So might say it’s only the League Cup but a Dulwich Hamlet Tooting clash is never one for the faint of heart viz. a FA Trophy replay at Champion just over seven years ago in October 2006 when goals rained down like manna from heaven and defending became a forgotten art. That evening Paul Vines, then with the Terrors, gave the visitors a second minute lead. Phil Williams levelled on 13 minutes before a Matt York penalty made it 1-2 nine minutes before the interval. There had been no hint of the goal scoring lunacy in store in a madcap second half. Five minutes in a Chris Dickson penalty made it two apiece though that lead lasted just than 60 seconds as Jamie Findlay put the the visitors back in front. Six minutes later and Simon Mitchell grabbed Tooting’s fourth of the night, given the visitors a bit of a cushion or so they thought. 74 minutes Sol Pinnock pulled back one back, 82 minutes and a second from Sol drew Dulwich back on level terms. The dismissal of Allan McLeod for injudicious use of the tongue might have spelt the death knell for Tooting but out of nothing, York bagged a second and Tooting’s fifth with just three minutes left. Yet Dulwich rallied once more as Daniel Jones made it 5-all with mere moments left on the clock sending the tie into extra time. 8 minutes in and Jones was on target to give Dulwich the lead for the first time on the evening. One might have expected the Hamlet to shut up shop them, battening down the hatches but cavalier football prevailed and Hamlet paid the price as first Vines made it 6-6 on the stroke of extra time halftime then substitute Henry Darko rifled home the winner for the ten men with 8 minutes left on the clock. Ironically of the Tooting scorers that day only York would not also don the Pink and Blue motley. And the moral of the tale is? A similar spectacle might not be promised but just think how you might feel if you opted for EastEnders in front of the old cathode ray tube inside and history repeated itself?

Fast forward to October 2013 and the modern-day Tooting and Mitcham is a club in flux, struggling in the boondocks of the Isthmian League South after many years of success most notably when former Dulwich Hamlet manager Billy Smith was at the helm. Smith was appointed as manager for the start of the 2006/2007 season. Though the Terrors finished a single point behind Division One South Champions, Maidstone United, promotion was not to be as Hastings United beat them 2-0 at a packed Imperial Fields. A modicum of compensation came in the county cups as they lifted the London Senior Cup with a 3-2 win over Bromley and the Surrey Senior Cup, overcoming the Me Police 4-1 after extra time. 12 months later and once more the title eluded them. However this time the playoffs provided the perfect antidote as the club secured promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division by defeating Cray Wanderers 1–0 at Imperial Fields. Meanwhile the London Cup remained in their possession with a thrilling 3-2 win over Hendon.

In 2009, the glory days of yore were evoked as the Terrors once more reached the FA Cup proper, the first time since 1976 when they battled all the way to the Fourth Round, taking out Swindon Town after a replay, before going down 3-1 at Bradford City. However, any hopes of repeating that famous run were stillborn as they dismantled by Stockport County, beaten 5-0 at Edgeley Park.

Backstage machinations at the end of that season saw Smith depart, taking his number 2 George Wakeling with him whilst a number of key players departed in his wake. A succession of managers failed to replicate Smith’s success and at end of the 2012 season, Tooting found themselves back in the Isthmian South. Tooting & Mitcham had three managers in the 2012-13 season (Roberto Forzoni, Jamie Martin, and Phil Simpson) but it was to a season of frustration as the club finished 16th.

In May 2013, a breakaway club emerged naming itself ‘Tooting and Mitcham Wanderers’, as a group of disgruntled former Terrors supporters and staff made the decision to create a new club in protest. The name was taken in homage to Mitcham Wanderers, one of the original two clubs that united to form “United”.

Meanwhile the Terrors handed the managerial reins at Imperial Field to Craig Tanner, the former Tooting youth team graduate, taking on his first job in the dugout after an illustrious career with the likes of Sutton United, Hampton & Richmond, Carshalton Athletic and the Metropolitan Police was ended by serious knee injury.

It has proved a baptism of fire for the tyro supremo and since taking on the Terrors job, Tanner has presided over just four wins in 16 matches in all competitions, exiting both the FA Cup and FA Trophy at the first time of asking albeit in differing circumstances, the Cup by a single goal against a workmanlike Leatherhead side battling at the top of the South, the Trophy 1-2 away to ten men Eastbourne Town, currently propping up the South with just one league win all season.

Despite enduring a tough start to life at Imperial Fields, Tanner remained ebullient and after praising the work ethos of his players, must have felt fully justified as the Terrors went to town on Saturday smashing visiting Whitstable Town for six as Frankie Sawyer bagged a brace and one of the sole survivors of that 2006 13 goal blockbuster, Sol Pinnock tucked home a penalty.

As is traditional the Tooting squad contains several who have switched colour for black and white and along with Sawyer and Pinnock, Tanner’s team includes central half Aaron Dalhouse, fellow defender Josh Turner and one who has turned full circle, Francis Quarm. A former Tooting youngster the combative midfielder switched allegiances to Dulwich before making his name with the likes of Hampton and Richmond, Woking and Sutton United, making a permanent home at Imperial Fields this season and taking the captain’s armband.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

As this is a Cup game please remember that Season Tickets are NOT valid, sorry.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50