On Saturday we welcome Chesham United, who have made a sparkling start to the season, to the Yeomans Community Stadium.
Chesham remain unbeaten this season following an impressive opening day win at Maidenhead followed by Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Farnborough and a goalless draw with newly-promoted Horsham on Tuesday night.
Chesham are playing at step two for the second season in their history having won the Southern League Premier Division South title in 2024. Last season they finished a respectable 13th in National League South with 59 points. After winning promotion through the play-offs in 2010, the Buckinghamshire side had been in Southern Premier South (or its equivalent) for 14 years until their promotion to step two.
Chesham have joint managers in James Duncan and Michael Murray, who are in their seventh season at the Meadow having been appointed in 2018. Duncan, the former Wealdstone and Slough player, was previously the manager at Potters Bar, where he won promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2018, while Michael Murray was a player and coach in that side.
The Chesham squad is expected to include goalkeeper Ben Goode who joined last season for his third spell at the club. He initially signed from Potters Bar six years ago, returned to play a one-off game in their play-off semi-final with Bracknell before returning permanently just over a year ago.
Lewis Rolfe holds the honour of the club’s longest serving player having first been involved as early as 2010 in the academy. Centre-back Connor Stevens, who arrived at the start of last season from Barnet, was in the Wealdstone side which won National League South and played in the Boreham Wood team which had a strong cup run to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Alfie Young is a centre back who joined in the summer from Worthing. Callum Adebiyi, who can play centre-back or left-back, was players’ player of the year in Chesham’s promotion winning campaign in 2023/4 and has scored twice already this season.
In midfield, Matt Lench is known to score a goal or two against the Angels from his days at Slough Town. Joining him in centre midfield is Georgio Rasulo who made his full debut on Tuesday having signed in the summer from St Albans.
Chesham’s two strikers are well known to followers of National League South football. Nathan Minhas, who scored the winning penalty at Farnborough on Saturday, signed from Slough in 2024. Matt McClure is a summer arrival from Chippenham Town where he had been club captain. He has previously played for Maidstone United and in the EFL for Wycombe Wanderers as well as for Northern Ireland under 21s.
Last season’s corresponding fixture saw the Angels win a tight game with an early goal from Trevan Robinson on a cold Tuesday evening in December.
Admission prices for Saturday’s game are: Adults £18; Concessions £15; Youths £8 and Under-12’s free with accompanying adult with tickets available HERE.
Gates open at 1 pm with the Sports Bar and Marquee Bar open from the outset with the special offer of Carling at £4.50 a pint, or two pints for £8. The Tea Hut serving burgers, hot dogs, butties, hot and cold drinks and Fries Like An Angel, serving all your favourite loaded chips are also open from 1 pm. The Pie Shack opens from 1.30 pm. After the game, the Marquee will be holding an After Party which, until 7.30pm, Noddy’s Sh*t Disco will be banging out the tunes, whilst Happy Hour will be extended until 7.30pm, when all draught lager and cider will be on offer at £1 a pint off.
The staff and players will be in attendance and, at 6 o’clock, there will be the Player of the Match presentation, presented by the match day sponsors, ML & Sons Builders.
Enjoy the game!
This is only the third meeting between the two teams. Last year Tonbridge won both games 1-0. In December Trevan Robinson’s early goal saw the Angels take the points at Longmead, while in March, the first game after it was announced Jay Saunders would be leaving as Tonbridge manager, Gianluca Botti’s second half goal was the difference in another 1-0 win.
Speaking about today’s game, James Duncan said: “We’ve got to be careful, but Saturday-Monday is a big turnaround at this level. Tonbridge are a very decent outfit, new manager and new squad and it should be hard.”
