New Berkhamsted Boss Gets Busy

Steve Heath, manager of Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South newcomers Berkhamsted, has been busy.

After bringing in goalkeeper Jamie Head from his former club AFC Dunstable, he has snapped up defender Dan Newton from another Division One Central side, Biggleswade FC, where he made 20 appearances last season.

The 23-year-old centre-half returned to the Greens in November 2022.

He was with Northwood in 2018/19 in the Isthmian South Central and before that with Barton Rovers.

He was recommended to Biggleswade in August 2019 by Royston Town after spending part of pre-season at Garden Walk – a destination he finally made in September 2020.

Heath has also obtained the services of two of last season’s promotion-winning squad in Jack Tompkins and Ryan Blake.

The conversion from defensive midfielder to right back was a huge success, leading to Tompkins being voted the young player of the season.

The 21-year-old signed for Berkhamsted in July 2022 from Thame United.

He came through the ranks at National League side Barnet, signing professional terms in December 2018 and having a loan spell with the sadly now defunct Staines Town in 2019/20.

He made a handful of first-team appearances for the Bees before being released at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

He joined the Red Kites just ahead of the opening game in the 2021/22 season and picked up the Thame supporters` player of the year award for 2021/22, having played 28 times in the league and netted 3 goals.

Tompkins` former Thame team-mate Ryan Blake has also penned a new deal with the Comrades.

The striker hit 21 goals and had 10 assists as Berkhamsted won Division One Central last season.

The 31-year-old signed for Berkhamsted in June 2022 from Thame.

He had joined the Red Kites in September 2019 from Chesham United, having re-joined the Generals in 2018 after a season at Enfield Town.

In his previous three-year spell at Chesham he scored 52 goals in 162 games, including the winner in the club’s famous FA Cup triumph over Bristol Rovers.

His other previous clubs include Tring Athletic, Burnham, Beaconsfield SYCOB, Hayes & Yeading United and Hemel Hempstead Town.

Berkhamsted Web Site