Dulwich Hamlet FC: The Pride of South London

Dulwich Hamlet FC: The Pride of South London

Athletic Club joins Non-League Day campaign by promoting one our most charming early opponents in tribute to the non-professional English clubs that made the sport great

All the joy spread by football throughout the sport’s 160-year history is in large part thanks to clubs like Dulwich Hamlet FC. Those pioneering English teams planted a seed which has not stopped growing since the end of the 19th century, turning football into a global industry.

As the legendary Celtic manager Jock Stein once said: "Football without fans is nothing." After all, it was the passion fans felt for teams like Dulwich Hamlet that sparked the growth and subsequent professionalisation of football. Essentially, it is that same fan-led passion which now fuels the business of modern football.

Athletic Club's 125-year history, especially our origins, is closely linked to English football. Indeed it was British sailors and workers who first kicked a ball in Bilbao, at the renowned Campa de los Ingleses, an iconic dockyard where the Guggenheim Museum stands today.

Together with sailors, workers and footballers, the English clubs that played against Los Rojiblancos at our early homes, Lamiako and Jolaseta, were crucial in helping to build a sense of union between Athletic fans and their fledgling team.

The seed was sown and that passion took root, growing and being passed on from generation to generation, until Athletic became what it is today: a unique club in the world of elite football.

Many of those historic English clubs which spread the sport to every corner of the world have now either disappeared or play in England's non-professional leagues. But those that remain, even in the lower divisions, steadfastly hold on to the spirit of football’s origins. The community atmosphere and sense of belonging experienced at their grounds is so genuine and authentic that they deserve all the recognition and appreciation bestowed upon them by campaigns such as Non-League Day.   

The connections between Dulwich Hamlet and Athletic Club

Athletic Club's decision to promote this south London team in the upcoming Non-League Day on March 25 was no chance choice. The historical links between our two clubs are more numerous than the current difference in status would suggest. But above all, Athletic Club identifies with Dulwich Hamlet FC’s social values and that spirit of solidarity which is captured so well in the Basque language by the word "auzolana" (a neighbourhood working together for the common good).

Of all the fascinating and mysterious teams Athletic have ever played against, perhaps none other has a better claim to the football of another era than the Shakespearean Dulwich Hamlet FC, a side which even pays homage to the famous English playwright with their chant: "Here comes the Dulwich... The pink ‘n’ blue Dulwich... Smoking a cigar... Reading Shakespeare... Hamlet!” A historic club so grand it traces its existence back to 1893, and so modest that it currently plays in the National League South (England's sixth tier).

Their famous pink-and-blue shirt also represents a struggle for survival. Hamlet were recently evicted from their ground due to the real estate interests of owners who took over the club in 2014 with nothing other than profit in mind. However, pressure from fans and nationwide support for their cause, which included help from figures such as Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch, made it possible for them to return to Champion Hill (East Dulwich, Greater London), their rightful home, in December 2018.

Travel to London for Non-League Day with Athletic Club and B The Travel Brand

On March 25, Dulwich Hamlet will take on another historic club in the form of Oxford City. The match kicks off at 15:00 GMT at Champion Hill (East Dulwich, Greater London) and Athletic Club Members will be able to attend for free (limited number of tickets available). Those interested can apply for a ticket by sending an email to [email protected] 

What's more, Athletic Club, in collaboration with its official travel agency B The Travel Brand, is offering travel packages for the weekend of March 24-26. The deal includes flights, a two-night stay at a hotel in London and a match ticket.

This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a real and genuine football atmosphere - as well as several pints of beer and some classic British pies - with up to 3,000 Dulwich Hamlet fans in the country where this wonderful sport was born.

Information and bookings (in Spanish)

Dick Jonas, the Dulwich Hamlet FC legend at San Mames’ inauguration

Four key figures in Dulwich Hamlet’s storied history are Lorraine 'Pa' Wilson, the club's founder, Edgar Kail, at the Hamlet for fourteen seasons, international goalkeeper Bert Coleman, and Richard H. Jonas. The latter, known as Dick Jonas, was Dulwich Hamlet's captain from 1920 to 1926. During his last two years as a player, he also became Club Secretary, a position he held until 1939, Dulwich Hamlet's most successful period. 

Naturally, all three players, Coleman, Kail, and Jonas, were in the XI that faced Athletic Club twice at San Mames in March 1921 - the English outfit winning 2-3 and 3-4.

But that was not Jonas’ first time playing at San Mamés. Dick Jonas also took part in the three-team friendly series which marked The Cathedral’s inauguration over the 21, 22 and 23 August 1913. In fact, his team at the time, Shepherd's Bush, won the tournament after beating Real Racing Club de Irún and Athletic Club in their two matches.

In a nutshell, these important historical, social and emotional ties make Dulwich Hamlet FC the perfect English club for Athletic to support on March 25 for Non-League Day.

*Photos courtesy of Dulwich Hamlet and Rob Avis