitors took the lead on 25 minutes when Seuke punched out Gary McKeown's free kick, but Martin Carter thumped the ball in to the net from all of 30 yards.
Seuke then brilliantly tipped a dipping cross on to the bar, and from the resulting corner showed great reactions to palm Ryan's close-range piledriver round the post. In stoppage time, Jolly's snapshot hit the post after Lee Doherty and Jason Curnow gifted the centre-forward possession on the edge of the box.
Dulwich had escaped, and four minutes after the break got the equaliser. There looked to be no danger as player of the year Omari Coleman ran down the left flank, but he whipped a cross to the far post where Charlie Side bundled home from close range.
Coleman and Dundas were starting to really stretch the Wealdstone back four - the former having a personal duel with Carter in the away goal. On 56 minutes Carter blocked Coleman's shot following good work from Dundas. On the hour Dundas saw a shot blocked by Carter as Dulwich, driven on by their influential skipper Alex O'Brien in midfield, dominated.
On 67 minutes Carter again thwarted Coleman, after the striker latched onto Francis Quarm's through-ball, and turned his marker only to see his shot palmed away.
Coleman finally got the better of Carter in the 79th minute when he hammered the keeper's parry from a Dundas strike home to make it 2-1 to Dulwich.
All Hamlet had to do was hold on, but Wealdstone got the equaliser with six minutes to go. A clumsy Dulwich challenge gifted Ryan a free kick on the edge of the box and he fired it low through the defensive wall into the net.
Either side could have won it in an absorbing extra-time battle. Ben Alexander and Jolly went close for Wealdstone, Dundas had a goal ruled out for handball and Coleman was again thwarted by Carter.
So it went to penalties and Hamlet looked certainties to wrap up the tie when they went 4-3 up thanks to successful kicks from Lee Akers, Justin Bowen, Dundas, Coleman and a Seuke save from Ryan.
But substitute Meshach Nugent crashed what would have been the winner against the bar, then Wealdstone skipper Martin Carter hammered home to make it 4-4 and sudden death.
Dulwich substitute David Moore saw his shot saved by Carter and it was up to Jolly to give Wealdstone victory. As the ball hit the back of the net the 400-odd Wealdstone fans invaded the pitch as the Dulwich players fought back the tears.
A side that finished 10 points off the top of the table looked as though they had been relegated. But knowing the character in the side, they will bounce back.

Teams:
DHFC: Paul Seuke; Lee Doherty (Lee Akers 118); Julian Curnow; Alex O'Brien; Justin Bowen; Jason Turley; Kemal Bulent (Meshach Nugent 118); Francis Quarm; Omari Coleman; Craig Dundas; Charley Side (David Moore 77)
Substitutes not used: Errison Ahwan; Scott Edgar
WFC: Andy Carter; Jason Shaw (Tommy Williams 71); Gary Burrell; Dave Ryan; Danny Butler; Martin Carter; Matt Carvell; Gary McKeown; Marvin Morgan (Ben Alexander 95); Richard Jolly; James Duncan
Substitutes not used: Alon Hemmerdinger; Brett Freeman; Danny Tilbury
Mr Tony Mason
Mr Steve Roots, Mr Darren Sheldrake (4th Mr Paul Martin)

Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods.

A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch: "Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?"

The birch says he cannot tell. Just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling.
The birch says, "Woodpecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?"

The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree. He replies: "It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch. It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever put my pecker in.

A wedding occurred just outside Cavan in Ireland.

To keep tradition going, everyone gets extremely drunk and the bride's and groom's families have a storming row and begin wrecking the reception room and generally kicking the shit out of each other. The police get called in to break up the fight.
The following week, all members of both families appear in court. The fight continues in the courtroom until the judge finally brings calm with the use of his gavel, shouting, 'Silence in court!'
The courtroom goes silent and Paddy, the best man, stands up and says,
'Judge, I was the best man at the wedding and I think I should explain what happened.'
The judge agrees and asks Paddy to take the stand. Paddy begins his explanation by telling the court that it is traditional in a Cavan wedding that the best man gets the first dance with the bride.
The judge says, 'OK.'
'Well,' said Paddy, 'after I had finished the first dance, the music kept going, so I continued dancing to the second song, and after that the music kept going and I was dancing to the third song, when all of a sudden the groom leapt over the table, ran towards us and gave the bride an unmerciful kick right between her legs.'
Shocked, the judge instantly responded, 'God, that must have hurt!'
'Hurt?' Paddy replies. 'He broke three of my fingers!'

Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Wayne Rooney are standing before God at the throne of Heaven.

God looks at them and says; "before granting you a place at my side, I must first ask you what you believe in."
Addressing Ronaldo first he asks, "what do you believe?"
Ronaldo looks God in the eye and states passionately, "I believe Football to be the food of life. Nothing else brings such unbridled joy to so many people from the slums of Rio to the bright lights of Madrid. I have devoted my life to bring such joy to people who stood on the terraces supporting their club."
God looks up and offers Ronaldo the seat to his left.
He then turns to Luis Figo, "and you, Luis, what do you believe?"
Figo stands tall and proud, "I believe courage, honour and passion are the fundamentals to life and I've spent my whole playing career providing a living embodiment of these traits."
God, moved by the passion of the speech offers Figo the seat to his right.
Finally, he turns to Wayne Rooney, "and you, Wayne, what do you believe?"
"I believe,” says Rooney "you're sitting in my seat."

West Ham Supporters 1 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 2

West Ham Supporters 1 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 2
Internet Football League
Saturday 17th April 2004

Hard by the concrete ribbon that is the Eastway lies Hackney Marshes, spiritual home of parks football since time immemorial, a Cathedral of Sunday football that regularly echoes to sound of dockyard obscenities as a thousand hangovers are run off amid its jigsaw puzzle of pitches. Famous names have graced it along the years but when was the last time the names of Cottee, Stewart, Brooking, Hurst, Devonshire and their ilk lined up alongside each other there. Alright it was only the legends on the back of the West Ham supporters shirts that bore these names although Cottee, a lanky bespectacled chap, lived up to his icon with the headed goal that gave the Happy Hammers a first half lead. As for some of the others, Brooking was actually interesting whilst Devonshire seemed a model of decorum following his outbursts during and after the Hamlet’s victory at Hampton the Saturday before. Could not tell if the keeper bore a legend upon his back but from his performance, one would guess it was not McKnight!
With a long unbeaten record behind them, Dulwich were hoping to extend that against a West Ham side that had lost all four previous games in the league but with an early start in the hinterlands of East London, a number of players were unavailable but those 12 who dragged creaking knees on to the pitch were to do the Hamlet proud as a goal deficit was overturned to ensure victory.
Shambolic defending at a corner allowed an unmarked Cottee to glance a header past Matt Hammond to give West Ham the lead. However Dulwich were back on level terms when Larry Marsh powered into the box and drawing the keeper, unselfishly laid the ball across the box for Jack McInroy to score from close range.
Enduring some hairy moments in the second half as West Ham made full use of the wind at their backs to pin Dulwich back in their half, forcing but not profiting from a series of corners. For this they paid as Marsh scored a magnificent goal reminiscent of that cracking Gazza goal against the sheep rustlers from North of Border, flicking the ball past his marker before smacking the ball past a defenceless keeper for number two. Again the Boys in Pink and Blue came under the cosh, but held firm although with less than a minute left breaths were held as the ball threatened to bounce over the head of Hammond, the corpulent custodian just tipping the ball on the crossbar as Dulwich breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Team: Matt Hammond; Paul Vinnell; Ian Wright; James O’Shaughnessy; Paul Griffin; Andy Tucker; Gareth Taylor (Mark Hutton); Mishi Morath; Lee Shailer; Jack McInroy; Larry Marsh

Hayes Lane Ultras 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 2

Hayes Lane Ultras 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 2
Internet Football League – National Division
Sunday 21st March 2004

