Jets were promoted to the Spartan South Midlands in Division 1 for the 2004-05 season, and were promoted as Champions into the Spartan South Midlands Premier in their first season at this level.
Since 2005-06 Jets have stayed in the Premier Division ever since, reaching a club best position of 3rd in 2012-13, and avoiding relegation by the narrowest of margins in 2017-18. During this time the Club’s first team has won 8 Cup competitions, including the Herts FA Charity Shield three times and the St Marys Cup twice.
Reaching the Spartan South Midlands Premier enabled Jets to play in both the FA Cup and FA Vase each year since 2005-06 and, following the win over Concord Ranger in 2006-07, Jets became the only Three Rivers football team to ever win an FA Cup match.
Now, in our 50th year, because of the FA realignment of leagues, Jets are moving into the Combined Counties Premier North. We will be with some old friends there including North Greenford, Wembley, Harefield, Broadfields and Edgware, but we also look forward to meeting clubs new to us along the M40, M4 and M3 corridors.
Here is a summary of our seasons in the Spartan: –
2004-05 Season was beyond anybody’s dream in the club, the first team winning a treble trophy season. The Minerva Division one Championship was won at the first attempt, winning the division by seven points clear, this was added to the Hertfordshire Centenary Trophy that had been won at The Letchworth County ground in April, beating Hatfield Town 2-0. The triple was sealed in the last game of the season, beating Tring Athletic in the Minerva Floodlight cup final on penalties after a 0-0 aet game.
Spartan Minerva Division One
26th April 2005
OXHEY JETS 5-1 WINSLOW
CHAMPIONS AT FIRST ATTEMPT
Jets achieved the ultimate honour of becoming the League Division One Champions in their first season in the Minerva league on a Stormy Wednesday night at the Boundary Stadium.
Jets hammered Winslow United 5-1 to clinch the championship with a game to spare. Garry Beadle threaded the ball through to Paul Turner to head the opener after 24minutes. The game turned ugly after 28 when the referee awarded Jets a penalty for an off the ball incident that saw the Winslow keeper cautioned. Harding scored from the spot. With the referee looking at his watch Winslow scored to pull the game back to 2-1 at the break.
Jets were jittery after the break until Chris Ingham hammered a free kick that came back to him and he obliged by hammering the ball into the net and send the massive home crowd wild in the 75minute.
Three minutes later a long long clearance by keeper Paul Taylor was edged onto the deadly Wayne Gladdy to score. With a tremendous thunder, lightning and rain storm hammering down it was Gladdy again in stoppage time that slotted the 5th to send everybody wild on the whistle as Jets were confirmed as Champions.
Jets Take The Herts Centenary Senior Trophy
Oxhey Jets 2 Hatfield Town 0
Jets joined the small elite band of clubs to hold the Hertfordshire Centenary Senior Trophy after Garry Beadle and Wayne Gladdy shot them to victory on Tuesday in the 2-0 win over there old County league friends Hatfield Town.
Jets sputtering form of late was as some concern, and manager Benny Higham’s pre match preparation was hit by the on the day loss of the midfield duo Warren Gladdy and Mitchell Murphy.
Jets came out of the blocks fast and went straight at Hatfield and had the early pressure and that paid off with a wonder goal for Garry Beadle after 16min. Beadle started the move in midfield by “nuts” and calling it in midfield and curled a cutting pass wide out to the full of running Wayne Gladdy, who slid a first time ball to the “Gangly” Chris Ingham. With all the composure of a new born giraffe Ingham shrugged off two defenders and laid an inch perfect ball to the still running Beadle who from a full 25 yards hit a blistering curler into the top corner of the net. A goal to grace any game,
It set Jets alight and they piled forward for the first 25min. Scott Simmonds looked to have put Jets two up, but a linesman flag against Gladdy ruled the goal out. Hatfield with four cautions were rattled but they regained their composure and reversed the flow and struck the post with a fierce shot. Hatfield pushed hard and with one of the top forwards in the county in their line up in the form of Martin Standon, Jets had to be on there toes, and Captain Chris Harding was magnificent in his handling of The Herts Senior County Leagues top Striker, Standon all night earning him the Man of the Match award.
