I'm sure he was looking down....

A football match was played on the morning of Saturday 3rd September at Belair Park &, even more than usual, the result was of little importance.

For the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' were gathered to play & pay tribute to Ian Wright, against some of the congregation of the church he attended, our friends from Camberwell Evangelical Church, who included a number of Hamlet fans among their pews on a Sunday.

When Ian died so suddenly in the summer I suggested to Jack McInroy of both 'congregations', & he thought it would be a lovely idea. The initial plan was really to take on some of the Church footballers who had laced up their boots alongside Ian down the years, but most of them had long since consigned their dusty pairs of mud encrusted leather to the back of the cupboards, or tatty cardboard box in the attic, as old mother nature caught up with their creaky knees.

So it was the 'next generation' in the main who formed the 'God Squad' against 'The Rabblers'.

We weren't as big in number as them, as we had no less than SEVEN cry-offs & one no message at all, in the few days prior to kick off!

Firstly I asked the Church for a group picture, once they got ready!





And then ourselves:



It wasn't a worry about players missing out. As one player reassured me, everyone who played enjoyed it immensely, & it was a fitting tribute to Ian.

Prior to kick off both teams surrounded the centre circle & Mishi Morath invited Jack McInroy forward to lead both teams in prayer, in Ian's memory, followed by a one minute silence.







Then Phil Baker blew the whistle for the start. 'The Rabblers' started with our youngest & most exciting forward trio for many a decade! Joel Virgo, Louis Grater & 'guest' Callum Smith, who was making his debut, had a younger combined age than some of our older players, albeit the ones who weren't actually down to play in this instance!

Early half-chances fell to both Jack McInroy & Chris Garrett; & Callum Smith was foiled by a lack of power in his shot. The Church also had their moments, one well-worked move going just to the right of a relieved Matt Hammond in our goal. Just after Callum burst down the left, his attempt palmed away. In truth Callum looked a little 'too good' compared to what we are used to, pleasantly so, & his enthusiasm helped everyone. We had another attempt when a throw from Chris found him & he flicked the ball to young Louis, who was just wide.

We then had a bit of a 'let-off' as some of our defence stood still, crying "He's off!" instead of concentrating on our game & playing to the whistle. Fortunately we cleared the resulting danger, but when, oh when will we learn that we rarely play with lino's, the referee Mr. Baker does it for fun, free of charge & is not a badge holder? Give him a break, or save it for the bar at Champion Hill!

By now we were around half an hour into the game & the first goal was due. Ball played through from Callum, reaching Chris Garrett whose shot rippled the back of the net! One nil 'Rabblers'!

It wasn't all one way traffic, by a long chalk. Matt was kept busy at the other end. One attempt he touched for a corner, the resultant shot once it had been played in whooshing across the goal from an acute angle. The equaliser wasn't long in coming. A corner from the left was floated on a Church head & powerfully nodded into the back of the old onion bag, past Matt, who wasn't at fault. A slight change in our formation followed as young Louis asked to come off, having taken a small knock, though he did return in the second half, with big Steve Rickerby replacing him.

Some first half action:













































After the break we had some more good chances, Callum going just wide with one; some superb passing between him & Joel too, as they built up a good understanding. Phil Doyle, on the pitch now having arrived late-but at least he turned up!- hit the target with a long range punt, & another from the trusty boot of Callum was just over the bar. Despite that the Church went ahead, a screamer of a strike that was without a doubt the goal of the game. time for Mishi Morath to make a 'cameo',allowing Jacko to switch over to his other side. Unfortunately a quick sliced attempt at a hoof upfield was simply intercepted by a Church player, & their push forward in one big 'offside' wave ended up in our net. Cue lots of protesting, though you have to ask if we hadn't stood still & screamed, stamping our feet like little children, then the goal might have been prevented.

By now the youth of the opposition was starting to show, as we tired a little, but there was some life left in the old dog yet! A punt from Matt found Callum, who broke forward, with Joel & Lawrence Marsh linking up with Louis, the ball ending up with Phil Doyle, who reduced the arrears. The last goal of the game restored the two goal cushion for the Church, a good parry from Matt but he could to nothing to stop the follow up.

