Dulwich Appoint Dacey as New First-Team Manager

Dulwich Hamlet chairman Ben Clasper has confirmed the appointment of Mark Dacey as the club’s new first-team manager.

Dacey brings with him experience from spells at Sevenoaks Town (Isthmian League South East Division), Forest Hill Park (Southern Counties East Football League First Division), and most recently, Rayners Lane in the Isthmian League North Division.

“While we’ve been overwhelmed by the quality and volume of applicants—many of whom have impressive track records—we wanted to stay true to our commitment to reset our approach, reconnect with the identity of Dulwich Hamlet, and focus on what truly matters to the club and its supporters,” said Clasper in a statement.

“Although we’ve monitored over 50 candidates since the start of the year, our interest in Mark began much earlier—back when he first came to Champion Hill, eager to learn from Gavin Rose and Junior Kadi.

“Since then, we’ve followed his journey closely. The feedback from players and staff who’ve worked with him has been consistently positive.

“His tenure at Rayners Lane, under challenging circumstances since taking over in January, was particularly impressive. He won two-thirds of his league matches, averaged over three goals per game, and led the club to victory in the Middlesex FA Cup. That success caught the attention of clubs higher up the pyramid.

“We knew securing his signature would be competitive, but his belief in our club and shared vision for rebuilding our football identity made this the right fit for both parties.”

Clasper added that the club is excited to welcome Dacey back to Champion Hill and will soon unveil more details on their pre-season plans, including coaching staff, squad developments, and upcoming fixtures.

Dulwich Hamlet narrowly avoided relegation this season, finishing just above the drop zone in the Isthmian League Premier Division with 44 points from 44 games—winning 12, drawing 8, and losing 22.