I’m writing to you on the eve of the 2026-27 season and what a season it promises to be. We announced last season that this summer would be one of change with a new 3G pitch being installed as well as 5 new padel courts. A programme of work that will change this club and ensure our future.
What we didn’t anticipate was that, after agreeing a budget with last season’s manager Marc Weatherstone, only a couple of weeks later he would leave us to accept the managers role at Waltham Abbey. We left on good terms and we will always welcome Marc back here as a friend of the club.
But we were always prepared for this eventuality. We follow football and the leagues below us and we had a plan immediately. When we needed a manager, we made it public that we wouldn’t be accepting any CV’s. We had a number one target. We met Gavin Kelsey one evening in a local pub, myself, Leigh Corbit and Gavin Meaden. We discussed the club with Gavin K and sold him our vision and our ambitions. The next morning Gavin accepted the job.
I have always followed Gavin’s career. When I joined this club as a supporter, Gavin was manager at Hoddesdon, who beat us in a cup final under his stewardship. He then went onto Hertford Town where he done a brilliant job. He proved how good a manager he is last season by taking Cockfosters all the way to Wembley for the FA Vase final only losing on penalties and narrowly missing out on promotion in the playoffs.
In my opinion Gavin and his excellent management team have been the best to operate at Step 5 over the last few seasons and we are delighted to have them all on board with us.
We haven’t stopped all summer trying to get the pitch and ground into a position which will make us all proud. Gavin K and his team have got together a young and very talented squad. One which I am massively excited about. My committee colleagues will have heard me numerous times saying that there are some excellent players at Step 5 level who we should be bringing to Herns Way. We have done that in the summer and I have every confidence these lads will prove themselves at this level. We thank Eddie Corbit, Nick Ralfe, Ethan Rookard and Mendes for staying with us, the only players from last season. We wish all of the new players the best in playing for this great club.
We are now a club in transition both on and off the pitch. We are playing with a new squad so they will need patience. This isn’t a one season project. We want Gavin Kelsey and his managerial team to be with us for the long term and to bring us success.
We play Enfield FC in the FA Cup on Friday evening. It’s a local game over at Potters Bar FC so what better way to spend a Friday night. Let’s get the season off to a winning start.
David Coates
