We've not had much success in The FA Cup, admits Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose

The Hamlet travel to Hemel Hemsptead Town in the Third Qualifying Round tomorrow sitting in third-place in the Ryman Premier League table with 29 points from thirteen games, a point behind Maidstone United, who clinched promotion with them via the play-offs.

Hemel Hemsptead Town are sitting proudly at the top of the Calor (Southern League) Premier table, having collected ten wins from their eleven games and are five points clear of Chesham United.

“Hemel should be a tough opposition,” warned Rose on the eve of the Vauxhall Road clash.

“They’ve got a fantastic record so far that they’ve got in their league. From what I’ve been told, it will be a tough game on Saturday.”

The Pink and Blues travel to Hertfordshire on a run of seven wins on the bounce, scoring 22 goals in the process.

Rose is proud of that record and said: “I’m not sure what the starts are on our form, but obviously watching the games we’re playing decent football and the results have been going quite well as well.

“It’s a tough game. We know that they can play good football. Their tempo of their game is high so being it a FA Cup game we’re expecting a high tempo games as well as a very tight affair.

“You never know what’s going to happen on the day. If someone can get an early goal, it can just change things. We’re expecting it to be a competitive affair.”

Reflecting on their start following promotion, Rose added: “Pleased, but still not jumping over the moon because the reality is, it’s just a good start in the league above.”

Dulwich Hamlet last reached the First Round when under Dave Garland they were beaten 1-0 at home to Southport in 1998.

On paper, the club are two more wins away from reaching that stage of the competition again this season.

“On paper! If everything was done on paper then it would be a completely different story,” added Rose.

“In fairness since I’ve been at the club we’ve not had much success in The FA Cup and we haven’t placed too much on The FA Cup in all honesty and that’s shown in the last three years – we’ve had two defeats in the play-off finals and went up last year.

“My main concern is always the league and that hasn’t changed. It is nice to have a run in The FA Cup as well. There’s a lot of passion and to let people know Dulwich Hamlet are still around but apart from all those things climbing up the leagues is always more important to any club, I think.”

Dulwich Hamlet will bank £7,500 in prize money if they knock out Hemel Hempstead.

“It’s a short term thing though,” Rose said of the prize money available.

“It’s not something that you can budget for. It’s a bonus but nothing more than a bonus.”

Four years’ go the club were attracting average gates of 180 to Champion Hill, but attendances have risen to an average of 552 this season – which is the fourth highest in the league – and 712 fans watched their 4-2 home win over Lewes last weekend.

Dulwich Hamlet are one of the most attractive teams to watch south of the River Thames and Rose is delighted that the famous club are back on the up.

The former Beckenham Town manager said: “Hopefully that’s testimony to the way the team are playing football and we’re not always brilliant but we’re competitive so I think the supporters are enjoying watching the football.

“The atmosphere at the ground is really good.  It’s welcomed by all the core guys who were there all those years ago. They are the main core and they’re welcoming new people coming in so the atmosphere is brilliant. The team are competitive and long may it continue.

“I think the crowds will probably grow as the weeks go on.”