Three More Remain at The Utilita Stadium

Trio re-sign for Citizens.

Pitching In Southern Football League Division One Central club Welwyn Garden City have continued to build towards the new 2021/22 season with three more players agreeing to remain at the Utilita Stadium.

Experienced midfielder David Keenleyside, who turns 30 on July 17th, originally signed for City from Hertford Town in 2018.

He had an outstanding couple of seasons in the Spartan South Midlands League with Harpenden Town before that when he was picked in the SSML team of the season.

A talented passer of the ball and very creative in midfield, he has previously served St Albans City and Dunstable Town.

Also putting pen-to-paper to remain a Citizen is centre-back Carl Mensah.

The 25-year-old originally joined South City from Colney Heath in 2015.

He returned after a brief spell with Cockfosters in 2017 and then signed for Spartan South Midlands League Premier side Tring Athletic in the summer of 2018.

He re-joined Welwyn in June 2019 and then switched to league rivals Kempston Rovers in January 2020 but moved to neighbours Bedford Town at the end of the month.

He re-joined City again in the summer of 2020.

Injury-stricken midfielder Charlie Payne has also committed to the Citizens for another season and will have a point to prove to manager Nicky Ironton.

The 25-year-old son of former Watford, Barnet and Peterborough midfielder Derek Payne is a left-sided player who initially joined City from Spartan South Midlands League side Baldock Town in August 2019.

Originally with Chesham United, he has also had experience at Hatfield Town, Hitchin Town and Barton Rovers.

Meanwhile, former goalkeeper Joe Croft has returned to the club in a coaching capacity.

Croft recently left Spartan South Midlands League Division One side London Tigers where he had been manager since May 2020.

Croft previously led Welwyn Garden City under-25s to promotion in his first season in management and then the Citizen's reserve side to promotion in his second season.

He had been with Cockfosters reserves for the previous two seasons where they reached the final of the Middlesex FA Premier Cup, losing to Harefield United.

Croft will help out with Welwyn`s under-23s while also assisting with first-team duties.

Manager Nicky Ironton told his club`s website: “I’m absolutely delighted to have Joe on board. He has a lot of contact with players and can hopefully bring some new talent to the club”.

Welwyn Garden City Web Site