BILLERICAY TOWN SIGN MIDFIELDER MATT JOHNSON FROM BISHOP'S STORTFORD

Former Hendon and Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Gary McCann is the new man in charge of Isthmian Premier Division side Billericay Town and he's wasted no time in making a number of new signings for the Essex side in preparation for the 23/24 season. Former Concord Rangers, Luton Town, Chelmsford City, MK Dons,Charlton Athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge, Bishop's Stortford and Nottingham Forest player Danny Green will be his Assistant Manager. 

A number of last season's squad have resigned including Midfielder Bradley Stevenson who made the Isthmian Premier Division team of the year. The 24 year old former Gillingham player netted 21 goals in 49 league and cup games for The Blues last season. He will be joined in midfield by Matt Johnson, 33, who joins from Bishop's Stortford. Johnson played 44 times for the league champions last season and is a huge signing for the club bringing with him a wealth of experience having previously played for Braintree Town, Chelmsford City and Enfield Town amongst other clubs. It's Johnson's second spell with Billericay Town having previously been with the club from November 2016 to July 2016. 

I'm not usually good at predictions but I'm sure The Blues under Gary McCann's will finish next season much higher than the tenth place they ended in for the 22/23 campaign. 

Their first pre-season game will take place on Saturday 1st July when they host Hutton FC who will be ground sharing at New Lodge next season. They have been promoted from the Essex Olympian League Premier Division to the Thurlow Nunn First Division South. 

WELCOME TO AFC WELWYN

There will be a new name in local non-league football next season as Welwyn Garden City Development who finished ninth in this season's Herts Senior County League Premier Division have became AFC WELWYN. 

The Romans will play in the Spartan South Midlands League Division Two for the 23/24 season with the club retaining some of the of the management team and playing staff from Welwyn Garden City Development. 

The below video is a short introduction to the club by co-founder Tawhid Juneja who have set themselves an ambitious target of seven promotions in twelve years! 

The new club, who will ground share with Welwyn Garden City FC, will have a big presence on social media. Their website can be found at afcwelwyn.co.uk and you can follow them on twitter @AFC_WelwynFC.

AFC WELWYN PRE-SEASON FIXTURES 

JULY 

Tue 4th - TBC 

Sat 8th - Potton United (Neutral Venue) 

Tue 11th - TBC 

Sat 15th - Belstone 

Mon 17th - Hoddesdon Town 

Sat 22nd - TBC 

Tue 25th - Wormley Rovers 

Thu 27th - HENDON 

Sat 29th - Cockfosters (Neutral Venue)

HORNCHURCH ANNOUNCE NEW KIT FOR THE 23/24 SEASON

Hornchurch FC will be playing in different colours for the 23/24 campaign as they look back to 1923 and the formation of Upminster Wanderers where the current club can trace it's history back to. The Urchins will adopt the original kit colours that the club wore when formed. 

The Essex club are yet to announce their new boss following the departure of Mark Stimson at the end of the 22/23 season - He has returned to his former club Grays Athletic whom he took from Step Three to Step One during his spell in charge from 2001 to 2006 as well as winning the FA Trophy twice.  

JULY 

Sat 8th – Barking 

Sat 15th – DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 

Sat 22nd – St Ives Town 

Tue 25th - BRAINTREE TOWN 

Fri 28th – Redbridge 

AUGUST

Sat 5th - East Thurrock Utd 

ENFIELD TOWN FRIENDLY GAMES ANNOUNCED

ENFIELD TOWN WELCOMED A YOUNG SIDE FROM ASTON VILLA INCLUDING JACK GREALISH IN JULY 2013 

Enfield Town who will be under the new management of former Metropolitan Police FC boss Gavin McPherson for the 23/24 season have announced the following pre-season friendly games. 

It's likely to be a real new look side for The Towners as several players have already departed The Queen Elizabeth Stadium. 

Adam Cunnington, James Dayton, Lyle Della-Verde and Nathan McDonald have all left the club. Goalkeeper McDonald leaves after making 321 appearances for the club in two spells between 2014 to 2023. 

The North London club are also looking to add a game against Tottenham Hotspur u21s but a date has not yet been arranged. 

