Saturday 22 September 2018 sees
Dulwich Hamlet embark on its latest journey in the FA Cup. This year we begin
at the Second Qualifying Round of the competition where we face Tonbridge
Angels of the Bostik Premier Division. Three wins and it’s the First Round
Proper, something that has eluded Dulwich for so many years.
Tonbridge Angels’ manager Steve McKimm is no stranger to older supporters of the
Pink n Blues. In fact the last time Dulwich Hamlet got through to the First
Round he was in the Hamlet team. Sadly that was twenty years ago against
Southport. The previous time such dizzy heights were reached was back in 1948,
fifty years earlier.
McKimm, who signed
from Molesey at the start of the 1996/97 season, was a fans’ favourite at
Champion Hill. The tough tackling attacking midfielder made 126 appearances for
Dulwich over two and a half seasons, scoring 13 goals.
His time at Dulwich straddled the Paul Whitmarsh
/ Willie Lillington strike partnership era and the brilliance of Peter ‘Blobby’ Garland.
Unfortunately Garland, one of the finest non-league footballers of his day, was
suspended for the tie.
Southport won the match 1-0 through a Tony Houghton own
goal, but the home side hit the woodwork on four occasions including one shot
from McKimm himself.
One of the most memorable games featuring McKimm was the 4-1 win over Yeovil Town in which he scored one of the Hamlet goals.