Garry Beadle was cautioned with a Hatfield player for his part in a “little handbags” that broke out as Jets held on for the half time whistle with Keeper Paul Taylor solid in goal.
JETS SOAR TO THE TREBLE
SHOOT OUT DRAMA CLINCHES THE FINAL GAME
*****************************************************************************************
Spartan South Midlands Floodlight Cup Final (held at Tring)
11th May 2005
TRING ATHLETIC 0-0 OXHEY JETS (after extra time. Jets win on pens)
The curtains came down Wednesday night on the “Saturday” season in magnificent style and Benny Higham steered his team to the treble in their first season in the Spartan League. In the Floodlight final at and against Premier division high flyers Tring Athletic, it was Jets who came out of the blocks flying. Rocked by the loss of Scott Simmonds in a pre match fitness test and Mitchell Murphy (neck injury) Jets were unperturbed. Going down the slope at the home fans Jets streamed forward with Chris Witter opening Tring up time and time again with his low drives that found the artful Ian Holdom on the near post each time forcing save after save out of the red hot Tring keeper.
With Beadle, Ingham and Holdom imaginative on the attack and Wayne Gladdy working and running tirelessly Tring were on the back foot, but it was Paul Turner improving with every game at the moment that ruffled Tring as they tried to get into the game against their division one visitors. Holdom on 20 minutes opened the defense with defiance and as everybody went for their pens to mark down another Wayne Gladdy goal, the Tring keeper again pulled off a fantastic save to deny Jets and Gladdy. Jets dominated the first half and the keeper was their hero.
The second half saw much of the same, with many attacks being started by Jets man of the match Marc Ayres who was covering every inch of the pitch in between his defensive dominance with the likely brothers of Ayres, Harding and Jenkins. Again they were so tight it allowed Witter and Whiting to stream forward to open up both wings as Jets pushed hard for the goal that would open the account. Tring, though would not lie down and their recent cup final victory over Hemel Hempstead was a warning to Jets not to take their eye off the game or they would be punished hard. Late in the second half the game started to change, Jets lost Ian Holdom (Knackered) and threw the evergreen legend Gary Page onto run at Tring. Tring made all three subs but then lost a player injured and had to continue with 10 men.
In extra time, a Tring Substitute kicked out when about to take a free kick and was straight RED by the referee and Tring were in more trouble. That really killed the game as the match was played out with Tring holding a 8-1 line up playing for the penalties, and Jets streamed forward trying to open them up. This was the only disappointing part of the match as Jets really lacked imagination and although there were lots of ooohs and arrrs it was not to be. Page did find the net but a flag ruled it out for offside.
Then to penalties and the drama went up a gear, 1-0 Tring, Chris Harding nets… 2-1 Tring Chris Ingham nets… Then Taylor saves Oh no a lino flag says retake, he saves again, no retake says the lino, he saves again, no retake says the lino again as the Jets crowd erupted with anger, finally at the 4th attempt 3-2 Tring Wayne Gladdy nets with a “nuts” on the keeper that somehow went in. Taylor saves again, no retake says the lino, all hell broke out and only the intervention of league officials stops Jets walking off the field in protest and giving Tring the cup. 4-3 Tring on the retake, Marc Ayres nets 4-4. AGAIN Taylor saves, this time the nuisance flag stays down and Jets smell victory. Garry Beadle strikes… Saved by the Tring keeper… but the infamous lino flag again comes up for a retake and Beadle hammers home into the bottom corner to set the crowd and players on a wild celebration.
Chris Harding lifted the cup and the treble for Jets, but it was the whole squad that were heroes. So the curtain comes down on a fantastic season.
Onwards and upwards for Jets into the Spartan Premier and a respectable 13th place in our first season at this level.
The highlights, though, were in the Cups. We played our first ever FA Cup match at home to Lowestoft Town and although we lost 1-2, it was great to actually be part of the competition. Wealso played our first ever FA Vase game but went down 2-0 to Romford.
