"As One"

I'm proud to be an "Old Skool Dinosaur"
Does joking about "New-veau's " cause a split?
I can't believe anyone would think that
No matter where you stand or sit.
But I've got to confess I hate them
Which you might think insane
But these Johnny & Gemima come-latelies
Have never felt MY pain.
I've seen three relegations
And dozens of years of hurt
Most of my life we've been a laughing stock
My nose rubbed in the dirt.
It took us fifty years to qualify in the FA Cup
For the only time in my life
It won't happen before I die
More chance I'll find a wife!
Last year we were stuffed by Worthing
Did you think that was a bitter pill?
Believe me compared to previous years
That was run of the mill.
Can you say you were at Hornchurch
Hit for nine for no reply
Or losing a home replay to Lymington & New Milton
Choked up angry trying not to cry.
Getting stuffed four nil at Littlehampton
Down on the Sussex coast
Even t*****g have had cup runs
And that's what hurts me most.
Last season you were worried
We had a bad season second spell
Believe me that was nothing
We've had year after year of that hell.
Sometimes there were only twenty of us
At some godforsaken midweek hole
When we didn't even think of victory
We just dreamed of scoring a goal.
All you've known is Gavin
We've had Ryan & Brown
Mention them to my generation
And we'll say Zippo's Circus clowns!
Much as you love Phil Wilson
You've never suffered Perry Skinner
Or someone like Joey Herd
Who tou could hardly call a winner.
Don't get me wrong ...things have never been better
I'm totally living the dream
Th biggest crowds I've ever known
All behind our team.
You know the worst thing about all this
Talking about suffering rubbish in the rain
I love Dulwich Hamlet so much...
I'd go through it all again.

(With the huge increase in fans at Champion Hill over the last few seasons, with new fans coming every home game, older fans like me talk about 'old school dinosaurs' & 'neuveau' fans, not in a bad way, but joking 'terms of affection'. This is about that really, and how much I've suffered and they are 'spoilt!)

"Oddset Pokal"

It's a lovely Bank Holiday Monday
And it's Hamburg Cup Final day
But which side will I be supporting
Do you really want me to say?
Truth is I don't like either side
Last years semi still hurts from afar
Cheating gits from Condor
That penalty shoot-out still leaves a scar.
But one thing is certain
For Barmbek Uhlenhorst I won't be rooting
There's absolutely no way
I can cheer for Altona's version of T*****g!
So Condor's the lesser of two evils
Though I don't expect them to win
I'll just suffer those right-wing Barmbek tossers
Which will really get under my skin.
I'm going to take my comfort
From dreaming about next year
Waiting for Altona to make the final
Giving everyone something to cheer.
My first love will always be Dulwich Hamlet
For who I'd be prepared to die
But I'd like to think if there's reincarnation
When I come back it's Altona I'll try.

Dulwich Poet 8th July 2015

(I was in Hamburg with Dulwich Hamlet supporters in May...to visit our friends from Altona 93. While there I went to the Hamburg Cup Final between SC Condor & Barmbek Uhlenhorst)