Now for a few second half snaps:











It's hard to single out anyone, but if I had to it would be the tireless Alex Margolies in the middle, along with the 'evergreen' Jacko McInroy; as well as Callum Smith, making his debut as a 'guest' player, being a groundhopping Eastleigh fan who travelled all the way up from Hampshire to play! (I can hear you all now...'but he seemed so normal'!)

Final score:


Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' 2, Camberwell Evangelical Church 4.

Game over, time for a joint team photo:



Thanks once more to Hamlet fan Tony Squires for coming along to watch, it must have seemed a bit lonely at times...



And I don't think everyone appreciated his presence... ;-)



(Attempt at a...) Report & all photos by Mishi Morath.

Wrightie-a tribute from Jacko

This article first appeared in the First Team pre-season programme against Crystal Palace; and also in the Supporters' Team one versus Camberwell Evangelical Church.

Ian Wright

26 October 1957 – 13 June 2011

As we approached Belair Park on our way to another supporters match, Ian told me, “This is definitely going to be my last season.”

He had been thinking about ‘retiring’ for some time, but couldn’t face it. His brain told him to pack it all in but his heart still had a bit of catching up to do. Within weeks, however, the statement Ian had made in the car had become incredibly poignant.

He was always proud to pull on the pink and blue shirt of Dulwich Hamlet, and from his late thirties Ian had been a regular in the Supporters team; not just in the Elevens but in the mid-week Sevens team as well. In the last 15 years he must have turned out hundreds of times. Even into his 50s his kitbag was always on hand if he was required.

In more recent days he was quite content to get fifteen minutes as a late substitute – but that wasn’t always so. He used to frown sometimes about lesser skilled players given a full ninety minutes while he patiently stood by or reluctantly ran the line. “How can those two play ahead of me?” he would ask. And I would reply, “Well, to start with Ian, they’re twenty years younger than you.”

Ian and I went back more than two decades, and we played together on more than 500 occasions. We knew each other’s game inside out, and we both continued into middle age playing for the love of it, well aware of each other’s declining abilities.

I was introduced to Ian when he was about thirty years old. His sister and brother in law have always been among my closest friends. He began to attend my local church, and as we had a couple of dozen men and youngsters who loved playing football at every opportunity Ian fit in very well. Eventually he became a regular attendant at church meetings. It was only recently that we began to see less and less of Ian, and although he spoke to a handful of us of his ailments – he was developing a serious kidney problem – it wasn’t generally recognised that he was in such a bad state.

He lived his entire life in south London. Born in Wimbledon in 1957 he dwelt at various times in East Dulwich, Camberwell, Battersea, Wandsworth and Walworth. Like most post-war kids he grew up with his backside sticking out of his trousers and his toes poking out of his shoes. But Ian remained that way. “How old is that tracksuit, mate? It looks like something out of the eighties” I’d say. And the truth is, he’d probably been wearing it since then. And even when he occasionally forced himself into a suit and tie, the addition of a jersey and baseball cap always made him appear slightly eccentric. It was difficult to prise that cap from his head: the moment he left the pitch after being subbed, out came the fags and on went the cap.

Ian grew up on the Dog Kennel Hill Estate just a stone’s throw from Champion Hill where he would venture over to watch Dulwich Hamlet play, and though he was a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace, the Hamlet always remained very close to his heart. And yet in the years between 1970 and 1995 he hardly ever saw them play. He was so busy playing his own football for junior sides, and then Cobham Town, Colliers Wood, the church side, or anyone who would give him a game, that he was quite happy to just follow the Hamlet from a distance through the back pages of the South London Press.

He was a real ‘have boots will travel’ chap. So, when he was given the opportunity to play for Dulwich, albeit in the Supporters team, he was very proud to take up the offer.
In his day Ian was a workmanlike left sided central defender. Solid and dependable, confident on the ball and good in the air with a powerful header. For a big man he was also quite agile and when called upon to go in goal he displayed remarkable skill there too. One of Ian’s most memorable skills (if you can call it that, because it was also the most irritating) was his famous ‘step-over’. This was where the ball was coming towards him at pace in central defence and he would shape to make a hefty clearance. The striker usually leapt and spun to block the ball with his side, back or leading leg, only to find that Ian had completely sold him a dummy. But this manoeuvre would often outfox our own goalkeeper who would be left scrambling to keep the ball out of the net!

