International date for Dulwich

INTERNATIONAL football comes to Champion Hill on Sunday when Ryman South club Dulwich Hamlet host RFC Temploux-Suarlee, a seventh-level Belgian club from the city of Namur.

A party of 30 is traveling over the Channel in a link-up that began in 2005 when the Belgian club's coach Nicolas Lucas was ‘guesting’ for Anderlecht fans in a supporters' tournament in Liege in which Dulwich fans were also taking part.

Such a bond subsequently developed between the city of Namur and everyone at Champion Hill that a 15-strong party of Namurites travelled throughhte Channel Tunnel to watch Dulwich's game at Folkestone Invicta last season.

Now Lucas is fulfilling a dream by bringing a Belgian side over to take on a Hamlet side. He said: "It is a huge honour for us to come across to England and play at Dulwich. We are grateful to [Dulwich manager] Gavin Rose for agreeing to put out a side to play us.

"It is a personal dream come true for me; and for most of our team, being a small Belgian club, this will probably be their only chance to play football in England”.

Hamlet Chairman Jack Payne quipped: “We were regular visitors over the Channel on foreign tours in the 1920s, a bit before my time, just! It’s wonderful to be able return the favour and host a Belgian side in the 21st century.”

The match kicks off at 2pm and admission is £5. A programme will be issued.

Where next?

Kinnear adds striker Rook MARGATE manager Chris Kinnear has added experienced striker Carl Rook (pictured, centre, by Don Walker) to his options for the new Ryman Premier season.
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