JULY

Saturday 15th - QPR B 

Tuesday 18th -ST ALBANS CITY 

Saturday 22nd - BRACKNELL TOWN 

Tuesday 25th - Welwyn Garden City 

Saturday 29th - Waltham Abbey

AUGUST 

Saturday 5th - GRAYS ATHLETIC 

MATCH ACTION FROM THE 2015 PRE-SEASON GAME AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE - THE EAGLE'S YOUNG SIDE INCLUDING WINGER ANDRE COKER WHO WENT ON TO PLAY FOR ENFIELD TOWN FOR THE PAST TWO SEASONS.  

SORRY THERE'S NOT BEEN MUCH ACTIVITY FROM THE COLD END RECENTLY.....

For regular readers of The Cold End I'd like to apologise for the lack of articles recently. I've simply not had the time I'd like to dedicate to bringing you up to date with local non-league football and also the game in Belarus.

I'll have some news and features to bring you soon as we take a look back on the 22/23 season and anticipate the 23/24 campaign. 

I've been updating the website since July 2009 and don't have any plans to stop. I did announce it was closing in October 2022 but thanks to much love from many people I've continued on a little bit less busier basis which has worked for me. 

#NonLeague #SupportYourLocalClub

THE IRON REBUILDING WITH SOME IMPRESSIVE SIGNINGS

After two relegations in as many seasons the 23/24 campaign could be a much better one for Scunthorpe United as they rebuild under Manager Jimmy Dean and new ownership. Dean joined from Peterborough Sports in January but was unable to halt the decline at Glandford Park as The Iron slipped into Step Two of the non-league pyramid. Six players have already been recruited. 

Centre Back Maxim Kouogun has signed from York City where he has spent the last season and a half. The 26 year old has also played for Wealdstone and Harrogate Town in England as well as Waterford and UCD in Ireland along with a short spell Warrenpoint Town in Northern Ireland. 

Goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimmons, 28, joins from Chesterfield where he featured in the play-off final defeat against Notts County. He made 35 league and cup appearances for The Spireites last season. He started his career with Crystal Palace and has also played for Chelmsford City, Notts County and Weymouth amongst other clubs. 

Centre Back Will Evans, 31, joins from Boreham Wood and brings with him a huge amount of experience having also played for Chesterfield, Aldershot Town, Eastleigh and Hereford United after starting his career with Swindon Town. He had made 322 appearances in non-league's top division. 

Left sided midfielder Tyler Denton, 27, joins from Kings Lynn Town whom he helped to runner's up position in the Vanarama North last season. He has also played for Stevenage and Chesterfield having started his career with Leeds United in the academy from 2003 to 2014 and then as a professional from 2014 to 2019. 

Two players have moved from Eastleigh - Left Back Michael Kelly, 25, joines after two seasons with The Spitfires. He counts Bristol Rovers as a former club and has represented Scotland at u15, u16 and u17 level. 

Danny Whitehall, 27, has also been with the Hampshire club for two seasons having moved from Kilmarnock. He has also played for Maidenhead United and is a product of the Liverpool and Rochdale academy systems. 

I'm sure more players will follow in due course - Jimmy Dean will know The Vanarama North Division is fiercely competitive as indicted by the fact only four points covered 4th to 13th place this season. 

HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE - RACE FOR THE TITLES UPDATE

PREMIER DIVISION 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	CHIPPERFIELD CORINTHIANS	30	21	2	7	56	38	+18	65	65
2.	BUSH HILL RANGERS	29	20	4	5	76	38	+38	64	67
3.	BELSTONE	27	18	2	7	63	20	+43	56	65

After Bush Hill Rangers shock defeat to Oracle Components on Tuesday evening they get another shot at the tile next Wednesday evening when they play Ware Sports who will be no push overs - they qualified for the Aubery Cup Final this midweek with a 2-3 win AET versus Welwyn Garden City Development. Their opponents will be Belstone who they beat on penalties in the final of the Herts FA Senior Centenary Trophy Final. Belstone still have an outside chance of the title but will have to win all three of their remaining games and hope Bush Hill Rangers either draw or lose against Ware Sports. 

Ware Sports play Belstone in the Aubery Cup Final tomorrow at Hemel Hempstead Town. 

Final League Fixtures for Top Three  

Tuesday 23rd - Belstone v Cuffley 

Wednesday 24th - Ware Sports v Bush Hill Rangers 

Saturday 27th - Belstone v Ware Sports 

Tuesday 30th - Sandridge Rovers v Belstone 

DIVISION ONE 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	BALDOCK TOWN RES	28	20	1	7	93	49	+44	61	61
2.	LEMSFORD	28	20	1	7	66	31	+35	61	61

Baldock Town Reserves are champions of Division One - their scheduled game at Hatfield United was forfeited by the home side awarded them the three points which means they pip Lemsford to the title on goal difference.  