It was in the Herts Senior Cup, however, that Jets really made their mark. In December Jets hosted League 2 Barnet and, in a famous night for the club, won their first game against league opposition 2-1. A full match report appears under Jets biggest games. John Elliott is shown above being presented with a signed Barnet shirt by their vice-chairman Brian Lowe.
Jets followed that up with a 2-1 win over Hemel Town in January, and then lost the semi-final 2-3 against Bishop Stortford, conceding in the final minutes of extra time to deny the opportunity of going to penalties and pulling off a third giant-killing in the competition.
The 2006-07 season was, without doubt, the Clubs best season to date, finishing 7th in the Premier Division and reaching the Premier Division cup final where we lost to Edgware Town by the only goal of a closely fought cup tie. The highlight of the season was in the FA Cup when we visited AFC Wimbledon (Jets biggest games) in the second qualifying round, after already having wins against Concord Rangers, Aveley (Jets biggest games). Despite defeat we all spent an unforgettable day. In the FA Vase, we reached the third round proper where we lost at Ipswich Wanderers.
Our giant-killing act continued in the Herts Senior Challenge Cup when we defeated St. Albans City by 4-1 before losing, in the next round, to Borehamwood in extra time, after drawing 1–1 at the end of regular time.
The 2007-08 season was a difficult one for the Club due to injuries. We finished in 19th (of 22) position in the league and lost to Welwyn Garden City in the Herts FA Charity Shield semi-final. We did, however, reach the final of the St. Mary’s Cup where we were soundly beaten 5–1 by Hemel Hempstead Town from the BGB Football League.
At least we won the league’s hospitality award! (shown above).
The 2008–09 season saw us finish in 13th position in the league and we reached the final of the South Midlands Floodlight Cup where we lost 2-1 to Royston Town. We also had another great campaign in the Herts FA Senior Cup, making the semi-final. The highlight was an astonishing 3-0 win away at St Albans in the Quarter finals (Jets celebrate Jamie Arthur’s goal in the 80th minute) – here is our match report: –
Oxhey Jets pulled off the result of their season so far with a stunning 3-0 victory away at St. Albans City, from the Conference South, in the Quarter Finals of the Herts Senior Cup.
The first half had been goal-less with Jets very much under pressure from St Albans throughout, and relying on rare counter attacks to ease the pressure. Pre match comments suggested that St Albans very much wanted to win this game as a confidence booster after last Saturday’s 5-4 defeat to Bromley, and that they also saw the Herts Senior Cup as an opportunity to win some silverware, and City’s attacking display made Jets happy to reach half time with the game all square.
St Albans did get the ball in the Jets net in the 40th minute but fortunately for Jets it was ruled out for an alleged foul on Jets ‘keeper Chris Walker.
Then, just as on Saturday and several other games this season, Jets started the 2nd half on fire and in the 47th minute some great interplay between Wayne Gladdy and Adam Lowton, after Paul Turner had started the counter attack, ended with Adam Lowton slotting home a low shot for the opening goal for Jets.
St Albans came back at Jets, but Jets continued to hold them out. Jets then had to cope with losing the influential Paul Turner to injury, and then on 71 mins St Albans had a strong penalty appeal but the referee was clear that Nathan Roberts had made a good saving tackle..
Then, on 80 mins Jets doubled their lead when Nathan Roberts opened up the City defence with a pin point ball to Jamie Arthur who rounded the City ‘keeper before making no mistake firing home past a retreating City defender.
City had an uphill battle now to get back into the game and, in the end, that gave Jets the opportunity to add a 3rd in the 90th minute with Jamie Arthur turning provider and providing a great ball for Adam Lowton to latch onto and drive home his 2nd goal of the game.
Manager Bennie Higham was full of praise for his team. “Everyone contributed to a great result. The defence couldn’t be faulted; the midfield worked hard all night to limit City’s attacking options; and our chances were well taken”.
