Welcome back! 

Just over 2 months have passed since another play off final defeat but Gavin Rose and his team have been busy signing up most last season’s squad and adding a couple of useful additions in defence. Since the end of last season, the Supporters’ Trust have also been busy with the launch of our new online shop, running stalls at local fairs and of course, holding our AGM and electing new Board members. 

I’m confident that the with the four newly-elected Board members we again have a very strong group who will successfully deliver on our objectives which, hopefully by the end of this season, will see Dulwich Hamlet as a supporter-owned football club with a new stadium on the horizon. That of course is the ideal scenario and there are many obstacles standing in our way before we get to that point, the biggest of which is the planning application appeal in December which the Trust will represent its members at. 

Thank you to all supporters who wrote to the Council in response to the New Southwark Plan consultation. We are extremely hopeful that the Council will make the necessary amendments to the Champion Hill site allocation which will provide the protection the site requires for the Club to continue to operate whilst supporting future development. 

Last season saw an impressive rise in the recruitment of volunteers to help the Club run smoothly on match days and we hope to improve on that again this season. Without volunteers giving up their own time to help the Club, it wouldn’t run as well as it does and, to give you some idea of the time that volunteers put in for the Club, the Trust Board members alone put in over 1000 hours (over 6 months full time work) of their own time. When you add that to the time that the Football Committee and other volunteers put in, it really does hit home just how reliant we are on volunteers to compliment the small number of paid employees at the Club. If you want to join the growing band of volunteers and then please speak to us at the shop or email us at info@dhst.org.uk and we’ll be in touch with details of how you can get involved. 

We’re excited to announce that our new online shop is now up and running. This has been in development for some time so we’re really pleased to be able to offer you a great selection of Dulwich Hamlet merchandise online to compliment that on offer in the mega-container. Please check out the new online shop at www.dhstshop.co.uk and buy as many things as you wish to help support the Club and Trust. Last year we gave nearly £5,000 to the Football Club from sales of merchandise which helps to fund things like the excellent DHTV online channel providing highlights and goals of all matches so it’s money well spent. 

Tonight is the first time this season that supporters will be able to purchase the new replica shirts. Over the summer our new shirt sponsors, Picfair, ran a competition for supporters to decide the design of the new home kit with the pink and blue sash design running out the winner. It’s a striking design which, based on the positive response online, appears to be very popular so let’s hope to see as many of you as possible wearing one! 

Finally, if you’re not a member of the Supporters’ Trust yet then please consider joining. We’re an independent, democratic organisation whose ultimate aims are to for DHFC to have a secure future in East Dulwich and be fully owned by its supporters. You can join online or pick up a form from the shop near the main entrance. It costs just £10 a year for adults and £5 for concessions. 

Enjoy the game! 

Alex Crane

Chair