DIVISION TWO 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ROVERS	22	21	0	1	102	18	+84	63	75
2.	WESTMILL	23	20	1	2	81	26	+55	61	70

With four and three games to play it's still between Hemel Hempstead Rovers and Westmill for Division Two. Rovers have a busy week forthcoming as they also play Croxley Green in the Bingham Cox Cup Final on Tuesday evening. 

Saturday 20th - Hinton & Finchley u23 v Hemel Rovers 

Saturday 20th - Oxhey v Westmill 

Thursday 25th - Hemel Rovers v Bushey Rangers 

Saturday 27th - Hemel Rovers v Lethchworth GC u23s 

Saturday 27th - Chipperfield Res v Westmill 

Tuesday 30th - Letchworth GC u23s v Westmill 

TBA - Hemel Rovers v Oxhey 

DIVISION THREE   

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	CROXLEY GREEN	24	18	4	2	86	21	+65	58	70
2.	SUN SPORTS	26	15	5	6	65	38	+27	50	56
3.	BEDMOND	24	14	4	6	49	29	+20	46	58
4.	BUNTINGFORD TOWN RESERVES	23	14	4	5	49	37	+12	46	61

In Division Three Croxley Green are nearly over the line. Sun Sports, with only two games left, are unable to catch them. Bedmond need to win their remaining four games and rely on Croxley losing all of theirs as well as turning round an inferior goal difference of +45.

Buntingford Town Reserves could still finish higher than Croxley but would need to win all of their five games - one of which is at home to the current table topper's on Saturday 27th May. 

Realistically one more win for Croxley Green with their +65 GD would all but seal the title depending on other results. Ironically their next game is at home to Sun Sports this coming Saturday. 

DIVISION FOUR 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	WELWYN PEGASUS u23	25	20	2	3	85	21	+64	62	71
2.	CROXLEY GREEN RESERVES	25	18	3	4	82	40	+42	57	66
3.	BENGEO TRINITY	24	16	3	5	78	45	+33	51	63

In Division Four Welwyn Pegasus u23 are in the driving seat need five points from their remaining three games to seal the title pending the results of Croxley Green Reserves. Third placed Bengeo Trinity could still win the title but I'd use the phrased 'mathematically possible' as they need to rely on Welwyn losing their final three games and Croxley to lose games too. 

HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE CUP FINAL DETAILS 

AUBERY CUP - SATURDAY 20th APRIL 

BELSTONE V WARE SPORTS @ Hemel Hempstead Town 

BINGHAM COX CUP - TUESDAY 23rd APRIL 

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ROVERS V CROXLEY GREEN @ Rayners Lane

GREG CUP - WEDNESDAY 24th APRIL 

LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES u23 v LEMSFORD RESERVES @ to be confirmed 

THE HISTORY OF THE GREG CUP

"The Greg Cup of North Hertfordshire Junior Cup" as it was originally known was instigated by Mr Greg (whom the competition is now named after) in 1910/11. One of the unique rules he stipulated as that any player having received a winner's memento in the competition would not be allowed to play in future competitions. This rule was relaxed in 2007 and there is no longer such a stipulation. 

The unique rules saw that up until 2003 no club even retained the cup - 'Fishers' won in 2002 and 2003. 

The competition was attached to the North Herts Football Association who merged with the Mid Herts League in 2006 to form the North and Mid-Herts Football Association in 2006. When The North and Mid-Herts Football League became dormant due to dwindling team numbers the cup was not competed for in 2014 but was re-introduced for some member clubs of the Hertfordshire Senior County League in 2015. 