Jets Man of the Match award must go to Manager Bennie Higham who, with both Tim O’Mara and Chris Harding unavailable due to work commitments, made the tactical changes needed to set the side up to stifle the St Alban’s attack. Despite all their pressure, St Albans hardly had a shot on target all night.
Our Reserve team had a great season and finished as champions of Reserve Division 1 which they won by nine clear points.
Jets also won the Spartan Premier hospitality award again! ?
Both the First team and Reserves made County Finals during the 2009-10 season. The Reserves made it to the Intermediate Cup Final but were beaten 3–0 by Hemel Hempstead Town Reserves. Our second visit to The County Ground saw us win the Charity Shield, for the first time, beating St Margaretsbury 4-2. A great cup win for Jets with goals from Lee Armitt (2), Wayne Gladdy and Tim O’Mara. Bobby Harding was the man of the match.
In the League, the first team got stronger through the season and finished a very creditable 11th following a poor start to the season. Also, we again reached the St. Mary’s cup final, finishing once more as runners-up to Hemel Hempstead Town.
The Reserve team had another great season and retained the Reserve Division 1 title.
The 2010-11 season was disappointing, given the progress and the Cup final victory at the end of 2009-10, and we only finished in 19th position (out of 23 teams), which equalled our worst ever position since joining the league.
One highlight was the press coverage our keeper Sam Styles got for scoring in our FA Cup match at AFC Hornchurch. It is extremely rare for a keeper to score in the FA Cup and he was named the player of the round for which he got a trophy (shown above) and tickets to the final.
Our Reserves finished as runners-up, losing the league title, which they had held for two years, on the last day of the season. We needed a victory at Crawley Green, but we could only draw with what was effectively their first team, and Hadley beat us to the title.
Our league position did not improve much in the 2011-12 season, we finished 17th, but our ability to raise our game in the Cup’s came to the fore with two Cup final wins, a run that took us all the way to the Herts Senior Cup final, and a very good performance against highly ranked Hendon, losing narrowly 2-1 where we we broke our club attendance when a total of 376 supporters came to watch.
We were in fact, only the second South Midlands side ever to reach the Herts Senior Challenge Cup Final (team photo above), a great achievement even though we were well beaten in the match by Bishops Stortford. The final itself was a disappointment, Jets going down 7-2, but we would have been more competitive if we had not had our keeper sent off after 15 minutes, a highly debatable decision, that left us having to withdraw Luke Beardsworth to bring on a replacement keeper, and play 75 minutes with 10 men.
Our second County final of the season saw us beat Kings Langley in the Herts FA Charity Shield to lift the title for the second time in the last three seasons. (see Jets biggest games). A great 4-1 win with a dominant display by Jets and the first of two trophies as Jets approached its 40th anniversary.
Our third cup final was The St Mary’s Cup where we again met higher league Hemel Hempstead Town, and the only goal of the game from Andrew Lomas secured a shock victory for us over our old rivals in this competition. (see Jets biggest games). Two trophies for our 40th anniversary. Brilliant!
Our ‘B’ team had a strong year, winning promotion, being undefeated in the league from mid-December to the end of the season.
There was, however a major sadness for the club in November 2011 when we were shocked to learn of the death of former Jet Tom Lake, killed in action in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on the 20th November. Our thoughts and prayers go to him, and John Elliott immediately vowed that the club would honour and remember him each year for as long as John is here running the club.
Without doubt, the 2012-13 season was the clubs most successful league season to date. We finished in 3rd position, with a club record total of 91 points, behind Dunstable Town, who completed the season without losing a league fixture, and Aylesbury United.
In addition, we also won two Cup Finals. We retained the Herts FA Charity Shield defeating Hertford Town 4–0 in the final, and the last match of the season in mid-May saw us beat Cockfosters to win the South Midlands Floodlight Cup.
Herts FA Charity Shield Final Report and Photos: –
Floodlight Cup Final Match Report: –
Jets league campaign might have been even better and although Dunstable Town were well clear and ‘invincible’ on 114 points, we finished only 3 points behind 2nd placed Aylesbury United. The season, however, was heavily backlogged due to the worst weather for many years. That meant we finished the last few weeks of the season playing three matches each week and lost the runners-up spot on the final day of the season.
