Dulwich Hamlet Women embark on the 2023-24 season this weekend. With their Saltdean seaside jaunt postponed, their first home fixture will also launch their season, and stalwart fans The Pepper Army have something up their sleeve to get the year going with a bang.

The pink ’n’ blue launch their fifth season at Champion Hill with a battle against Ebbsfleet United on Sunday 3rd September, and will celebrate afterwards with a party organised by the all-singing, all-stickering supporters’ group: The Pepper Army Big Kick Off Party.

The supporters' group regularly bring the noise for the women's team from the Toilets Opposite Stand and on the road at away games. They planned Sunday's fiesta to encourage women’s football groups and LGBTQ+ communities across London to come together and see why women’s match days at Champion Hill are so special, inclusive and accessible; to create a space where women’s football fans, newcomers to the game and everyone in between can feel welcome, celebrate, connect, dance, and find collective community; and to beat the current attendance record (631 against Gillingham last season, fact fans).

A small working group pitched the idea to the Club before the summer, after the heroic turn-out for the end-of-season Millwall game, and have been working with the Club and the Trust to make the event a reality. In between crafting terrace anthems to cheer the players on, the group has been busy booking DJs, planning fundraising and reaching out to community groups, women’s football teams and press across London to create something special for the day.

Gates open at 1pm, and DHFCW kick off at 2pm. Grab a seat in the stands, join the Pepper Army to sing and make a noise from the Toilets Opposite Stand (they’re a friendly bunch and love to welcome new people!), or find a spot on the terraces that works for you. As always, the bars and souvlaki stands are open, dogs are very welcome, and the venue is fully accessible for people with mobility issues.

After the game, the clubhouse will be set alight by DJs from club nights Passionate Necking and Voodoo; women’s football communities Bend It Like Peckham, Baller FC and ThisFanGirl; and members of the Pepper Army, promising between them a cascade of pop bangers, queer anthems, riot girl, hun classics and pop punk.

The day will also raise money for Switchboard, a LGBTQ+ phone support service established in London in 1974; the club and Trust have agreed to donate profits from the sale of all rainbow merch on Sunday. We’re also encouraging supporters to bring any unwanted, sealed women’s toiletries and hygiene products for our permanent food bank for Albrighton Community Centre.

Tickets are onsale now at Fanbase, priced £4: click here to buy your ticket.