Countdown to Kick-Off - Division One Central

Countdown to the 2021/22 Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South season.

AFC Dunstable are a side ambitious to make the step up and Steve Heath has a squad capable of mounting a challenge with plenty of firepower available.

Heath`s side have endured a disrupted pre-season, with some of their friendly games being called off due to Covid issues.

Look out for: BJ Christie

Key signings:

Lewis Ferrell (Biggleswade Town)
Joe Hankins (Dunstable Town)
James Lauder (Sholing)

Aylesbury United are still a big club looking for a return to higher levels, despite being homeless and still playing at Chesham United in 2021/22.

Manager Ben Williams has made some shrewd signings to add to an already decent squad and they should be there or thereabouts when the promotion issues are settled.

Look out for: Max Hercules – like father like son!

Key signings:

Aaron Berry (Ascot United)
Archie Davis (Aylesbury Vale Dynamos)
Ezra Forde (St Ives T)
Ben Hodges (Ascot United)
Marcos Ushiro-Lumb (Flackwell Heath)

Barton Rovers have had some terrific pre-season friendly results, and although that counts for nothing when the proper stuff starts, it can`t harm confidence.

Manager Tony Fontanelle has a good blend of youth and experience at his disposal and the Sharpenhoe Road outfit should be top ten contenders at least.

Look out for: Victor Osobu

Key signings:

Nathan Frater (AFC Dunstable)
Aaron Hudson (St Neots Town)
Anthony Leslie (Leighton Town
Tom Silford (AFC Dunstable)

Bedford Town will always be amongst the bookmakers` tip for promotion due to its history and standing in the game.

Gary Setchell is the latest manager to try and get that potential moving in the right direction.

The club chose to play some high-profile friendlies in pre-season – one or two of which ended in rather hefty drubbings for the Eagles.

But Setchell has a good squad, with several experienced hands such as Rene Howe and Rob Sinclair.

Look out for: Craig Mackail-Smith

Key Signings:

Zak Brown (Norwich City)
Niall Jones (Potton United)
Hugh Alban Jones (CD Llanes – Spain)
Lewis Miccio (Solihull Moors)

Berkhamsted were definitely a team on the up before Covid struck.

They looked virtually nailed on certainties for promotion in 2019/20 before the season was declared null and void.

However, they have a relatively new manager now in Chris Devane, who has put together a useful-looking squad for what the Comrades` fans hope will be another tilt at the title.

Look out for: Alie Bangura

Key signings:

Alie Bangura (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Charlie Briggs (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Carl Chambers (Biggleswade FC)
Trey Charles (Biggleswade Town)
Robbie Goodman (Kempston Rovers)
Ryan Kinnane (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Jake Tabor (Berkhamsted Comrades)

Biggleswade FC`s joint bosses Dave Northfield and Mark Inskip always believe that their team are punching above their weight in the Division One Central.

But their young squad – many of which are ` homegrown` - have steadily improved and have enjoyed some decent pre-season results with a stable side.

And whilst it would be something of a surprise of the Greens challenged for promotion, they will upset a few sides during the campaign.

Look out for: Ryan Inskip – goalscoring midfielder

Key signings:

Danny Boness (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Kai Bucciero (East Central University USA)
Gary Wharton (Barton Rovers)

Colney Heath will be relishing their first ever taste of Step 4 football after being promoted from the Spartan South Midlands League.

Magpies` boss Ryan Thompson has retained the majority of his squad from last season, who will be given the opportunity to test themselves at the higher level and has added further depth in numbers.

Look out for: Jon Clements

Key signings:

Charlie Clayton (Biggleswade United)
Jon Clements (Walthamstow)
Noah Coatin (Royston Town)
Dan Ferrigno (Tring Athletic)
Jaiden Irish (Biggleswade United)
Luke Metselaar (Latymer OB)
Malvin Prempeh (London Tigers)
Connor Sansom (Bedford Town)
George Sippetts (London Colney)

Didcot Town were one of the teams probably grateful to have had the last two seasons scrubbed off as the Railwaymen were struggling.

But manager Jamie Heapy has considerably strengthened his squad and will be hoping for much better from his men this term.