By a strange coincidence I once wrote a lighthearted piece titled ‘Ian Wright’ about our friend for the Champion Hill Street Blues fanzine in August 1994 following that summer’s Hamlet v Palace pre-season friendly. I’m pretty sure this was Ian’s first visit to the ground in a very long time, and still a couple of years before his first game for the Supporters team. He left before the end, disappointed that no Palace ‘stars’ had been included in the line-up.

One memorable game Ian played in was in May 1997 when he scored the match winning penalty in the shootout that decided the Canary Cup final at the Hitchin Tournament. He was also in the side that were dumped out of the West Bromwich Albion Tournament in the Midlands a month later, when a perfectly good Hamlet goal was deemed to have bounced over the bar when it had in fact bounced under it and through a hole in the net. Several of the players from those early games are still part of our current aging side: Steve Rickerby, Shaun Dooley, Matt Hammond, Mishi Morath, myself. A familiar face from the Premier League, FIFA referee’s assistant Steve Child, was also one of our players back then.

Apart from football Ian was also a keen golfer, and once every six months or so I would join him and Joel Virgo for a round. Some folks may not realise that when Ian turned up looking a bit dishevelled on a Saturday morning at Belair Park for a 10.30 kick off, he had usually been up since five and already played eighteen holes at New Addington with Joel. I always found it very odd, traipsing around a golf course with Ian, because in this realm, he really seemed to struggle with simple arithmetic. He’d take three or four strokes down the fairway, lose a ball, three putt – and still come away with a score of 5.

When Ian left the Post Office, where he had worked since leaving school, he took up a job as a driver delivering cooked meats. The company changed ownership several times over the years but Ian was a mainstay. He hardly ever took a day’s leave; he was a good timekeeper; always reliable; a very good driver; and knew the South East better than anybody. I was his travelling companion on many, many occasions and marvelled that he would just point the car and drive without any navigational aids. He knew exactly how to get to our destination and usually by more than one route. Blowing smoke from the side of his mouth out of his wound down window he would continue his monologue about the state of the nation or some current affair as we inched our way to the match. “I’ve played there.” he’d say as we passed a county league ground. “I’ve played there.” as we passed an open field. The next patch of grass: “I’ve played there.” And I never doubted him.

On the very rare occasion that he consulted a map he would ask me to reach over to the backseat to the door compartment and pass him his book. This was an well thumbed ancient Road Atlas of Great Britain that Alfred the Great may have been familiar with. The maps contained very few motorways, and Milton Keynes did not even exist! But he would never update. And besides, the main A-roads were still there, so why bother? More often than not on the return journey from an away match with the Supporters team we would make a detour to one or other of his customers – a café or a bakers shop where he delivered meat pies – where he could pick up a free lunch. He didn’t like to open up his wallet unless it was really necessary.

One of the few times he abandoned his car was for a trip we made to the continent for a match against the Paris St Germaine supporters at the French club’s training ground in Versaille. We took the overnight coach from Victoria instead. That was a great experience for me, representing our club on foreign soil, yet Ian had “been there, done that” in Prague and in Italy a few years before.

Watching Dulwich Hamlet’s first team with Ian was also quite interesting. He kicked every ball and appreciated the opposition’s play as much as his own team. I once had a very long conversation with him that lasted an entire half about the myriad Hamlet matches he claimed to have witnessed over many years. He wasn’t very pleased when I easily proved to him that he could not possibly have seen as many games as he was making out. To start with he was playing on Saturday afternoons himself throughout the 70s and 80s, and made his reappearance at Champion Hill only in the mid 90s! Yet he honestly believed he was one of the club’s most loyal supporters. And then the opposition scored and he stood up and applauded. “Ian,” I enquired, “Are you sure you actually support Dulwich at all?”

Ian’s final game for the supporters was only a few months ago. I remember it because we scored a particularly pleasing team goal. As I was giving out congratulations to all and sundry for the passing, the movement, the tricky bit of skill, the excellent finish, I could hear someone hollering out my name: “Jacko! Jacko! Jacko!” I turned to discover Ian standing on the edge of our box stabbing his chest with his index finger gesturing for me to credit him some audible praise for his part in the build-up that I somehow missed. It made me chuckle (it still does). “Well done Ian. Good clearance.”

