1923 days after Dipo Akinyemi calmly slotted home that penalty at Imperial Fields to spark scenes of jubilation, Dulwich find themselves kicking off at Step 3 again against Hashtag United this Saturday.

The last five years have seen the Hamlet survive the first year at Step 2, enjoy a televised FA Cup First Round clash with Carlisle United, fight through the pandemic, look like genuine promotion candidates for part of the 21-22 season, and then going through three managers last season and find themselves relegated on the final day of the season. Football eh, bloody hell.

However, this summer has provided the chance to reset and with Hakan Hayrettin at the helm, there is reason to be optimistic of having a good crack at an instant return to the National League South this season. Most of last season's failures have been escorted from the building, the majority of them will not be missed.

In their place, Hak has recruited some trusted lieutenants from some of his squads down the years, in the likes of Jerome Binnom-Williams, Manny Parry, Elliott Romain and Craig Braham-Barrett. These have been combined with returning favourites of Danny Mills, Sanchez Ming and Michael Chambers, exciting young talents of Alfie Allen, Ryley Scott, Jerry Gyebi and Jack Ruddy, and some further experience in the mold of Mark Ricketts, Adrian Clifton, Anthony Jeffrey and Luke Wanadio.

Pre-season saw them lose just once, the opener against Altona '93, with a further four wins and four draws, but Hak will be the first to tell you that the results in the league are the ones that matter, starting with our trip to Essex. Good news from the Hamlet camp is that Alfie Allen and Jerry Gyebi are both clear to play following their sickening clash of heads at Tooting & Mitcham United. Sanchez Ming is also fit after missing the final two friendlies.

Our hosts began their journey up the English football pyramid that same glorious summer of 2018, and have had success after success, with three promotions in five seasons. Winners of Division One South of the Eastern Counties League in 2019, they would also won promotion in 2021 for their average points-per-game in the two curtailed seasons in the Essex Senior League. Last season, they stormed to the Isthmian League North Division title, winning by seven points over AFC Sudbury.

Managed by Jay Devereux since their first season of league football, the Tags enjoyed a run of 21 successive league wins between November and March, and won 18 of their 19 league games at home, with only Stowmarket Town taking points off them back in August. Amongst their squad are a couple of former Hamlet men, Alex Teniola and Nathan Smith. Alex, scorer of 16 league goals for the Tags last season, netted three times in seven games during the autumn of 2016, whilst Nathan infamously joined us ahead of that FA Cup tie against Carlisle, and would play 14 times during the 2019-20 season.

Tomorrow marks the first ever meeting between the two sides, but one good omen for the Hamlet is that we have only lost one of our last 17 opening day fixtures, that coming on our Step 2 debut in 2018. Hashtag by contrast lost their opener 12 months ago at Bury Town by a 1-0 scoreline. In fact, they have lost three of their five curtain-raisers.

Admission prices for the game are £12 for adults, £7 for concessions (12-17, 60+, students) and £3 for U12s. U16s must be accompanied by an adult. Gates open from 1.45pm, cash or contactless payments are accepted.