FORMER WINNERS OF THE GREG CUP

1911 Hitchin Union Jack 
1912 Walkern 
1913 Hitchin Blue Cross 
1914 Stevenage Red Cross 
1915 - 1919 No competition 
1920 Stevenage Town 
1921 Hitchin Union Jack 
1922 Letchworth Town 
1923 Knebworth 
1924 Pirton Athletic 
1925 Kimpton 
1926 Walsworth 
1927 Hitchin Imps 
1928 Whitwell Athletic 
1929 Baldock Social 
1930 Letchworth Rovers 
1931 Buntingford Town 
1932 Stevenage Corinthians 
1933 Codicote 
1934 Pirton Social 
1935 Walkern 
1936 Hitchin Rangers 
1937 Hitchin Bacon 
1938 Resili Sports 
1939 Pirton Social 
1940- 1944 No competition 
1945 Kings Sports 
1946 Ickleford 
1947 Knebworth 
1948 St Ippolyts 
1949 Buntingford Town 
1950 Letchworth CLBOB 
1951 Whitwell Athletic 
1952 Henlow 
1953 St Ippolyts 
1954 Weston United 
1955 Buntingford Town 
1956 Pirton Social 
1957 Esavian Sports 
1958 Hitchin Colts 
1959 Longwell 
1960 Kayser Bondor 
1961 Esavian Sports 
1962 Ashwell 
1963 Wilbury Wanderers 
1964 Stevenage Hollerith 
1965 Pirton Social 
1966 Bowaters 
1967 Biggleswade United 
1968 Walkern 
1969 Hitchin Clublanders 
1970 Ickleford 
1971 Walden Rangers 
1972 Pirton Social
1973 Walden Rangers 
1974 Codicote 
1975 Walkern 
1976 Whitwell Athletic beat Codicote
1977 ICL Letchworth beat Ibrox 
1978 Ibrox 1 Codicote 1 - Ibrox won 4-3 on pens 
1979 Marley 
1980 St Ippolyts 
1981 Cottered 
1982 Seta Sports 
1983 Ashwell 
1984 Singh Sabha 
1985 Argonauts 
1986 Freewheelers 
1987 Cricketers Hitchin 
1988 Dynamics 
1989 Knebworth 
1990 Codicote 
1991 Barley 
1992 Shephall Athletic 
1993 Bridger Packaging 
1994 Woolmer Green Rangers 
1995 Bennington 
1996 Argonauts 
1997 Woomer Green Rangers 
1998 Mallard 
1999 Fishers 
2000 Centurion 
2001 Hitchin Reds 
2002 Fishers 
2003 Fishers 
2004 Bedwell Rangers 
2005 St Ippolyts 
2006 Stevenage Council Club 
2007 St Ippolyts 11 Fairlands 0 
2008 Nirankari North Herts beat Probuild 
2009 No final 
2010 Probuild 8 Asia 0 
2011 Probuild 7 City Hearts 1 - Report & Highlights Here
2012 City Hearts 4 St Ippolyts 2 
2013 London Colney Blues 2 St Ippolyts 0 
2014 No competition 

2015 FC Lemsford 5 Knebworth 2 - Report & Highlights Here
2016 FC Lemsford 1 Bengeo Trinity 0 
2017 Lings Elite 2 Letchworth GC Eagles 1 
2018 Knebworth Reserves 7 Wormley Reserves 0
2019 Sarrat Reserves 2 Chipperfield Corinthians Reserves 1 - Report & Highlights Here

2020 - No final due to COVID 

2021 - No final due to COVID

2022 - Lemsford 5 Broxbourne Badgers 0 

2023 - Letchworth GC Eagles u23 v Lemsford Reserves 

AN EVENTFUL 90 MINUTES ENDS WITH WALTHAM CROSS PICKING UP VICTORY OVER HATFIELD UNITED

Both Waltham Cross and Hatfield United were in mid-table of the Herts Senior County League Division One prior to kick off - neither will go down and neither will go up so there wasn't much riding on this game but it will go down as a most eventful 90 minutes for those were in attendance at Birchwood on Saturday. 

Nearly 10,000 people have viewed the highlights and incident on Twitter with 12,000+ on TikTok which is brilliant and spreading the word non-league and grass roots football is quality entertainment.

The final score was 1-2 to the visitors but it could of ended 2-2 with Hatfield United having chances to score. 

Hatfield's goal was scored by Sylvester Makubuya with Akiljo Balliu and Nickal David Luzolo netting for Waltham Cross. 

As I wrote after seeing Waltham Cross's game at Knebworth they have an impressive squad with some very talented young players managed by former Queens Park Rangers, Swindon Town and Northampton Town player Patrick Kanyuka. 

One player who caught my eye was their right back Kieron Lake-Bryan, 20, who is a full International player with Anguilla - He made three appearances for The Soccer Dolphins in 2022 against Dominica and St Lucia. 

