Dulwich Hamlet Will Be Televised

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

Hussein Hegazi Illustrated Talk

On this day fifty eight years ago (8 October 1961) the great Egyptian footballer Hussein Hegazi passed away in Cairo.

Hussein Hegazi 1912.

Hegazi - one of the first Africans to play in English football - was the star of the Dulwich Hamlet team from 1911 to 1914. On returning to his native land on the eve of the First World War he continued his astonishing career to become one of the most important figures in the Egyptian game.

As part of this month's Walworth History Festival I will be giving an illustrated talk about Hussein Hegazi.

And if you are wondering what the link is between Walworth and Hegazi. ...well, Walworth is that part of South London where I reside and Hegazi is the subject of my recent book: Hussein Hegazi, Dulwich Hamlet's Egyptian King.

This event takes place on Wednesday 16th October 2019 at 7:00pm at the Art Academy Newington, 155 Walworth Road, SE17 1RS (Formerly Newington Library).

All are welcome to come along to the talk and pick up a signed copy of the book, priced at £8.00.

Jack McInroy

Ralph Morris - Rest in Peace

We are very sad to report that Ralph Morris, the 1950s full back for Dulwich Hamlet departed this life on Monday evening. Only yesterday we published a piece on the Hamlet Historian blog how Ralph was soon to be honoured by leading the Hamlet team out in a forthcoming match. At 91 he would have been the oldest mascot to ever do so.

Regrettably, Ralph had a fall a few days ago which resulted in a very painful broken hip. An operation followed but being extremely frail he did not recover. Ralph passed away on Monday evening.

Ralph was really looking forward to his day out at Champion Hill as the matchday mascot, returning to the club for which he made over one hundred appearances. It is such a pity he passed away before his wish could be fulfilled. This was something which filled much of his thoughts in his last few weeks.

Clare Keeble who was instrumental in organising what was to be Ralph’s special day assures us that the Morris family are still eager to attend the match, at which Ralph’s life will be commemorated in some way. A minute’s silence will be held before kick-off. Our deepest condolences to the Morris family and friends.

Jack McInroy

Ralph Morris - Senior Mascot

Ralph Morris - Senior Mascot

Several generations have passed since Ralph Morris played his final game for Dulwich Hamlet. Now in his ninety second year, the former footballer resides in a care home in Haslemere, Surrey.  But unlike many nonagenarians he is not content to see out his long life sitting in an armchair in comfortable surroundings. Ralph is still looking to fulfil his ambitions!

Staff at the Brownscombe House Nursing Home contacted Dulwich Hamlet who kindly arranged for Ralph to be the matchday mascot at a forthcoming game. It has now been confirmed that the match against Havant & Waterlooville on 19 October will see Ralph Morris make his return …66 years after his final appearance in pink and blue.

Ralph last stepped onto the Champion Hill turf as a player in October 1953 having played more than a century of games for the Hamlet in the previous four years. A serious knee injury cut his career desperately short at the age of 25, when he was on the brink of an international call up for England Amateurs. Sadly Ralph was never to play again.

In August this year the former right back expressed his longing desire, despite being wheelchair bound, to return to Dulwich and once again tread the hallowed Champion Hill turf. “The one thing still on my bucket list is to return to Dulwich Hamlet. I have so many fond memories of my time playing there and just wish it could have continued for longer. To go back, meet the current team and watch a game with my family would be such a special experience for me.”

Ralph, who juggled his amateur football career with his job as a travel agency rep. played alongside the Reverend Ron Cowley, the Hamlet defender and Baptist minister. Indeed it was the Rev. Cowley who married Ralph and his bride Evelyn Augotoski one Saturday morning in March 1953. While the happy couple went off on their honeymoon the minister made his way back from Beckenham, where the wedding took place, to appear for Dulwich Hamlet in the afternoon.

Ralph will be presented with a Dulwich Hamlet No.2 shirt and lead out the team, undoubtedly the most senior person to ever do so. When he enters the pitch he may recall the two goals he scored for the club, one of which was from the halfway line. We trust Ralph will receive a similar ovation as he did when he scored his most famous goal.

Jack McInroy