Look out for: Harry Evans

Key signings:

Maurice Alhassan (Biggleswade United)
Tom Carter (Thame United)
James Glover (Kidlington)
Louis Joyce (Milton United)
Adam Learoyd (North Leigh)
Cameron McNeil (North Leigh)

FC Romania will be a real curiosity for most supporters in the league after their switch from the Isthmian League in the summer.

The club have made a remarkable rise in a short space of time, but they have now gone away from having purely Romanian players which they started off with, and it looks as though they have made some really good close-season signings.

Expect them to cause a few upsets.

Look out for: Vladut Sighiartau

Key signings:

Usman Adeniji (Harlow Town)
Kieran Bishop (Hullbridge Sports)
Sean Bonnett-Johnson (Romford)
JJ Da Cruz (Heybridge Swifts)
Anthony Edgar (Cray Valley PM)
Jonny Edwards (Royston Town)
Elgi Fejzo (Sheerwater)
Taishan Griffith (AFC Dunstable)
German Petrov (Welling United)
Joe Russell (Haringey Borough)
Zenon Stylianides (East Thurrock United)

Harlow Town were switched from the Isthmian League with FC Romania but are a much better-known outfit with a rich history, especially in the FA Cup.

The Hawks have struggled in the league during the last few years, but Danny Chapman is back at the helm and supporters will be hoping that the change of scenery will bring a change in fortunes.

Look out for: Alex Read

Key signings:

Ollie Casson (Welwyn Garden City)
Junior Dadson (Barking)
Layne Eadie (Hitchin Town)
Tom Middlehurst (QPR – 3-Month Loan)
Fabion Simms (Waltham Abbey)
Jared Small (Enfield Town)
Josh Steele (Basildon United)
Tiannie Wilson (Enfield Borough)

Hertford Town are the other team switched from the Isthmian League by the FA in the summer and another team who have struggled since returning to Step 4.

Player boss Ben Herd is relying largely on last season`s squad which is mostly youthful.

Look out for: Luke Gymer

Key signings:

Bradley Empson (Harrow Borough)
Serge Erkarslan (Harlow Town)

It`s hard to predict quite how Kempston Rovers will fare as they have had to endure a change of manager just a couple of weeks before the start of the season and the loss of the majority of their squad.

New boss Scott Dash is a bit of an unknown quantity at this level, so it will be interesting to see how he copes.

Look out for: Ben Baker

Key signings:

Daniel Naylor (Oxford City)
Jack Quigley (Potton United)
Carl Tappin (Buckingham Athletic)

Ben Sadler`s Kidlington are realistic in their ambitions and although few will expect them to be promotion challengers, they are hard to beat and will upset a few of the so-called `bigger` clubs.

They have also made what could turn out to be a shrewd late signing in the experienced striker John Mills.

Look out for: Jacob Davidge

Key signings:

Oliver Creed (Kennington Athletic)
John Dennis (Cirencester Town)
Jack Gaul (Abingdon United)
Jordan Godfrey (Ardley United)
Tom Griffiths (Abingdon United)
Cian McCormack (Abingdon United)
Luke McCormack (Abingdon United)
John Mills (North Leigh)
Harry Sampford (Abingdon United)

North Leigh are a team whose manager Eddie Odihambo expects to be up there amongst the challengers this season.

They have made some good summer signings and kept much of the squad from the last season or so.

Look out for: Aaron Woodley

Key signings:

Jordan Alves (Thatcham Town)
Callum Crook (Oxford United)
Roger James (Cirencester Town)
Jamar Smith (Thame United)
Jordan Thomas (Didcot Town)
Charlie Wise (Corby Town)
Jenson Wright (Oxford City)

St Neots Town are an ambitious club with a base on youth and their squad has a young look about it.

New boss Peter Gill has recruited mostly young professionals released by League clubs and has – and will – also use the Saints` close relationship with Cambridge United to the full.