Bromley and Dulwich aficionados swapped the rivalry of the terraces for that of the football field as they locked horns in a highly competitive IFL fixture that saw the Hamlet twice come from behind to secure a draw and continue a seven match unbeaten run in all competitions. Mothers Day and Millwall taking on the Hammers at the Den may have robbed both sides of players but those on display put on a creditable display in difficult conditions. Remarkably despite a number of chances for both sides there was no score at the break although both teams had the openings to grab the lead, Bromley’s pacy attackers causing problems for Dulwich’s highly experienced (i.e. old, average age 42.5!) back four and keeping custodian Andy Tucker on his toes. Dulwich’s strikeforce was blowing hot and cold and despite some tricky approach play were firing blanks in front of goal and caught offside too many times for the manager’s liking.
It looked as if the defences would continue to hold sway until shortly into the second half when Paul Griffin was caught out by a swift turn from Mark Avenell and his clumsy challenge rightly saw the hosts awarded a penalty. The Ravens’ Neil Cooper looked confident stepping up to the spotkick but was denied when Tucker dived to his right to pull off a magnificent stop, blocking Cooper’s attempted follow up for good measure but as the ball flew up Avenell was first to it with a header that somehow evaded a throng of defenders on the line. Bromley’s lead did not last long and after Dulwich had won a corner, quick thinking saw Nick Nikos drill a low cross into the area for striker Jim Barber to hammer home from close range.
Bromley came back fighting and midway through the half regained the lead after sloppy Dulwich defending at a corner as Cooper’s header fell at the feet of Stu Bowman who poked the ball over the line from close range. Dulwich were not giving up though and as time ticked on they forced the Bromley keeper into a fine double save then saw Jason Cobb’s floated effort strike the crossbar. There must have been mere seconds left on the clock when Dulwich broke Bromley’s hearts as a piercing attack down the left saw Nikos unleash a cracking angled left foot shot that cannoned off the post and home. Stoppage time seemed interminable but when the whistle finally came, the acknowledgement was that a draw was the fair result.

Teams:
HLUFC: Team: Paul Cooper, Antonio Fletcher, Will Clutton, Rob Nicholls, Martin Roberts, Stu Bowman, Andy Firkin, Martin Ramsey, Neil Cooper, Mark Sven Avenell, Rich Bagley.
Sub: Dan Davis

DHFCSFC: Andy Tucker, Phil Baker, Paul Griffin (Dave Blyth), Steve Rickerby, Ian Wright, James O'Shaugnessy, Jason Cobb, Joe Absalom, Alex Margoules, Jim Barber, Nick Nikos

Worthing Supporters 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 3

Worthing Supporters 2 Dulwich Hamlet Supporters 3
Challenge Match
Saturday 7th February 2004

A hardy band of Hamlet Supporters made the long trek to the South Coast, made more frustrating by a circuitous train journey courtesy of the vagaries of the British transport system, but were rewarded with a hard-fought victory over their Rebel counterparts. Despite an icy, gale force wind at their backs the Hamlet found themselves weathering early pressure from the younger hosts. However on 17 minutes Dulwich took the lead when Jack McInroy almost certainly wrote his name into the annals of supporter footballing history. Age had certainly not withered the 45-year-old midfield wizard as he capitalised on defensive dithering to score with a sweet strike. Almost immediately a Danny King freekick could have doubled the lead but the home custodian was well placed to keep out the effort.
A courageous tackle from the deceptively ferocious media luvvie Paul ‘Vinny’ Vinnell on the half hour mark prevented what looked a certain goal and laid the foundations for a rapid Dulwich counterattack from which a second goal nearly came. McInroy again played a starring role and when the ball reached Phil Doyle on the edge of the box, he balletically skipped past two tackles before unleashing a screaming low drive which beat the keeper but crashed against the upright, spinning like a top across the face of goal, just missing the opposite post.
Playing into the teeth of the gale, Dulwich found the Worthing players encamped on the edge of their box like the Greeks outside the walls of Troy but held firm and doubled their lead 20 minutes in when Chris Wheeler did the donkey work to set up James O’Shaughnessy to curl home a magnificent effort. Worthing pulled a goal back when a freekick was played on by a puddle in front of goal and skidded through the hands of stand-in goalkeeper Ian Wright, holding the fort until the arrival of regular custodian Matt Hammond who had elected for the scenic route to the South Coast via Orpington!
For a while it seemed as if the Rebels would pull level and not undeservedly so but O’Shaugnessy minor made sure Dulwich had a two goal cushion as the game entered the final throes as he rounded the keeper to tuck the ball home from a tight angle despite the best efforts of a seagull on the goalline to keep the ball out. Right at the death Worthing pulled one back when from a corner Hammond, on for the gallant Wright, was beaten by a low drive. Mishi Morath on the post attempted a clearance but succeeded only in hammering ball into the top stanchion of the net where it nestled a la Trevor Brooking in the Nep Stadion. Any hopes Worthing had though of snatching a draw evaporated moments later as from the restart the referee almost instantaneously signalled the game’s conclusion.

Team: Ian Wright (Matt Hammond), Mick O'Shaughnessy (Paul Griffin), Phil Baker (Mishi Morath), Paul Vinnell, Steve Bennett, Phil Doyle, Jack McInroy, Danny King, Damon Green, James O'Shaughnessy, Chris Wheeler