Deptford Owls

'The owls are not what they seem'

 - spotted on former bank in Deptford Broadway

 

'Show genocide the red card!' - Dulwich Hamlet & Clapton women's match abandoned over Palestine banners

A women's football final involving Dulwich Hamlet and Clapton football clubs was abandoned yesterday after officials objected to fans of both teams displaying pro-Palestinian flags and banners. As part of the fifth tier of women's football in England, the London and South East Women's Regional Football League rarely features in the news, but this week's League Trophy Final held at Maidstone United's ground looks set to get international attention.

Clapton CFC Women's First Team were 2-0 up against Dulwich Hamlet Reserves after about 20 minutes. A statement from Clapton explains what happened next:

'Today’s L&SERWFL Trophy final between Clapton CFC Women’s First Team and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium was abandoned with Clapton leading 2-0.

We were told the management at the venue objected to the presence of a Palestine flag among Clapton’s support and an anti-genocide banner among the Dulwich Hamlet support. Both sets of supporters indicated they did not wish to remove the flag/banner and the venue and league and match officials decided the game could not continue. There was an offer to play the game to a conclusion behind closed doors but our players felt that football without fans is nothing. Clapton CFC is a members-owned, members-run football club.

A statement on behalf of the team said: “Today, 32 women were denied the opportunity to play the L&SERWFL Trophy final. About 20 minutes into the match, both Clapton and Dulwich supporters were approached by a representative of Maidstone United, Gallagher Stadium owners. He demanded that our supporters must stop waving the Palestinian flag, and the Dulwich supporters must take down their banner which read 'Show genocide the red card'. After both groups of supporters refused, he called the officials together and communicated that we could not use the ground while both the Palestinian flag and the banner were displayed.

Our given options were to 1) play the game behind closed doors or 2) to abandon the game. Clapton’s players chose to abandon the game. Both sets of fans then came together in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and holding up our banners in support of trans women and the Palestine people, respectively. Our players and supporters are united in their support and concern for Palestinians who are being bombed daily. Showing that support with a flag or banner is no reason to abandon a cup final.”

The L&SERWFL have said the cup final is void and will not be replayed or awarded to either finalist. Both clubs will also now face an FA disciplinary process'.

There has also been a statement from Independent Dulwich Hamlet FC Fan Group  'The Pepper Army':

'Today's L&SERWFL Trophy final between Dulwich Hamlet women Reserves and Clapton CFC Women was abandoned with Clapton winning 2-0 after fans from both clubs refused to remove Palestine flags and a banner reading "Show Genocide The Red Card". 

We want to unequivocally state our support for the fans of both clubs who refused to bend to the demands of final hosts Maidstone United FC, and every player who refused  to play if the flags and banners were removed. 

The facts in Gaza are clear and widely accepted: the death toll in Gaza since October 2023 is estimated to be over 54,000; a united Nations Special Committee and Amnesty International have both concluded that the state of Israel is perpetuating a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza; this week the UK government issued a joint statement with the leaders of France and Canada calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza. 

Sport has long played an important role in putting pressure on governments perpetrating human rights abuses, from South Africa during the apartheid era to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Those who argue that political protest does not belong in sport are either ignorant or are deliberately ignoring that history. 

This is particularly true in the women's game — access to the game has always been political, and even now, women continue to fight for the right to play football.  We don't protest at our games because we think one protest in a regional football competition will change what is happening in Gaza. But we do it knowing that every  protest joins a drumbeat of defiance that is slowly convincing the world it cannot ignore the daily murders perpetuated by the state of Israel.  We are, for the avoidance of any doubt, against genocide, against anti-Semitism, against Islamophobia, and against prejudice in all its forms. 

We are proud of the behaviour of Dulwich Hamlet fans today, and we are equally proud  to join hands with the fans of Clapton CFC, who have already done so much to shine a spotlight on the plight of the Palestinian people. History will judge us. Let us all be able to say we were on the right side.'