Lewis Putman had a tremendous amount of press coverage in what was an 84 (Eighty-Four!!) goal season, the peak being a live interview from the Boundary Stadium on Sky Sports News on Christmas Eve that was then replayed every 20 minutes or so for 24 hours! He was even asked to re-enact one of his famous goals, complete with a Peter Crouch robotic style celebration at the end.
Success came as well to the Reserves who won the Spartan South Midlands Reserves Cup, and the two West Herts teams chipped in as well with a Championship and a runners-up spot, and the Jets Academy were runners-up in both their league and cup.
An incredible season at all levels ended with the news that in Her Majesty the Queens 2013 birthday honours list the club founder John Elliott was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to young people and the community in South Oxhey. A tremendous and much-deserved reward for over 40 years of hard work creating and managing Oxhey Jets.
What a season!!
After the cup-laden years of 2010-13, Jets faced a rebuilding season in 2013-14. Wayne Gladdy stepped in as manager to help the team and, after a poor start, there was a resurgence in the second half of the season that ensured the club avoided relegation, finishing 18th, and, unbelievably, found a way to add another trophy for Jets, a thrilling 3-2 St Marys cup final win over Leverstock Green. (see Jets biggest games).
Ashley Fongho played for Jets this season, including the cup final win. Now we know where he learned his dance moves!
Our Reserves finished as runners-up in the Herts FA Intermediate Cup, and our Academy team (above) were winners of the Allied Counties East Division.
The First team had no major highs during the following three seasons, finishing 12th, 17th and 15th in the league – respectable in that they were not in any real relegation danger, but below the high levels of the previous years.
It was down to the Vets team (shown above at Hemel Town stadium for the 2016-17 Webster Cup Final) to fly the flag for Jets. They were runners-up in the Webster Cup in both 2015-16 and 2016-17, and got their hands on silverware when they won the Division 1 Championship on the final day of the 2016-17 season with a 1-0 win over their title rivals The Engineer.
Match Report Jets vs The Engineer: –
VETS CHAMPIONS!!
Sixteen years ago, on Oxhey playing fields, Colin Jenkins skippered Oxhey Jets to what was the start of a whirlwind period that would see them climb up the FA ladder through four FA steps to the Spartan Premier Division.
Today the same skipper with six of the same players in the squad went back to the same venue to clinch the West Herts Division One Championship crown against all the odds as “vets” and being made to play just 40 hours after their draining Cup final defeat.
Gary Page (all time Jets leading goal scorer), Ian Holdom (no2 on that list), Colin Jenkins (who took over second place in the all-time appearances list topping Benny Higham’s 755), Gary Quinnell and the much younger Marc Ayres and Wayne Gladdy all took part in the original and today’s Championship victory.
Today’s ages added up to 685 years and the appearances 6546 matches, will we ever find another group of lads as committed and loyal as these, the heartbeat of the club, and let’s not forget boss Tony Marren and assistant Mark Simmonds along with the whole squad who although not in the first championship side do clock up hundreds of those appearances as well.
The match was winner takes all, the winner on the day would be deserved champions as the two ran neck and neck all season, Jets losing to their opponents earlier in the season, but a morale-boosting win at their pad in the cup semi-final gave Marren’s old crocks hope and belief.
They hurt and their legs hurt badly after Thursday’s defeat and Wayne Gladdy emerged looking like an advert for the tape company, saying he’d spent his rent on the stuff to get through another game!
Jets chose the smaller pitch and it helped peg back the much younger Engineers but it took two superb saves by Steve Duce to keep Jets level and in contention as the visitors attacked Jets at speed to break down some that were old enough to be their dads.
Jets stabilised and a looper hit the post as Jets retaliated and then the Engineers thought they had the breakthrough, but it was rightly ruled out for a foul on Duce by the no-nonsense referee Tony Hobbs who was well in charge of the match for the whole game.
