Cheshunt FC Established 1946

Nickname The Ambers

Manager Mel Gwinnett

Coaches  James Elliott , Preston Edwards

Physio. Elliott McEwan

Squad selected from:

Ravan Constable

Preston Edwards

Fionn Murphy

Lordon Akolbire

Darion Furlong

Raul Da Silva

Sam Mvemba

Sam Granville

Taylor Miles

Nathaniel Orafu

Jack Thomas

MJ Muyembe

Tobias Braney

Tommy Wood

Jeremy Bisau

Hassan Nalbent

 

Player Pen Pics.

Pictures available at  https://cheshuntfc.com/teams/men/

Teddy Jefcoate GK. Teddy has made the progression from Cheshunt Youth u18 to the first team squad and is currently studying at Lincoln University

Preston Edwards  GK  A vastly experienced keeper at the top levels of Non League football, Preston grew up in Cheshunt and returned to his home town club this season as player/assistant manager.

Lordon Akolbire D   A fast and versatile full back who has played on both flanks for Cheshunt, Lordon excels on timing his overlapping runs but also has the energy to get back to fulfil defensive duties, Lordon starts his second spell at Cheshunt having been with the club during the NLS 22/23 season.

Darion Furlong CH.  Darion has footballing DNA being a member of the Furlong family and brings a calming influence to the back line with his assured play and reading of the game, a strong & quick defender, he is a definite threat in the opposition box too.

Raul Da Silva CH.  Raul returned recently to the Ambers for a second spell having had a season away. A regular in the NLS team his presence in either box is substantial and his aerial presence is a key part of his game.

Sam Mvemba D.  A key signing for the Ambers having had an impressive season at Royston Town in the Southern Central Premier, Sam swaps to the Isthmian Premier with Cheshunt for the 24/25 season.

Fionn Murphy D.  Another player to make the transition from Cheshunt Youth to the first team squad. Fionn has represented the club at Youth, under 23 and senior level already this season and has impressed with his calm approach, and reading of the game.

Sam Granville M.   A fan favourite, Sam is a former Barnet player who spent a season long loan with Cheshunt in 23/24 and as a local , decided to make the move permanent for 24/25.  A strong player who sees passes early, holds the ball well, and can be a handful dribbling at speed. Sam opened the Ambers goalscoring account this season and is looking to improve his stats in front of goal.

Taylor Miles M    Another fan favourite, off the pitch a genuinely nice quiet guy with a unique sense of humour, On the pitch, a warrior, determined, driven and a player who leaves it all out there every time. his eye for a pass and accuracy is a key asset for a player who enjoys playing centrally , but has also impressed at full back this term.

Nathaniel Orafu M.  Last season’s Fans, Players & Managers player of the season, Nathaniel continues to impress in an advanced midfield position, deceptively strong he appears to glide with the ball at his feet, and doesn’t do tap ins, the majority of Nathaniel’s goals are spectacular shots that the Ambers fans behind the goal have now come to expect.

Jack Thomas. M.   Captain this term, a no nonsense midfielder with an engine that gets him up and down the pitch for the full ninety plus. With plenty of experience at steps 2 & 3 Jack made 188 appearances for Bishops Stortford before switching to Hertfordshire rivals Cheshunt.

MJ Muyembe M. A skilful & industrious midfielder signed this season from St Neots, he also has experience at Biggleswade Town & Kempston and appears to have made the transition to step 3 smoothly. MJ puts the hard work in , and is adept at supplying or running the channels in support of his forwards.

Tommy Wood. F.  A new signing this season the Ambers were very pleased to eventually secure the signature of Tommy Wood with plenty of competition pre season. Tommy scored five minutes into his first competitive start for Cheshunt and the fans have taken to his typical number 9 style , at home with the ball at his feet or in the air, facing or with his back to goal we look forward to Tommy adding to his career goal tally acquired with AFC Wimbledon, Tonbridge Angels, Hampton & Richmond and Lewes.

