Welcome to today’s National League South fixture against St Albans – our first at Champion Hill, having played last season’s home fixture against them at Imperial Fields in November. Courtesy of a first half goal by Nyren Clunis, we bagged all three points that day, but went on to lose the corresponding fixture at Clarence Park in March by the same scoreline.

St Albans head to East Dulwich looking for their first win of the season, having drawn both their games so far, against Dartford and Chippenham. Let’s get behind Gavin and the team today and make sure that we get a perfect start of three wins out of three.

Planning application

Most of you will now be aware of the club’s recent joint planning application for the re-development of Champion Hill. The planning proposals will provide the club with a new community stadium to replace our current ground, and is essential to securing the future of the club. The Trust is encouraging all supporters to write to Southwark Council in support of the application before the 22 August deadline.

You will see posters and flyers being handed out around the ground today, providing more information about the application including why the current ground cannot provide a sustainable long term home for the club, and the steps you can take to register your support for the application. Every supportive comment makes a difference.

To register a comment on the application, visit Southwark Council’s website (https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/) and search for reference 19/AP/1867.

Trust board changes

At our first board meeting following our recent AGM and board elections, the new Chair and Vice-Chair positions were decided by the board.

With co-Chairs Alex Atack and Duncan Chapman stepping down (Alex at the end of her three year term on the board, and Duncan to take up one of the Trust’s positions as a Director of the Football Club), this left the role of Chair vacant.

It was agreed that Alex de Jongh (last year’s Vice Chair) and myself will take on the joint role of Chair, and we hope to be worthy successors to Duncan and Alex. The board agreed that the Vice-Chair position will also be shared, by Mel Hughes and Alex Smith.

It was also agreed that Mitch (Philip Mitchell) will remain as Board Secretary and newly-elected Liam Ball would continue in the role as Treasurer, the position to which he was co-opted in January.

Join the 100 club!

DHST’s monthly 100 club lottery hit a significant milestone this month, with contributions topping £500 for the month. You can join at the Megacontainer or on our website for as little as £1 per month, to be in with a chance of winning one of the two monthly prizes – now worth at least £125 and £75.

Funds raised through the 100 club have provided the football club with much-needed financial support over the past few months, as well as enabling DHST to take on a meaningful share in the club on behalf of the community for the first time.

Community work

One of the Trust’s key objectives is to maintain strong links with the community, and one of the ways we aim to achieve this is by promoting the club at local fairs. This summer we had our usual stall at the Dulwich Festival Fair on Goose Green and over the coming season we aim to work closely with the football club’s very strong community team to promote Dulwich Hamlet. If you have any community event you may wish us to attend, donate prizes to or simply help promote, do please contact us or the club’s community team.

Book your seat on the Eastbourne coach now!

Finally, please be reminded that seats can be booked, by advance payment, on our coach for Eastbourne away at the Mega-container shop today. This game takes place on Saturday 24th August and the coach, subject to 50% take-up, will depart promptly from Champion Hill at 11:45 am. Please book your place as early as possible.

Enjoy the game.

Mark (Scolly) Scoltock