Half time 0-0 and Jets superior goal difference had the edge on the title.
The edge went fast as just minutes into the second half Engineers broke and Jets appeals for offside were ignored, then the pinpoint cross was excellently executed into the net past the diving Duce.
Even the Jets supporters feared the worst now and for ten minutes Jets struggled, then the wise use of the FA roll-on roll-off that without a doubt keeps these lads playing was to swing the game.
Antony Shepherd came on and was strong and an immediate threat. Some superb refereeing first trying the advantage, then pulling it back gave Jets a free-kick but a good 25 yards out. It was a strum and a half by Sheppy that as the photo shows had everyone looking back as it hammered into the top of the net and Jets were back in it.
Kick-off and the ball back, Gavin Hart chased the lost cause and a mix up let him toe-poke it past the keeper and the defenders hopeless chase saw them in the back of the net and Jets had their noses in front, a minute swung the game from one down to 2-1 up and they had the draw in their favour so Engineers needed two goals.
Old tired legs, no none of it now. They burst into life like creaky teenagers and worked and ran and chased and saw out the last half hour to be crowned league champions. I saw kids that were not born, or even thought of when dad won the first title, running onto the pitch to their Dads in joy at the victory, true tearful stuff for me watching on for sure.
So from the young Wiggy at 30 to the Tony Marren at …. well older, they all did their bit and how proud the club is of these loyal and committed lads to men.
Man of the match was hard but it went to the old fox, the midfield maestro Ian Holdom, joint with the skilful Gavin Hart, who made Colin Jenkins, without doubt, the most successful skipper in this club ever as yet another trophy was handed to the gentleman with the armband respected by players, officials and all in the game, this lad is a one off for sure to Jets.
Time to Celebrate another Championship!
So praise galore and fully deserved as we say for the first time for a while now, “We ARE the Champions!”
in 2016 Jets had the pleasure of playing the Luther Blissett managed Burnham team, and John and Luther had the chance to compare notes on their times at Watford and Jets.
Our work with youngsters was getting some coverage in the press, including the Watford Observer and the Three Rivers District Council magazine.
As promised, each year we remembered our fallen soldier, Tom Lake, and we always had tremendous support from our visiting teams. This was to develop further in the following season with the visit of 1PWRR for the remembrance day game.
Jets league position was looking desperate in the 2017–18 season, and relegation was not just possible but probable. The club made a management change, bringing in new managers Tim O’Sullivan and Pat Fallon with the job of rescuing the club from relegation.
Tim and Pat’s appointment completely changed the mood within the club and revitalised the players. Jets still needed a mini-miracle though, needing 6 points and a +5 goal difference in the final two games, at home to Hoddesdon and then the final game away to promoted Berkhamsted.
Jets won the midweek home game against Hoddesdon 3-0 to keep hopes alive. Match report: –
Spartan South Midlands Premier
3rd May 2018
Just a glimmer of hope as Jets carved a little hope to maintain Premier status with a 3-0 home win over Hoddesdon Town at the Boundary stadium, a very long-awaited victory.
Jets are now trying to hunt down Cockfosters but the challenge is huge needing to win by two goals away at promoted Berko on Saturday, a very very big ask, but while there is life there is hope.
1-0 Chris Blunden
Jets were on top all night, and when Chris Blunden shot them in front, you could see the relief and hear it all around the ground. Jahobi Maher added no2 from a long-range tight angle, and then Jets were on a goal chase as for the first time for a while they looked a happy unit. Halftime 2-0
Jahobi Maher’s longshot beats the keeper 2-0
Jets lost Scott Pugsley at the break, a player who was giving his all to keep Jets in the Premier..
Solid Scott Pugsley was missed in the second half
Jets though were relentless pushing, and the Town keeper made two excellent saves before Chris Blunden added his second and Jets third 3-0 with twenty to play.
Chris Blunden makes it 3-0
Jets really should have got the fourth, and it has made Saturday doubly hard as one more tonight would have meant any win on Saturday would do, but now Jets have the challenging task of needing a two-goal victory to save a very tough season.