Jeremy Bisau. F.   A Kenyan international at 18, Jeremy is a product of Brooke House College and has joined the Ambers this season with ambitions to make it into the professional ranks.  A player who operates on both flanks his opening performances have shown great promise.

Tobias “Tee” Braney F.  Tobias has been a forward Manager Craig Edwards has kept tabs on since he left Luton Town. He has experience with Chesham United and was signed in August from Bowers & Pitsea.

 

Club History 

The history of Cheshunt FC including pictures can be copied from this page on the club’s web site. 

https://cheshuntfc.com/club/history/

Cheshunt FC was the oldest amateur team in Hertfordshire back in 1931. Then the club disbanded, only to reform the year after the Second World War ended.

A gentlemen’s amateur side of the same name preceded the current club. They were formed in 1880 and competed in the Athenian league, having future Spurs Manager Arthur Rowe amongst their numbers, before folding in 1931.

A new Club was formed in 1946, making national headlines only four years later when they knocked holders Bromley out of the Amateur Cup in front of a still-record 5,000 spectators at their newly opened Cheshunt Stadium on Theobalds Lane. Over the next twenty years the Club switched various leagues before finally emulating their old namesakes and joining the Athenian league in 1964, gaining promotion to the top division under former Spurs and Wales winger Terry Medwin a few years later.

The 1970’s saw the arrival of John Drabwell as Manager and during his spells in charge, the London Charity Cup, the Athenian league and Cup double and entry into the Isthmian league were all achieved. In 1978 the Ambers also reached the FA Cup 4th qualifying round for the fourth time, an achievement they have yet to equal or better.

Four years later they were knocked out of the last eight of the FA Vase, the furthest they’ve gone in any national competition, and also saw the beginning of a young Iain Dowie’s career who would go onto great success both as a top flight player, a Northern Ireland international and eventually as a Premier League manager.

Takeovers and withdrawals saw the near collapse of the club in the mid-80’s causing them to tumble down into the Spartan league before returning to the Isthmian league six years later.

New Manager Andy Leese took over in 2002 and guided his side to two successive promotions and the top of the Isthmian Premier league before his sudden departure and near relegation in 2005 when the club was switched across to the Southern Premier league.

Relegation back to the lower Isthmian divisions came after three nail-biting seasons and another frustrating ten years would follow as the Club’s new Chairman and owner, Dean Williamson, went through several managers before appointing Craig Edwards in January 2018.

Initially steering his side away from relegation, everything then clicked for Edwards and his team halfway through the following campaign and promotion to the Isthmian Premier league was achieved with victory in the play-off final against Bracknell Town.

With level-three football finally regained and major plans for redevelopment of the ground in hand, things were looking good for the Ambers. However, two seasons of limited opportunities frustrated players & staff alike as the Covid pandemic saw the 19/20 and 20/21 curtailed. Working behind closed doors within health guidelines the club retained most of the squad built for step three, and made a flying start to life in the Isthmian Premiership in the club’s 75th Anniversary year.

A fantastic FA trophy run saw the club advance further than ever before finally going out to Vanarama National League champions Stockport County 1-0 in the 5th round.  The Trophy run coincided with a slump in league form and a backlog of fixtures, the Ambers recovered in the latter stages of the season securing a play off place with one game in hand,  and winning the Herts FA Senior Cup for the first time.  Play off wins, away from home, over Bishop’s Stortford & Hornchurch saw Cheshunt FC start the 22/23 season at the highest point of the football pyramid achieved in their 75 year history.  Life at step 2 of the pyramid was short-lived after the team didn’t recover from  a poor start to the season & spent most of the year in and around the relegation places, relegation aside, it was a great experience with the club learning a lot from it on and off the pitch, and having had a taste of National League Football the objective is to do it again. With the fan base growing the stadium has had additional seven step terracing added to both ends of the ground and another 250 seats added to the Sports Bar Stand. The club continues to grow with Walking Football, Inclusive teams, A Women’s Team and an ever expanding Youth section all seeing success over recent seasons.

If your team play at Cheshunt FC, please bring a scarf & we’ll get it put up in the Fan Zone at the stadium to mark your club’s visit.