Dulwich Hamlet 0, Canvey Island 3

To Transpontine del Curva! …on Saturday afternoon.

Sadly this has been a rarity in the calendar for the current season. My Transpontine shifts have been out of sync with the Hamlet home fixtures.

I did think of changing jobs, just so that I could be around a bit more to go down the Dulwich.

But how many hit and miss pics of the pink ‘n’ blue boys does one man really need?

The Essex slags from Canvey Island were visiting South London on Saturday afternoon. If you snoop around on my HARD drive then you’ll find some snaps of Canvey from the ’99 season.

You’ll also find some snaps of me shitting my pink ‘n’ blue pants after coming within inches of being taken out by Mad Stand from Canvey.

I’m not from Essex, y’know.

Honest.

The days of Dulwich being out-numbered, out-sung and out-fought by the away fans are long gone. This was another 1,000 plus crowd for the home team. Quite incredible.

Boosting the numbers was BOOZE pal Darryl, Knitting Lady and the Bromley Contingent. It took me fifteen minutes or so to find them, such was the size of the Rabble behind the Tuscany hills.

I’ve long since given up making the effort to do the social thing down at the Dulwich. It simply isn’t possible anymore.

You could spend 45 minutes walking one end of the pitch talking to folk, and then 45 again walking back down to the Car Wash End doing the chin wag thing.

It’s all about the football, isn’t it?

I did find time for a brief Brixton Buzz editorial meeting during the first half. Canvey scored down at the other end whilst agendas were being set.

Fuck ’em.

And the away team.

The floodlights were then on TURNED ON, which must mean that it was time for the traditional photo walk. Once around the pitch in snap-heavy mood. If it moves, PAP IT.

But sadly not much action. The darkened Transpontine skies weren’t particularly helpful for my limited shutter speed and limited skills.

And then the conversation continued with the boozers, knitters and the Bromley Contingent.

The talk was of how uninspired Dulwich appeared to be playing. The connection was made that this seems to coincide with my random visits this season.

See ya!

The second half was dire.

2-0, then 3-0 as Dulwich fell apart. The Swaggering Dandies of the Rabble used geography as an insult. The away team responded by showing that no man is an island. Not even in bloody Essex.

They played a strong, robust game.

That’s what Disco Darryl said anyway. I don’t think that he had been off the pop since the Big Brixton Night Out on Friday.

And so a 3-0 home defeat and it was all down to my work diary.

I checked my work shifts over the next few weeks when I arrived back at base.

Beware the Ides of March, Comrades.