A great save denied Jets a much needed fourth
Man of the match went to John Smith in midfield.
Jets man of the match John Smith
So, onto the final game on the Saturday away at Berkhamsted, Jets needed to win by two clear goals to avoid relegation. The match report and photos is detailed in Jets biggest games. Jets won a thrilling game 4-2 with two late Jets goals, and while Berkhamsted celebrated their promotion, Jets celebrated an astounding great escape by the slimmest of margins, identical goal difference with Cockfosters but more goals scored.
The 2017-18 season was also the start of the Remembrance Day games against armed forces teams, and we had the honour to host the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1PWRR), Tom Lake’s regiment, in the November 2017 game. The willingness of 1PWRR to travel from Germany to play this game was extraordinary, and the response from the South Oxhey community was immense. Coverage of this and the games in subsequent seasons against the RAF and the Coldstream Guards is detailed on our Remembrance Matches page.
With Premier league status preserved, the priority for 2018-19 was to improve our league position. Tim O’Sullivan and Pat Fallon did just that, taking Jets to 8th position which was our highest finish since 2013 and our 3rd best ever in the Spartan Premier.
Tim O’Sullivan and Pat Fallon turned Jets around and delivered a top half finish
Despite the league priority, Jets still made it to the final of the West Herts FA St. Mary’s Cup where we narrowly lost by the only goal of the game to Berkhamsted.
The Reserve team were our team of the season winning the Herts FA Intermediate Cup at the County ground beating Royston Town Reserves 2-0. Cup Final Photos: –
They also finished as runners-up in the Herts County League Senior Division, gaining promotion to the HSCL Premier, and reached the final of The Aubrey Cup, losing 2-1 to Premier Division runners-up New Salamis.
Dave Fuller was recognised at the Spartan South Midlands Annual General Meeting with the Spartan secretary of the year award. A most well deserved award. Dave is often the unsung hero at Jets but the quality of the finance and administration work he does for us is second to none, and Dave is often a reference for others on how things should be done.
Jets held a special remembrance day with the RAF on their 100th anniversary (see remembrance matches).
Both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons were first disrupted and then abandoned due to Covid restrictions, which moves us on to the season that has just ended.
Jets start to the season has been described as a disaster or a ‘car-crash’ and the facts were that in mid-September the manager, coaches and some players left for various reasons, Jets went to the bottom of the league, and a complete rebuild was needed around the players who had stayed loyal to the club.
First of all, though, Jets had 3 days to put a team together to play a home FA cup tie against Kingstonian who were coming into the game unbeaten at the top of the Isthmian Premier. A huge task, but Jets loyal players turned out, some veterans on the pitch, and Andy Lomas stepping in to take charge for the day. A big crowd turned out, drawn to the game hoping to see some FA Cup giant-killing but even more because they wanted to show their support for Jets after the way Jets had been treated. In a fantastic match Jets held Kingstonian 2-2, both goals from Lewis Putman, one an absolute corker, and Jets so nearly snatched a winner. (Report and Photos in Jets biggest games).
Kevin Christou took over the management of the 1st team, rebuilt Jets and pulled them well clear of relegation
In October, Kevin Christou took charge of the team and, along with his coach Matt Coker, recruited players to join the loyal Jets who stayed with the club, rebuilt the team, and achieved some good results, especially against the top teams, pulling Jets well clear of relegation, finishing in 15th place (If you had offered John Elliott a 15th place finish at the end of September, given the position Jets were in he would have taken it right away).
Our annual remembrance game is now the biggest fundraiser for the Poppy appeal in South West Hertfordshire, and the game gets great support from the local community, and good coverage in the media, especially the Watford Observer and Three Counties Radio. This year was an even bigger occasion, with HM Coldstream Guards providing the opposition, and a drummer and bugler for the remembrance ceremony. (See Remembrance Day Matches).
Jets have spent an enjoyable 17 years in the Spartan South Midlands, and we now, with league re-alignments, move to the Combined Counties Premier League North. A new adventure as we start our Golden Jubilee season.