Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill – and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

There were jubilant scenes of celebration at Champion Hill yesterday after Dulwich Hamlet clinched automatic promotion with a 1-1 draw against an in-form Burgess Hill FC.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

A season’s-best attendance of 1,137 packed out the ground for a game that Hamlet simply could not lose.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

There was a party spirit around the pitch, but given the opponent’s recent form, this game was never going to be a walkover.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

The press were out in force to capture the afternoon’s action.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Handshakes before the kick off.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich looked for an early goal to settle nerves, but failed to make any breakthroughs against a strong and skilful Burgess Hill.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

There weren’t many of them, but these Burgess Hill supporters made a fine effort.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Disaster as Nicky Wheeler scores for Burgess around the half hour mark.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Hamlet tried to respond quickly but couldn’t get the ball in the ruddy net.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Come half time and a hailstorm of near Biblical proportions rained down on the crowd.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

With news of Maidstone winning their last game (and thus clinching the championship ahead of Hamlet) , stress levels around the ground were reaching critical. Come on Hamlet!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

The crowd behind the goal were doing their best to will the ball into the net.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

And then – praise be! – Xavier Vidal slammed home the equaliser with a 25 year low drive on the 65th minute. Promotion was back on!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

And the crowd went wild! 🙂

 

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

With the score at 1-1, Hamlet seemed a lot more comfortable on the ball and had a couple of good chances.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

The voodoo stick in action.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

The noise from the Hamlet faithful rose as the seconds clicked down on the clock.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Hamlet kept up the pressure till the end.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

The full time whistle sounds and the crowd stream on to the pitch to celebrate. Hamlet are going up!

Here’s some photos from the celebrations:

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

The champagne corks pop!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Hamlet Dultras!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Waiting for the cup to be presented.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

CHAMPIONS!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

dulwich-hamlet-burgess-hill-39

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

 

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Take that, Tooting!

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Dancing on the pitch.

Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill - and Champion Hill goes wild!

Champagne on the pitch.  Well done Hamlet – a great achievement for the players, the manager and all those at the club.

I can’t wait for the next season with trips to seaside towns like Bognor and Margate on the menu – and Lewes, which is close to the seaside 🙂

Chat about Dulwich Hamlet on the urban75 forums.

3 Comments on “Dulwich Hamlet clinch promotion after nail-biting draw with Burgess Hill – and Champion Hill goes wild!”

  1. Not to mention, of course, a match against the metropolitan police to look forward to 😀

    Still it’s hardly like you’ll be playing Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea is it. Boy you must *really* hate those red shirts to have turned that down. 😀

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