Willie Lillington Rest in Peace

Dulwich Hamlet legend Willie Lillington has died at the age of 55.

It was something of a shock when I was contacted last week by Willie’s twin sister Elizabeth, saying Willie was on his deathbed with terminal cancer and not expected to last the night. For many years people have often asked whatever happened to Willie Lillington? And neither supporters nor former players seemed to have a clue. Yet Willie was forever in their hearts.

A second shockwave came less than forty eight hours later when Willie passed from this life. But not until many tributes were being posted on social media and were read out to him in his dying hours. He would have heard how much he was loved by Dulwich Hamlet supporters of a certain vintage and his former teammates.  Willie always said that the time he spent at Dulwich was the best times of his career with the finest group of players.

Born in Glasgow on 23 October 1964, his family moved when he was six years old and settled in the south. He attended Eastfield High School in Mitcham and made it into the Wimbledon Youth team. During his formative years Dario Gradi was the Dons manager and he was an advocate of youth development. In fact, Gradi would drive to the Lillington home in his Rolls Royce and give the youngster a lift to the training ground. Willie later said that Gradi was the single biggest influence on his football career.

Willie later joined Molesey and was a key part of Martin Eede’s team that rose up from the Isthmian League Division Two South to the Premier Division, providing many magical moments at the Surrey club. He was invited to Dulwich Hamlet in 1991 by former Crystal Palace player and fellow scot Jim Cannon, and played 47 games, making his debut in the opening match against Abingdon on 17 August. Instantly becoming fans’ favourite he finished the season top scorer with 14 goals, and assisted in dozens more. Cries of, “Willie Willie Lillington! Willie Willie Lillington!” began to echo round the fields of Sandy Lane. (His arrival at Dulwich coincided with the Hamlet groundsharing at Tooting and Mitcham United, while the present Champion Hill stadium was being constructed.))

Dulwich were in the Isthmian First Division at the time and Willie’s goals helped secure promotion to the Premier. In a remarkable climax, Dulwich won the final seven games of the season to clinch the second promotion spot. This tied in with the new ground and the club’s centenary season. Only …the ground wasn’t ready for use and the Hamlet’s first few home games were played at different venues, including one ‘home’ game at Bognor Regis on the south coast!

Unfortunately Willie picked up an injury after just fifteen games and was side-lined for the rest of the season. He also played no part in the following season, but returned when another fellow Scot, the Hamlet’s brilliant player manager Frank Murphy, who replaced Cannon, cajoled him into staying at the club. Murphy’s signing of the young Paul Whitmarsh in October 1994 was a stroke of genius and paired two terrific strikers at the top of their game. Then along came Joe. Joseph Odegbami was the icing on the cake. A wizard of a player that did things with a ball that were unimaginable.

Hamlet fan Christian Burt remembers those days of Willie, Whits and Joe well: “Despite having both knees permanently taped up Willie had more leap than anyone I’ve seen. He could hang in the air longer than Les Ferdinand and had neck muscles like Mike Tyson. He could play too. Whilst not being Zico he was entirely comfortable with both feet and had a lovely touch too. It was a genuine thrill to watch that team.” Willie, he says, stood out above all others. “One of my greatest footballing legends. Handsome man and truly brilliant centre forward. Off the field he smiled, would have a cheeky cigarette and wore a gold ring in his ear. Willie looked the part with film star looks, the hint of Rebel Without A Cause.”  

It was Christian who, returning to Dulwich Hamlet in 2011 after more than a decade following Liverpool, rewrote the ‘Fields of Anfield Road’ song for The Rabble behind the goal to sing. We owe him a big favour. It became so popular it is still sung at every game.

“Oh the fields of Champion Hill where once they watched the King Edgar play.

And could he play!

Ossie Bayram on the wing, Willie Lllington banging ‘em in.

Oh the glory ‘round the fields of Champion Hill.”

The 1995/96 season saw Willie named the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Player of the Year. His 18 goals was ten less than Paul Whitmarsh scored, but the fans loved Willie just that little bit more.  One particular match stands out in the memory. It was against his former club Molesey. Willie received the ball on the halfway line, took on the defender, rounded the goalkeeper and curled into the empty net from a tight angle. In the second half he picked up a nasty head injury, but instead of being subbed he wanted to stay on. Physio Caroline Brouwer’s magic sponge was applied, a bandage wrapped round his forehead and Willie carried on as if nothing had happened, throwing himself into every challenge and continuing to meet every header.

His final season at Champion Hill saw a famous victory away to Southern League high fliers Cheltenham Town in the FA Trophy. Under the cosh for much of the game, it was Willie and Whits who scored the vital goals that got Dulwich through the tie. The dream duo lasted until March 1997 when Wilie controversially left Dulwich Hamlet for Hayes in the Conference, a step closer to the Football League. His 8 goals in 31 games took his full tally to 60 goals in 186 appearances.

It wasn’t clear why he left the club. Frank Murphy had quit, and following a brief stint as caretaker boss Alan Roughan was replaced by co-managers John Ryan and Micky Browne who decided to release Willie. Ryan stated in the press that the club could not turn down the Hayes offer, citing Willie’s age, he was 32, a back problem he had, and the fact that he wanted to reduce the club’s wage bill. Willie lasted six weeks at Hayes and then seems to have slipped of the radar. But he has never been forgotten at Champion Hill and never will, put in the same category as the legendary Edgar Kail and Ossie Bayram.

Of the many tributes paid, strike partner Paul Whitmarsh said: “So sad hearing this. I came to DHFC having gone through a downward spiral in football terms. He really looked after me as soon as I got to the club. Some of my happiest memories playing football were playing up front with Willie. I learned more in those years playing alongside him than during any other period of time playing the game. Tough as nails on the pitch, yet still had a lovely touch and feel for the game. Also should be said he was great fun off the pitch too.”

Teammate Gary Hewitt: “Such sadness. Willie was a fantastic player. Had some great times at Dulwich with him. My thoughts go out to his family.”

Captain Lee Akers:” One of my truly great friends.  Cannot tell you how gutted to hear this sad news, still hard to take it in. A great player and a fantastic fella. Loved by teammates and supporters. What a special bond that group of players had. Great times and great people.”

The Hamlet fans also have fond memories of Willie. Andy Tucker: “Willie is an absolute legend and part of my favourite Hamlet XI in 35 years of watching.”

Ian Caldecourt: “I’ve been going the best part of 50 years. Willie remains a favourite at the club.”

Shaun Dooley: “One of my heroes. And there aren’t many. He gave us such memories which no one can take away.”

Death has taken quite a toll at Dulwich over the last eight months or so. Among others we have lost Ralph Hopkins, Ralph Morris, Farouk Menia, Ben Miller, Mishi Morath and 100 year old Bill Kirby. All of them so very important in their own unique way. And now we sadly add to that list Willie Lillington. May he rest in Peace.

Jack McInroy, 15 June 2020