Ian Wright passed away on Monday 13th June 2011 at work. Having just made a delivery in the City he collapsed and died as he returned to his vehicle. It was an instant death - thrombosis of the heart (blood clot) – and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

His funeral took place on July 11th and his body (along with his Hamlet shirt and Crystal Palace scarf), was buried in the Camberwell Old Cemetery. One particular floral tribute was in the figure of the DHFC club crest, another was a striking pink and blue spray. It was a real honour for me to have been handed one of twelve red roses from Ian’s sister Janice to toss into her brother’s grave. He was a friend of mine. I’m going to miss him.

Jack McInroy, July 2011

Farewell Ian....

This article also first appeared in the First Team pre-season programme versus Crystal Palace & in our own one against Camberwell Evangelical Church:

It's a sad fact of life, being a Dulwich Hamlet fan, that somebody you know will have passed away in the summer. One of the 'occupational hazards' so to speak, when you are part of an historic Club with a relatively old & loyal support base.
It doesn't make it any easier if someone is past their 'three score years and ten', but it is a heck of a lot harder when a person who is nowhere near that age goes 'before their time'.
As one of the founder members of the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Team it came as a huge shock to hear the news that one of our own, Ian Wright, had died, after collapsing at work, at the tender age of only 53.
The one thing you find when someone goes so suddenly is how little you really knew them, & how much you wished you should have got to know them better. I, personally, only knew Ian through football. He had been a part of the team for over fifteen years, I'm not entirely sure, we never really kept records. Without a doubt one of the naturally talented players we have ever had appear for us. He only started playing for 'The Rabblers' for fun, when he hung up his 'serious Saturday boots', after a long amateur career, where he was a stalwart for clubs such as Cobham & Colliers Wood United. He also turned out for Camberwell Evangelical Church, for he he laced up on a Saturday, & took a pew at on Sundays. Once the season is underway the Supporters' Team will take on the Church side in a friendly game at Belair Park, in Ian's memory, so we can pay our respects to him doing what he loved most...playing football!
Some might say Ian moaned too much on the pitch, but if you analysed that it was not malicious, but more borne out of frustration, having played at a much higher level than the rest of us. If you listened carefully he always encouraged, no matter how limited in ability you may have been, compared to him. And no mater if he never knew you, he always made a point of talking to new players to the Supporters' Team & putting them at ease.
For sure everyone who has played alongside him over the years will be sure to have a story or two about him, & he will be sadly missed. It was a privilege to have been at his recent funeral service along with a number of the Supporters' Team, & wonderfully uplifting for such a sad occasion to be almost a happy one too, as his life was celebrated.
As well as being a Dulwich Hamlet fan, his first visit to the old Champion Hill was in the sixties, & he could recall amateur internationals being played here, Ian was also a staunch Crystal Palace supporter, so it is truly fitting that he is remembered here this evening with the Eagles as our opposition, & we thank them for agreeing to respect his memory.
No doubt he will be looking down from the 'great football ground in the sky', while chewing the fat with the likes of Hamlet legends Edgar Kail & Tommy Jover, telling them how they should have played!
Among the floral tributes at his funeral were ones from Dulwich Hamlet Football Club & the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Team; with the Football club itself being represented by Club Chairman, Mr. Jack Payne.
Rest In Peace, Wrightie.

Mishi D. Morath, team secretary, Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' FC.

Ian Wright laid to rest.

On Monday 11th July a number of the Supporters' Team joined the family & friends of Ian Wright at his funeral service at Camberwell Evangelical Church & then moved on to Camberwell Old Cemetery, where his remains were laid to rest.

Also present, representing Dulwich Hamlet Football Club, was the Chairman, Jack Payne.









This one was the floral tribute from the Supporters' Team, kindly arranged by Steve Rickerby & Steve Bennett:

At the Crystal Palace pre-season match, on Wednesday 27th July, at Champion Hill, a one minute silence was held in memory of Ian, prior to kick off.