Wednesday 24yh July 2013 ko 19.00

Pre-Season Friendly

DULWICH HAMLET 1 (Walker 33)

GUILDFORD CITY 1 (Blake 41)

Att 22 at Rutland Walk Sportsfield, Catford

Entry FREE

Programme No

One of the downsides of the “Do everywhere but once,” culture is that you don’t get to spend nearly enough time with the stalwarts who both run, and are devoted to a particular club. There’s Splodge at Fareham, who these days dreads my presence at his club’s games, http://wp.me/s1PehW-banned but another is Mr Mishi Morath of Dulwich Hamlet. His devotion is total, even his Facebook name is Mishi Dulwich Morath! He’s on the committee, helps with the website, and even plays for the supporters’ team. And here’s the thing, at every non-league club there’s a Mishi performing miracles for no more than the love of the game. Next time the likes of Wayne Rooney complains about his lot, think about Mishi, or Splodge, or any other of these unsung heroes of the game. Look hard enough and you’ll find them.

Knowing Mishi as I do, he knew a game at an unusual ground would stir the interest. The Rutland Walk Sportsground is used by Dulwich as a training ground; there’s a cricket pavilion, and a pitch, and not a lot else to be honest. Just a good excuse to watch a game with a mate, and admire the view of the Sydenham Gas Holders, and the Crystal Palace transmitter.

With Hamlet having played the previous night against Huddersfield Town, they didn’t put out a first XI, which served to make it a more interesting tie, against a side playing 1 step down in the footballing pyramid, Isthmian Premier against Southern League South & West.

On a warm evening the game ebbed and flowed, but the draw was the fairest result, and I gave Mishi a lift back to his part of South London. After all, under the circumstances it was the least I could do.