‘Dulwich Hamlet blossomed during Gavin Rose’s reign’ – Reise Allassani on legacy of long-serving Champion Hill boss

BY EDMUND BRACK

Reise Allassani has outlined how outgoing Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose helped him back into the professional game and believes the achievements of the club’s longest-serving manager “are clear for everyone to see”.

Rose was let go by the South London club on Sunday evening. The 45-year-old has managed more than 550 Hamlet matches and masterminded their rise from the Isthmian League South to the National League South since being appointed in 2009.

Brentford’s Premier League centre-back Ethan Pinnock, former Wolves defender George Elokobi and ex-Norwich striker Simeon Jackson are just a handful of players who Rose guided into the professional game.

Former Crystal Palace prospect Allassani earned a move to Coventry City in 2018 after scoring 17 goals in 31 matches for Dulwich in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

The former England U17 international told the South London Press: “He gives players hope. He tells them: ‘Come here, and if you do well, there is a potential that you can go on to higher opportunities’.

“The biggest thing Gavin did for me was allowing me to enjoy my football again.”

Allassani was 21 at the time he was picked up by Rose in 2017. He had just recovered from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, which he suffered on trial at Sheffield Wednesday following his release from the Eagles.

He was persuaded to drop down to the sixth tier of English football.

Allassani said: “Gavin told me: ‘If you come here and score goals, you will move back up through the leagues.’

“When he said that to me, at first, I wasn’t sure. But I had seen that the club had done well in previous years, and players had moved on from Dulwich.

“It was about trusting Gavin and believing in myself that I could push on from there, because it was my first experience in men’s football as well.

“Gavin is very straightforward – he will tell you honestly what he thinks. In terms of improvement, he helped with the adjustment to men’s football. At that level, especially for a young player coming in at that time, it is very different to any other football you may have played.

“At times, you have to be thick-skinned [with Rose] because he demands a lot. As long as you demand that from yourself as well, you will have a good relationship with him.

“His honesty is very important. I needed to feel comfortable playing and being able to trust the management, and as soon as I walked through the door, there was very open dialogue.

“He gives you a platform to go and perform, as a lot of times in football it’s hard to even get a chance. Gav takes chances on a lot of people – it’s just up to the player. He will let you go and play, and if you do well, you will reap the rewards of that and the benefits of it.”

The Dulwich board decided to part ways with Rose after dropping into the bottom four of the National League South following a 3-1 defeat to Tonbridge Angels.

Chairman Ben Clasper said Rose, who became the club’s longest-serving manager during his time with the South Londoners, deserved “legendary status”.

“How often do you have happy endings in football?” said Allassani, who returned to Dulwich to play once again under Rose in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

“It’s hard to win all the time and win forever. I guess there may have never been that perfect ending for him at Dulwich, but I do think that as the years’ pass, people normally realise what someone has actually done.

“When people look back at his reign at the club, forgetting the promotions, when I first went to the club we had maybe 1,000 fans, but now you’re looking at over 2,000 every home game.

“Whenever someone has been in charge for that long, whatever industry that is, it’s going to be weird for everyone involved [Dulwich without Rose] – everyone has been used to one voice and face for so long.

“Things will change, but like with everything in life, it was time to move on, and I’m sure the club will be successful again.

“It’s a good squad down there. I know they haven’t had a good start to the season, but sometimes a new manager can come in and revitalise everything and gives a new direction to the players.

“From the start of Gavin’s reign to the end, the growth is clear for everyone to see.”

PICTURES: ROB AVIS AND KEITH GILLARD