I am a Charlton Athletic season ticket holder, and though quite disillusioned, probably always will be one.
I took my nephew along to the Non League day game, and loved it. Then I took him again to the Bognor Regis Town game, loved it again, and on New Years Day went to Champion Hill with my brother, nephew and son we all loved it.
Chatting later to my son, we agreed that it would be great to go to a nice big away cup tie involving Hamlet, even on a day when Charlton were playing at the Valley (unless, I suppose, it was an even 'bigger' game). I think the attraction is the sheer overall enjoyment factor.
I am certainly looking to go again this season, and if Hamlet make the play offs will probably go to every game they play, even the away one.
All of this makes me a bit fair weather, and not even a proper supporter I suppose, although growing up on Sydenham Hill makes me feel a kind of affinity.
I post this to add a bit of information regarding the growing attendances.
The thing is, with non-league football there is very much a different type of fan, within our fans, but we are all fans...there is really no such thing as a 'proper' Dulwich Hamlet supporter...we are ALL Dulwich Hamlet supporters!
a) There's the fan like me, who goes home & away to as many games as they can make, regardless of where we are in the table, and if we're playing good or bad.
b) There's the mainly home game fans, who go to the more local away games, or just an intriguing 'one off' slightly more distant (Ie: Outside the M25/Oyystercard area)big league game, or an exciting cup tie.
c) Fans who only go to home games.
d) Fans who go to home games, to be honest aren't that interested in the football, but love the buzz, 'getting away from the drudgery of home/work, & mainly drinking and chatting with their mates, the football actually being an incidental backdrop!
e) Fans whose 'first love' will always be a Football League side. But either have become disillusioned with the modern game &/or can't afford to go to support their 'big' side anymore; or their team are too far away to support on a regular basis, so they become regulars at their local non-league side at Champion Hill.
f) Similar to e); but they are season ticket holders at, mainly, London professional clubs. They go to Champion Hill, and even our away games, when they are not using their professional season ticket at home games of their main club.
g)Locals who have had no interest in football at all, but have seen the publicity/hype surrounding The Hamlet, and enjoying coming along, with either their friends, or their own. Enjoyed it, been made welcome..and came back!
h) People who have been enticed in by our community offers of free admission to specific games. And they come back because they enjoy it.
i) And finally... people who have seen the excellent publicity in things like The Independent & Vice, to name but two, actually realised it's not a 'wanky' or that we're not as 'weird' as we're made out to be by lazy journalists, who don't always listen to the fans they interview...and come back too.
I'm sure there are many more 'categories' you could think off, but the most important thing, is that, no matter how you break down our fanbase, no matter how many games you go to, we are all as ONE as PINK & BLUE together!
