"We always have to be in the middle of the action 'cause we're the warriors. And without some challenge, without some damn war to fight then the warriors might as well be dead." 41 games, nearly four thousand minutes of football and come a quarter to five Dulwich Hamlet could be wearing the crowns of Champions of Isthmian South.

Twelve months previous and the fixture was reversed, though as Dulwich travelled down to Leylands Park for the final match of the 2012 season, the stakes were just as high. Dulwich still had an outside hope of clinching the title, though with both Whitehawk and Bognor Regis Town with simpler tasks on their own patch. Meanwhile victory for the Hillians would seal their safety in the Isthmian league at the expense of Whyteleafe. One arena, one game, two teams both fighting their corner but at different extremes. In the end it would be Burgess Hill who would emerge triumphant by a single goal leaving Dulwich to face the playoffs.

Moving on a year and Dulwich Hamlet face a very different Hillians, a club that have cleared out the deadwood and rebuilt themselves into a competitive side once more under the auspices of new management both on and off the field. Starting almost from scratch the Hillians brought in manager Ian Chapman to lead the first team, the new boss and his backroom boys moulding a new, more adventurous style of play. Such is the transformation that, as the Hillians arrive at Champion Hill this afternoon, they do so as one of the form sides in the South Division. Currently they sit second only to the Hamlet in recent results, having climbed to a respectable eighth spot in the table after a run of four straight wins which began with a hard fought 1-0 win away to Leatherhead, continued with home wins over Herne Bay (2-0) and Walton and Hersham (2-1) before culminating in last Tuesday’s 2-0 win at home to Tooting and Mitcham. In that, their final home game of the season, winger Max Miller, a product of the Hillians’ robust youth set-up, gave his side the lead early, the Hillians dominating play but unable to add to their tally until Nicky Wheeler bagged a second on 56 minutes to seal victory.

One name missing from the score sheet of late might prove to be the greatest threat in the Hillians’ arsenal, that of Pat Harding. Signed during the early stages of last season from Whitehawk, Harding was regularly among the goals to finish as the Club’s top scorer last term. This campaign has proved just as fruitful for the striker and when Dulwich travelled to Leylands Park back in November, they found themselves on the wrong end of a Harding hat trick adding to the four goals he had netted at Whitstable Town a few days earlier as the two sides battled out a 3-3 draw. Visiting Dulwich went ahead on 23 minutes with a penalty from Erhun Öztümer. Harding struck twice in 4 minutes, the second another penalty, shortly before the interval only for Lewis Gonsalves to square it in the 45th minute. Harding restored Hillians’ lead in the 73rd minute with his 12th league goal only for Öztümer to make it 3-3 just 2 minutes later with a free kick. A similar result this afternoon would do the trick for the Hamlet if not for the nerves of supporters!

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. The turnstiles will be open from 12 noon and fans are advised to arrive early to avoid potential congestion.

Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £9 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 16s, Unemployed (UB40) & Full Time Students with valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50