Dulwich Hamlet are through to the first round of the
FA Cup for the fourteenth time in the club’s history. Quite some achievement
for a non-league side. Yet the previous two occasions the Hamlet reached this
stage of the competition was 21 years ago (v Southport) and 71 years ago (v Northampton
Town).
Between the two world wars, the Hamlet were one of
the most successful amateur clubs in the country, and therefore often exempt
until the final qualifying rounds or the first round proper. First round opponents
were Southend United (twice), Ilford, Merthyr Town, Plymouth Argyle, Newport
County (twice), Swindon (twice), Torquay United (twice) and Aldershot.
This season Dulwich will have the opportunity to
progress to the second round when they take on Carlisle United currently sitting
four places from the foot of League Two. The cup-tie to be played at Champion
Hill has an added bit of spice by being televised live on BBC2 on Friday 8
November.
It will not be the first time that television cameras have broadcast live from Champion Hill On Saturday 22 October 1949, Dulwich
Hamlet played out a remarkable 4-4 draw with Isthmian League rivals Leytonstone
in front of a 12,000 crowd and several BBC cameras. It was the early days of
television – there was no commercial television for a few more years – and only
one channel in Britain transmitting to less than 350,000 homes. In those days the
screen was as small as an iPad but with a much inferior resolution.
The game was also notable for being the first time
Dulwich Hamlet wore numbers on their backs. Pat Connett, wearing the number 10
shirt, complained to his teammates that it was unfair that he had to carry a
bit more weight than the rest of them!
December 1950 saw the cameras return to see Dulwich
Hamlet beat Wimbledon 3-1. And then five seasons later in January 1955 Hendon
were visitors to Champion Hill for a London Senior Cup tie. Hendon won 4-2
after extra time, which must have messed up the Saturday afternoon television
schedule somewhat. The BBC commentator that day was Kenneth Wolstenholme, who
gained greater fame in the sixties through Match of the Day and the 1966 World
Cup Final.
Dulwich Hamlet received £100 from the BBC for
allowing the cameras in against Hendon. Compare that with the forthcoming FA
Cup tie with Carlisle United where the club will receive £75,000. An enormous
amount that will hopefully be put to good use as the club seeks to climb English
football’s pyramid.
Jack McInroy
24 October 2019
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