Look out for: Lawrence Hammond

Key signings:

Erin Amu (Kempston Rovers)
Callum Anderson (Haverhill Rovers)
Charley Barker (Bishop`s Stortford)
Louis Chadwick (Cambridge United – Work Experience)
Myles Cowling (Cambridge United – Work Experience)
Lawrence Hammond (Leyton Orient)
Charlie Johnson (Yaxley)
Wynford Marfo (Leyton Orient)
Nehemiah Richard-Noel (Cambridge United – Work Experience)
Joe Rider (Cambridge United)
Harvey Steel (Yaxley)
Joe Sutton (AFC Dunstable)

Mark West`s Thame United are a team fancied to do well this season by the bookmakers.

And the former Wycombe Wanderers favourite has certainly built a squad that looks capable of mounting a serious challenge for promotion.

The club are ambitious and it all points to an exciting time ahead for the Red Kites.

Look out for: Dan West

Key signings:

Charlie Barnett (Banbury United)
Liam Enver-Marum (ex-Farnborough)
Brodie Gray (Dundonald Bluebell JFC)
Craig Hill (Corby Town)
James Holmes (MK Dons)
Harry Scott (Winslow United)
Lewis Thorne (Thame Rangers)

Waltham Abbey are another of the newcomers switched by the FA from the Isthmian League and are a team which is hard to predict how they`ll fare in their new surroundings.

Billy Holland`s squad possesses a number of experienced non-League hands and they`ll be competitive in what looks like being a tight division.

Look out for: Ibitayo Oyebola

Key signings:

Alex Anderson (Kings Langley)
Sol Baugh (Edgware Town)
Louis Bowen (East Thurruck United)
James Goode (Aveley)
Ashlee Jones (Heybridge Swifts)
Acea Laurent (Concord Rangers)
Nathaniel Orafu (QPR)
Ibitayo Oyebola (Staines Town)
George Winn (Aveley)

Wantage Town boss Matt Biddle has been one of the busiest in the division and has built an almost new squad.

They have struggled since returning to Step 4 in 2019 and have probably been grateful that the two seasons being voided has allowed the Freds to re-build.

Look out for: Josh Elms

Key signings:

Ben Barrett (North Leigh)
Reece Bayliss (Easington Sports)
Lewis Crosbie (Northampton Town)
Josh Elms (Eastleigh)
Mark Francis (Royal Wootton Bassett Town)
Rhys King (Oxford City)
Ben Lodge (Highworth Town)
Aleks Novakovic (Hartpury University)
Jake Pemberton (Loughborough University)
Luke Quarterman (Oxford City)
Harvey Scholes (Fairford Town)

Ware are the other club to be switched from the Isthmian League in the summer and Paul Halsey`s side should prove to be a solid competitor.

They suffered a major blow though when top close season signing, the prolific Jason Hallett, decided that he didn`t want the wear and tear of a 3G pitch every other game, so they are still searching for a replacement for his goals.

Look out for: Liam Hope

Key signings:

Robbie Buchanan (Welwyn Garden City)
Liam Dulson (Royston Town)
*Jason Hallett (Waltham Abbey)
James Mulley (Enfield Town)
Ben Nunn (Billericay Town)
Bradley Robinson (Cockfosters)
*Subsequently left

Welwyn Garden City are another club well fancied by the punters to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

Managed by the shrewd Nick Ironton, the Citizens look to have recruited well in the close season and have had some decent friendly performances.

Look out for: Matty Campbell-Mhlope

Key signings:

Jean-Paul Antwi (Enfield Borough)
Cyrus Babaie (Hoddesdon Town)
Matty Campbell-Mhlope (FC Romania)
Jack Gibbs (Hoddesdon Town)
Jordan Kinoshi (St Albans City)
Ben Spaul (Berkhamsted)
Steve Wade (Harpenden Town)
Callum Taylor (East thurrock United)
Jordon Watson (Ware)
Josh Yoane (London Tigers)

Opening Day Fixtures:

AFC Dunstable v Colney Heath
Aylesbury United v Didcot Town
Biggleswade FC v Berkhamsted
Harlow Town v Hertford Town
North Leigh v Kempston Rovers
St Neots Town v FC Romania
Waltham Abbey v Bedford Town
Wantage Town v Barton Rovers
Ware v Kidlington
Welwyn Garden City v Thame United