Taking three wins from the first four games, the Dulwich Hamlet squad can be pleased with their start to the 2019/20 National League South season - but for new midfielder Christian Smith, there’s still plenty more to come from the side.

“It’s a new team but I feel as though we’ve competed well in the games we’ve played,” he says.

“There’s been spells in the games where we’ve done what the gaffer wants, some games where we haven’t. But the main thing is that we’ve stayed in the games,” Smith continues. “We’ve not created as many chances in the last two games, but overall we’re coming along all right.”

Having been around this level for a while, he knows what’s needed to succeed. Smith helped Maidenhead United to win promotion out of the Conference South in 2017 and is confident that Dulwich can make a go of it themselves this season.

“I believe that to do well in this league you’ve got to have the ingredients. A bit of strength, a bit of youth and a bit of experience as well, so I think we’ll do well.”

With nearly 400 senior appearances to his name, experience is what Smith brings to Dulwich.

“I’ve played a lot!” he laughs. “Myself, [Danny] Millsy, Big Dave [Ijaha] and Rich [Orlu] can bring experience and a bit of know-how. Yes, we do like to play but just because we like to do that doesn’t mean we’re afraid to do other things.”

“As the gaffer said to us today, sometimes you might have to earn the right to play. Some people can be too proud to play long ball or kick it in behind but to win this league, that’s the type of thing you need to do at times.”

Pre-season was a chance for Smith to return “home”. Born in Crewe, he spent most of the early part of his career playing for Northern clubs and came through Port Vale’s youth system. Dulwich played against one of Smith’s former sides Chester as part of their pre-season tour of the North back in July, a short journey from where he grew up.

Smith knew they’d be tough opposition and coming away with a 2-1 win was a decent result. “They’ll be up there in the [National League] North. I said it at the time, I said that was a good result,” he muses. “Yes, it’s pre-season, but they’re a team that’ll be challenging in their league so it holds us in good stead.”

Arriving back at his old ground, the first thing Smith did was to say hello to Chester kitman, Jimmy Soul.

“Jimmy!” Smith laughs. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him. He’s probably one of the only staff members that’s still there.” Maintaining those connections is a big part of what club football is all about and Smith is already building similar relationships at Dulwich, where he’s settled quickly into the new routine at Champion Hill.

“It’s been a surprise,” he says. “The training facilities are brilliant. We’ve got all our kit there, we have our food prepared. There’s nothing more we could ask for really.”

Smith has also been pleased by the quality of the new gym facilities, which the players have access to through the club’s partnership with ESPH. “It’s impressive,” he says. “We have everything we need there. Also, they monitor us each day on what we’ve done, so it’s just up to us really to come out and do the stuff on the pitch.”

As for matters on the pitch, Smith is keen to bounce back on Saturday. “Obviously we’ve had ten men in two of the games so you could say we’ve not been able to show what we can do," he says. “But I do believe we’ve got enough grit, fight and ability to win the majority of our games.”

“They’ll come here with confidence,” he says of the opponents Concord Rangers, who have also won their first three games. “Yeah, we lost the last game [against Hemel] - we’re gonna lose games this season, but it’s how you react to that. It’ll be a big crowd and it’s up to us to put on a performance.”

Christian Smith and the boys are in action this Saturday August 17th at 3pm against Concord Rangers.

Tickets are available to buy here.

Photo: Ollie Jarman