Dulwich Hamlet FC

Woe, woe and thrice woe. After a dog of a season - watched by a lot of dogs it must be said - a final game defeat saw The Pink and Blues plop into the final Conference South relegation spot before being flushed down the u-bend of ignominy into the Isthmian Premier. After giving it ten minutes or so, however, the fetid fug of failure has begun to lift from Champion Hill helped along by a strong Glade-like toot of optimism and determination. As John F. Kennedy said "Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly." And if that dictum is good enough for Bad Back Jack, it's good enough for us.

The mood has been lifted further with the news that popular manager Hakan "Sheriff Hakman" Hayrettin and his trusty sidekick Terry "good laugh Terry" Harris seem to be staying at the club to help rebuild and rebound us back up the football pyramid, like some sort of mad Pharoah training for the Stairmaster Challenge. Hakan of course nearly performed a miracle of Ali Bongo proportions to keep us up when the club brought him in late on in the season. The fans have come to love him. And as we all know it is love that will lift us up where we belong, where the eagles cry, on Dog Kennel Heights. Roll on the new season we say.

The Dulwich Hamlet women have fared far better, finishing in the right half of their league and while having a bit of a cup run. Their final game against the Millwall Lionesses took place at The Den no less. And although we lost 2-1, a jolly good day was had by the growing Pepper Army of fans who follow the team home and away come what may, come what may. We will love you until our dying day.

So there you have it, the end of a big fat curate's egg of a season. Disappointment on the pitch. But good news off it, with the new Greendale stadium development finally being given the green light, thereby securing the club’s future on the rolling slopes of SE22.

Keep an eye on the website for news of new signings, next season's fixtures and no doubt some good looking pre-season matches https://www. pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet Plus for all your merch needs, check out the happening pink and blue clobber for sale at: www.dhst.org.uk

Down The Hamlet.