Students can take a stand with fans for free

Dulwich Hamlet’s supporters will be taking a stand against discrimination with their counterparts from across world on Saturday when students can see their Ryman Premier clash with Bognor Regis Town for free.

Hamlet’s officials are aiming to give new and returning students to the area a chance to experience a game at Champion Hill and enjoy the noisy atmosphere generated by the attacking style of Gavin Rose’s side and they’ve also announced that the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust will be supporting FARE’s ‘Football People Action Week’ by launching an anti-homophobia banner at the fixture.

The FARE network is an umbrella organisation bringing together groups of all sizes in more than 40 countries in a unified stand to combat discrimination and celebrate diversity throughout football.

The new anti-homophobia banner will become a permanent addition to the collection of flags behind the goal at Champion Hill and the fans groups will also be handing out button badges in exchange for a donation to EACH (Educational Action Challenging Homophobia).

Duncan Hart, spokesperson for the board of the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust, said: "We are delighted to support FARE’s action week. We are keen to ensure all of our community feel welcome at Champion Hill. We are hopeful that fans will be impressed with the design and will continue to embrace its message.

"We also hope that students attending for the first time will recognise the extra effort we are making to ensure that the Rabble supports diversity, and will return for future games."

Attendances at Champion have risen by over 300 per cent since the 2010-11 season and the club is now expecting another bumper crowd with the anti-discrimination event coinciding with the offer to students after a record-breaking 2,856 attended the Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday September 6 Non-League Day 2014.

Dulwich Hamlet chairman Jack Payne said: "We have a lot of young people that come to our games at Champion Hill. We are keen to grow this even more in the coming season. There are many students living in the area around the football club, so we hope that many of them come and take advantage of the offer to visit Champion Hill for free, and of course return for more exciting games this season."

For mor information on FARE's campaign visit: www.farenet.org/campaigns/football-people-action-weeks/

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