PLAY-OFF FINAL: Dulwich Hamlet v Hendon - Monday 7th May 3pm

[StephenMac]

Well done guys and good luck for next season.

Do what you can to improve our facilities while you are at your temporary home. It may go against the grain, but Tooting need your support as much as you need ours.

We should remember this, I think.

 

[StephenMac]

Hey, folks.

Today chafes. It chafes badly. We gVe absolutely everything this afternoon and a couple of us thought the ‘dodgy keeper’ rhetoric from a section of our support would come and bite us in the knackers.

We know what It is like to not go up after having a ten point advantage over your opponents and for that alone I am pleased you achieved what you have. You deserved to go up over 46 matches, well done. Tbh, I think you shaded the game overall.

You’ll be fine in the Conference South with this side, I hope you can keep it together and add one or two shrewdly.

And that is where you and we differ I feel. Some of your fans were very gracious in victory and expressed hope that we might join you this time next year - yet the challenge for us is to somehow keep this side together... Even in comparison to yourselves our wage bill is a fraction and there are hawks gathering around our squad.

I guess challenges differ for you and for us. For you it is the pursuit back to your rightful home, Champion Hill and to progress in the NLS.

For us it is to maintain the growth off the pitch and keep as many for the squad and management at the club as we can.

I am a natural pessimist and fear the worst. For us the worst is that Gary McCann feels that he can’t go through the rigmarole of trying to build another side and leaves.

For you, I genuinely think the sky is blue (and pink). What you have in terms of supporter base ought to stand you in good stead.

Good luck, I’ll be along sometime next season to see how you do and see Blitzwalker and DulwichHammer and Pete.

Enjoy today and the afterglow, you richly deserve it.

We'll be fine next season and no reason why you shouldn't go up. No idea how Gary McCann does it time after time but he must know he can take that squad up.

 

[editor]

 

[Cyclodunc]

Oh, and although it's great that there were so many video-making people given pitchside access, they need to learn some football etiquette and not stand up right in front of the goal or next to the goalposts with their fancy gear and block the view for others. The 'official' photographers (who were sitting on the grass) were getting well pissed off and kept asking them to move out of the way.

Yup, they tested my patience and spoiled some potentially good photos.

 

[Pink Panther]

Yup, they tested my patience and spoiled some potentially good photos.

There was one bloke hovering around the edge of the penalty box with a fancy contraption during the penalty shootout, moving around in the keeper's field of vision. He was annoying me from the back of the terrace. I wish the referee had told him to fuck off.

 

[YTC]

Just got back from my 30th and last Dulwich game of this or any other season. Left the ground at five past three as I could not stand being surrounded by glory hunters, imposters and cunts. Good luck next season Dulwich whatever league you are playing in.

Liked by Mark Baker

The concentration of Salt in Billericay last night was very high.

 

[PartisanDulwich]

Yes, that's Nyren

 

[Adrian Sharpe]

HI. NWS at Maidstone here. Stones fans are well chuffed for the Hamlet. Happy to see you get up into the NS. The NS teams are about to enjoy the culture shock of a very unique set of fans. Hopefully, our two teams will meet in a cup because a) they are always entertaining games and b) I can see my old mates from Dulwich (Is Rich still peddling his stats and drinking ale?

Once again, congrats and welcome the National League

 

[blueheaven]

That was amazing. Absolutely bloody amazing. I've been coming to Dulwich matches for five years now, since I first moved into the area, so can only imagine what it must be like for those of you who have been watching the club all your lives. My hugest congratulations to all of you, and all of the staff and players, and to everyone else who's done so much to keep this club alive so that our community can have a day like yesterday. What Dulwich Hamlet has achieved this season, on and off the pitch, and for it to come down to one penalty kick, is the stuff of Hollywood movies.

Also just wanted to say that I'm in absolute bloody awe of the professionalism and fitness levels of part-time footballers who are able to play to that level in 30 degree heat for 90 minutes, then extra time, then penalties. It was exhausting just watching it so God knows what playing in it was like. My hat goes off to both sets of players for making that such a spectacle.

Also commiserations to Hendon who gave it bloody everything and have always been strong, fair and worthy opponents every time I've seen them. Really like their manager and really like them as a club and I sincerely hope they'll be following us up at the end of next season. A Hendon & Met Police title race next season please.