It seems likely that there will be some FA disciplinary hearing. While people in Gaza face starvation and daily bombing raids from Israel those who dare to speak up against it, and the British government's complicity, increasingly face official sanctions and in some cases criminalisation.

Fans from both clubs at the match (from Tim Harrison on twitter). The 'Free the Filton 18' banner refers to Palestine Action activists in prison for alleged involvement in an action against an Israeli weapons factory near Bristol.

. 

photo from Artist Taxi Driver @chunkymark 

Pyrotechnists Arms to re-open?

The Pyrotechnists Arms on Nunhead Green looks set to reopen shortly, having been empty for a few months. At any event its owners, the Stonegate Pub Company, have given it a lick of paint.

The pub dates back to at least 1871 and has one of the most unique pub names in London. It derives from the fact that it once served the workers at the nearby fireworks factory, built in 1868 for C. T. Brock & Co, "Crystal Palace" Fireworks.  As the name suggests Brock's was famous for its elaborate fireworks displays at the Crystal Palace. It also made munitions though, supplying cartridges for the French army during the 1870 Franco-Prussian war.  As the Army was soon being turned against the citizens of Paris it seems likely that some of the weaponry used in the massacre that ended the 1871 Paris Commune was made in Nunhead*. 

The fireworks factory was in a field to the east of Nunhead Green.   It was only there for a few years, as those fields were soon being filled with houses - in this case Barset and Howbury Roads In the early 1870s the factory moved to Tennison Road, South Norwood. 

I believe the fireworks factory is the square area in right of picture, with a path heading down towards the green (late 1860s map)

More on the history of Brock's in Nunhead here

* there was quite an overlap between fireworks and explosives in this period, with gunpowder being the common ingredient. One of my ancestors, my great great grandfather Thomas Cook (1835-1901), seems to have been involved in both. Born in Woolwich, he worked at the Royal Arsenal and later moved to Oare near Faversham. On the 1881 census he is listed as an 'artist in fireworks' but was working at the Cotton Powder Factory which made explosives as well as distress flares.

Richard Cabut at Dash the Henge

Another interesting night coming up the great Dash the Henge shop in Camberwell on Thursday 22 May 2025, Richard Cabut will be reading from his poetry collection 'Disorderly Magic and Other Disturbances', now being launched as an audio book. Accompanied by Magic Soundscapes from the Band of Holy Joy plus Patrick Lyons and film.

 

Hitler hanged and burned: VE Day in South London 1945

The end of war in Europe was celebrated with several days of relieved VE (Victory in Europe) celebrations across Britain in May 1945. In South London as in many other areas this includes bonfires, parties and singing in the streets. On the Old Kent Road there were 'groups of people singing round pianos on the pavements'; on Rye Lane, Peckham sailors rode on the top of double decker buses; hundreds gathered at One Tree Hill.

During the events 'scores of effigies of Hitler were burned' while it was reported that in Artichoke Place, Camberwell 'another Hitler dummy is swinging from a gas lamp with a noose around his neck' (South London Observer, 11 May 1945)

 

May Day 2025: Deptford and Camberwell

'A Salute to May Day' at St Giles Church in Camberwell on Tuesday April 30th was a lovely night promoted by Broadside Hacks and Dash the Henge. It started off with the Belles of London City morris dancing in front of the church, followed by Daisy Rickman, Goblin Band and Tealeaf playing inside. Loved Goblin Band in particular with their set of May themed songs including Birds in the Spring, the First of May, May Morning Dew and a rousing version of the Padstow May Song which had people dancing in the aisles and pews with the Belles and a horse!

Goblin Band in St Giles

On May Day itself there was a big turn out for the annual Fowlers Troop Deptford Jack in the Green procession. It started out at the Dog and Bell in Deptford, heading along to the Salt Quay on the Greenwich river front then around various local drinking places.

A personal highlight for me was seeing my first swifts of the year swooping over SE14. 'You never heard so sweet as the birds in the spring'.

Pleased to see too that Past Tense Publications has reprinted my pamphlet on the history of 'May Day in South London' which you can purchase here.

See previous posts on May Day in South London