MEET THE OPPOSITION | DULWICH HAMLET
Following Oxford City’s hard-fought win against Cheshunt in their last outing, we take a look at Saturday’s opposition, Dulwich Hamlet, ahead of another crunch Vanarama National League South fixture.
History:
Dulwich Hamlet were founded in 1893 by Lorraine ‘Pa’ Wilson who, with one shilling and eight pence from a couple of young footballers, was asked to start the football club.
The club were founding members of the Dulwich League in 1899 and went on to win the inaugural championship of the competition as well as going on to defend it the following year. Dulwich Hamlet also won their first Surrey Senior Cup in 1905 after achieving senior status in 1900 – a competition they have won a record 16 times with the most recent coming in 1974/75.
Dulwich then made the jump to the Isthmian League in 1907 eventually going on to win the club’s first Isthmian League title in the 1919-20 season. Hamlet would go on to win the Isthmian League on three more occasions between 1920-1937 but also tasted success as Division One champions in 1977-78.
The South-East London club bounced between the Premier Division and Division One between the early 1990s and the early 2000s and following their relegation from the Premier Division in 2003-04, didn’t return until the 2012-13 season where a final day 1-1 draw against Burgess Hill Town secured the Division One South Title.
The Hamlet were eventually promoted to the National League South in the 2017-18 season after defeating Hendon on penalties in the play-off final. Since, Dulwich Hamlet have also reached the FA Cup first round in 2019-20 where they were defeated 4-1 by Carlisle United.
Current Form:
As it stands, Dulwich are currently rooted in the VNLS relegation battle finding themselves 20th in the table whilst also displaying the worst defensive record in the league conceding a total of 80 goals so far.
Since the turn of the new year, the East Dulwich-based club have endured a torrid league run in 2023 with just four wins in nineteen games – a run which resulted in the ex-Manager Paul Barnes, leaving the club.
However, two of the victories this year have come in their last five league outings under new manager Hakan Hayrettin.
In this run of fixtures, the South-East London club have been pitted against opposition competing in and amongst the VNLS play-off places. The beginning of March saw Dulwich edge out St Albans City in a 1-0 win before suffering a 5-1 thrashing at Chelmsford City.
Nevertheless, Hayrettin’s men bounced back with an impressive win over Havant & Waterlooville before suffering late heartbreak against Bath City and falling to leaders Ebbsfleet.
The Hamlet have shown some promise in recent games and will hope to build confidence despite their defensive fragility throughout the season.
Meet the gaffer: Hakan Hayrettin
Hakan Hayrettin has only recently come into the job at the Hamlet following the dismissal of Barnes in early March with a tough task of retaining Dulwich Hamlet’s VNLS status at hand.
Hayrettin began his managerial career with Waltham Forest where he led the club to Essex Senior Cup glory before taking over at Thurrock in 2006 – a spell which lasted until October 2010.
In 2011, Hayrettin was appointed Grays Athletic manager leading them to the Isthmian League Division One South play-off semi-finals. The following season saw Grays achieve promotion to the Premier Division recording a club-record total of 102 points.
The former Barnet midfielder then joined John Still’s coaching team at Luton Town in 2013 where he helped the Hatters win the Conference Premier ahead of finishing 8th in their first season back in the Football League.
Hayrettin had a relatively forgetful two spells at Braintree Town (the second being an interim role).
However, after departing Braintree for a second time in 2019, Hayrettin became Head Coach at Maidstone United where he enjoyed his most significant managerial success leading the Kent side to National League South title last season.
Club Captain: Jack Holland
Jack Holland joined Dulwich in the Summer of 2021 making a total of 42 appearances last season becoming regarded as a reliable central defender for the side.
This season, Holland has made a total of 33 appearances so far for Hayrettin’s side with two goals to his name from his defensive position.
Holland began his playing career with Bromley as a youth player before joining the Crystal Palace setup where he spent four years with the club interspersed with loan moves to Eastbourne and Farnborough before a return to Hayes Lane.
The former Palace man became a key fixture for Bromley winning Player of the Year three times whilst making 374 appearances for the side before a move to Champion Hill.
Key Player: George Porter
With eleven goals and six assists for Dulwich so far this season, 30-year-old striker George Porter will certainly be one for the City backline to keep an eye out for this weekend.
The attacker has a wealth of experience, now at his 14th club, and joined The Hamlet last summer after a season with fellow VNLS side Dartford.
Crucially, Porter has found clinical form this month under new manager Hakan Hayrettin, netting three times in his last four appearances - and Dulwich’s top scorer will definitely be looking to add to his tally once more against City on Saturday.
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