Dulwich Hamlet v Tottenham Hotspur - Pre-season Preview

With the Spurs first team currently in Singapore for the International Champions Cup, Saturday’s squad is likely to be made up of reserves and youth team players. However, Dulwich manager Gavin Rose expects them to be well-drilled in Mauricio Pochettino’s attractive style of football.

“Tottenham will try and play the right way. They promote a lot players from within the U23 side into the first team, so that means they do it the way the manager would want it to be done,” Rose said. “They’ll be expansive and they’ll play good football, they’ll be fit and for us that will be really good.”

“It will be great for the club to get a big Premier League side down,” he continued. “It’s good for Dulwich Hamlet to be pitting our wits against those types of teams.”

Tottenham U23s took on Ebbsfleet last weekend, with the sides drawing 2-2. Managed by former Dulwich man Wayne Burnett, the Spurs youngsters should provide the Hamlet with a good test as they continue their pre-season campaign.

Perhaps the most famous connection between the two clubs is Peter Crouch, the former England international who announced his retirement from football last week. Crouch joined Dulwich on loan shortly after he signed a professional contract with Tottenham, making six appearances and scoring one goal at his brief spell at the club. The move had come about after Spurs signed Dave McEwen from Dulwich, and under no obligation to pay any money, offered Crouch on loan as a courtesy.

Midfielder Peter Garland began his career at Tottenham in the late 1980s, before joining Newcastle as Kevin Keegan’s first signing. Some years later, Garland played for Dulwich where he is remembered fondly for scoring from the halfway line against Gravesend & Northfleet.

Ticket info:

Advance tickets for the game are now sold out but an allocation has been made available on the turnstile from 12pm on a first come, first served basis.

An allocation has also been kept aside for Dulwich Hamlet season ticket holders who can pick up their ticket on the day.

We recommend all fans arrive early - the clubhouse bar will be open from 12pm.

Updated 16:47 - 29 Aug 2019 by Hugo Greenhalgh