Nickal David Luzolo started the 22/23 season with Sheppey United in the Isthmian South-East Division haivng previously played for Fisher FC, Clapton FC, Basildon United, Heybridge Swifts, and Ebbsfleet United under 19s. It was his seventh goal in eight games for Waltham Cross. 

The game had two incidents of note being a yellow card given for simulation to a Hatfield United player in the first half - see below. 

Then a red card given with around ten minutes to go to a Hatfield United defender - see below. 

TACKLES!! 

The consensus from fans on social media is that they were the correct decisions - Excellent officiating from referee Ben Twitchings. 

Waltham Cross have two games left to play this season at home (on the 3G pitch at Cheshunt FC) to Old Parmiterians next Saturday followed by an away trip to Hertford Heath Development on Saturday 27th May. 

Hatfield United now only have have one game listed to play on Saturday 27th May when they travel for a local derby against Welwyn Garden City under 21s.  They did have a game scheduled this Saturday against Baldock Town Reserves which has been listed as an 'away walkover' - this decision has seen Baldock move to the top of the table and win the title as it was their last game. 

HIGHLIGHTS - SHORT

HIGHLIGHTS - LONG

 

TITLES STILL TO BE DECIDED IN THE HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE

PREMIER DIVISION 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	BUSH HILL RANGERS	28	20	4	4	75	36	+39	64	70
2.	CHIPPERFIELD CORINTHIANS	29	20	2	7	55	38	+17	62	65

In the Premier Division Bush Hill Rangers could win the title with an 'away' victory over Oracle Components on Tuesday evening which is being played at the 3G arena/pitch at Cheshunt FC where Bush Hill currently play all their home games. Their final game is away at Ware Sports on Saturday 27th May.

Chipperfield Corinthians travel to Hinton on Tuesday evening knowing only a win will be good enough and then they have to hope Bush Hill Rangers lose both of their remaining games.  Hinton need points in their fight to keep out of the relegation zone.

DIVISION ONE 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	LEMSFORD	28	20	1	7	66	31	+35	61	61
2.	BALDOCK TOWN RESERVES	27	19	1	7	93	49	+44	58	61

In Division One Lemsford completed their season on Saturday with a 0-2 win over Knebworth whilst Baldock Town Reserves were winning by 10 goals to NIL at Old Parmiterians with Charlee Yearwood netting six goals which puts him on a season total of 39! 

Baldock Town Reserves have to win at Hatfield United next Saturday to finish top - this should be an exciting game - I'm sure some of the Lemsford squad might be watching giving Hatfield some support! 

DIVISION TWO 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	HEMEL HEMPSTEAD ROVERS	22	21	0	1	102	18	+84	63	75
2.	WESTMILL	22	19	1	2	76	23	+53	58	70

In Division Two there is still all to play for with four games left to play for both the current top two. What may be crucial is that Westmill's only two defeats in the league have both come against Hemel Hempstead Rovers.

DIVISION THREE   

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	CROXLEY GREEN	24	18	4	2	86	21	+65	58	70
2.	SUN SPORTS	26	15	5	6	65	38	+27	50	56
3.	BEDMOND	24	14	4	6	49	29	+20	46	58
4.	BUNTINGFORD TOWN RESERVES	23	14	4	5	49	37	+12	46	61

In Division Three Croxley Green are nearly over the line. Sun Sports, with only two games left, are unable to catch them. Bedmond need to win their remaining four games and rely on Croxley losing all of theirs as well as turning round an inferior goal difference of +45.

Buntingford Town Reserves could still finish higher than Croxley but would need to win all of their five games - one of which is at home to the current table topper's on Saturday 27th May. 

Realistically one more win for Croxley Green with their +65 GD would all but seal the title depending on other results. Ironically their next game is at home to Sun Sports this coming Saturday. 

DIVISION FOUR 

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS	PP
1.	WELWYN PEGASUS u23	25	20	2	3	85	21	+64	62	71
2.	CROXLEY GREEN RESERVES	25	18	3	4	82	40	+42	57	66
3.	BENGEO TRINITY	23	15	3	5	75	45	+30	48	63

In Division Four Welwyn Pegasus u23 are in the driving seat need five points from their remaining three games to seal the title pending the results of Croxley Green Reserves. Third placed Bengeo Trinity could still win the title but I'd use the phrased 'mathematically possible' as they need to rely on Welwyn losing their final three games and Croxley to lose games too.