And of course thanks to Tooting & Mitcham for letting us use their fantastic stadium where you don't get searched on the way in and everyone can see the match!

Would also like to say I've criticised Gavin Rose on here in the past but I was absolutely wrong - the job he's done, the professionalism and commitment he's shown, and the way he's taken young players under his wing and developed them into the team we have now - the guy is an absolute hero. What he's done this season is just fucking remarkable.

Can't wait for next season. Bring on the National League South, bring on Billericay, and bring on Meadow.

 

[Blitzwalker]

Have woken up with a raging hangover, no voice and a vague memory of being in tears at the end of the penalty shoot out. Just another day in the life of a Hamlet supporter. What a day, what a day.

 

[PartisanDulwich]

 

[PartisanDulwich]

Jamal's pic

 

[B.I.G]

HI. NWS at Maidstone here. Stones fans are well chuffed for the Hamlet. Happy to see you get up into the NS. The NS teams are about to enjoy the culture shock of a very unique set of fans. Hopefully, our two teams will meet in a cup because a) they are always entertaining games and b) I can see my old mates from Dulwich (Is Rich still peddling his stats and drinking ale?

Once again, congrats and welcome the National League

Saunders in. Pmh out (again).

 

[PartisanDulwich]

 

[cambelt]

Such a special club, am sitting at my desk trying to stop myself sobbing out of happiness. I come from a rugby heartland and had zero interest in football until 5yrs ago but I'm in bits today.

 

[Thimble Queen]

So gutted I couldn't be there. I've got an appointment that I couldn't miss today so I had to start my journey home yesterday while the game was on. I'm so proud amd happy for our team and our fans. You lot are all amazing. I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you all ❤

 

[Jimbob73]

What a day, never in nearly 40 years of going to Dulwich could I have dreamed of a day and crowd like that. Whether it was your first game or 1,000th as a Dulwich fan I hope the Hamlet fills your heart with as much pride and happiness as it has mine today xx

Right I'm off to watch constant re-runs of Dipo's penalty and stare aimlessly at the National League South table

 

[DonkeyAssessor]

Woke up with a start at 5.30 am , after a very strange dream in which Dulwich hamlet got promoted after a penalty shootout !!!

 

[editor]

Photos!

More here: In photos: Dulwich Hamlet win promotion after penalty shootout against Hendon, Mon 7th May 2018

What a brilliant day that was!

 

[Poids]

Commiserations to Hendon. We all know the pain of losing a play-off final, but losing on pens is particularly excruciating. Hope they'll be able to take some consolation from their considerable achievements this season and the fine performance their players put in yesterday. A quality club who've been good friends to us when we needed it. Really hope they'll get promoted next year.

 

[editor]

Yup, they tested my patience and spoiled some potentially good photos.

Who were they? They clearly had no idea how to film at a football game. I'm sure they shot some amazing footage but I'd rather be able to enjoy the game without their constant distractions. If they're coming again, perhaps someone from the club could have a word?

 

[bringbackelmo]

What a great day yesterday - must admit when it went to penalties I thought Dulwich might bottle it but what a finish. Incredible atmosphere, good performance in tough circumstances. Massive, massive congratulations.

I'm only gutted that it looks like Hereford will end up in the North rather than the South so I won't get to see my two favourite clubs play each other.

 

[steeplejack]

Congrats to Dulwich and best of luck in Conference South. Some big games ahead next year.

 

[billbond]

 

[editor]

They even did that daft 'ref picks the football up from a special stand' thing when the teams came on. That's all well and good, but if we're going to get that, where were the confetti cannons?

 

[editor]

Looks like the ball did indeed going over the line just before we scored (again).

 

[pinknblue]

Looks like the ball did indeed going over the line just before we scored (again).

View attachment 134772
View attachment 134773

Hmm..Impossible to tell from that angle!

 

[billbond]

What a incredible incident that was, being up the other end at the time obvs even harder to tell if it was over the line
But what a clearance, for sure Dulwich deserved to win but that shot they had was closer than i thought near the end looking at it again.

 

[Jimbob73]

Ash definitely thought it did

 

[EDC]

I enjoyed the respectable end change at half time, no stupidity.