MEET THE OPPOSITION | CHESHUNT
With Oxford City coming off the back off an excellent win against Hemel Hempstead, we look at this weekend’s opponents, Cheshunt FC, who are currently fighting to stay in the division after promotion last season.
History:
The original Cheshunt Football Club was founded in 1880 with their first game being recorded in 1888, beating Novocastrians by four goals to nil. Cheshunt won the first ever Herts Charity Cup back in the 1900-01 season, and again in the 1903-04 and 1905-06 season.
In 1907, Cheshunt left the Football Association in order to join the AFA and became founding members of the Southern Amateur League. They then went onto join the Athenian League after the World War in 1919, but then rejoined the Southern Amateur League in 1920.
After their best league position in the 1926-27 season, Cheshunt’s impressive run fell short, as they finished bottom of the Athenian league for the next four seasons. After this, they became heavily in debt, and they disbanded in 1931.
The modern club of Cheshunt Football Club was established in 1946. They entered the London League, playing in Division One in the 1946-47 season and finished 2nd in the league. The Ambers won the division back-to-back in the 1947-48 season and 1948-49 season.
Cheshunt joined the Spartan League in the 1962-63 season and won the title in their first season in the league. The following season they won the Spartan League Cup, before joining Division Two of the Athenian League in 1964.
In 2016–17, The Ambers won the Herts Charity Cup for the third time, and they were placed into the South-Central Division in the 2018-19 season. In the 2021-22 season, Cheshunt won the promotion play-offs after beating Hornchurch 2-1, earning them their place into the National League South.
Current Form:
As it stands in the VNLS, the Hertfordshire side currently sit 21st with a four-point lead over Hungerford Town in the final relegation spot.
The Ambers have had a very inconsistent 2023, only winning 2 out of a possible 14 matches. Out of these 14 matches, 5 have resulted in a 1-1 draw.
More recently though, February has been Cheshunt’s most successful month so far this year, picking up 6 points out of a possible 18. However, this isn’t enough if they want to remain in the National League South next season.
The Ambers have had only put together back-to-back wins once so far this season. This is when they won three games on the trot over the Christmas period, beating Dover Athletic, Concord Rangers, and most impressively, top of the table Ebbsfleet United by one goal to nil.
However, the club went on a four game unbeaten run recently with more big scalps with wins against Dover (again) and Eastbourne, whilst drawing with Havant & Waterlooville and Taunton.
Meet the gaffer: Craig Edwards
Craig Edwards managerial career started in July 2010 at Billericay. He was manager of Essex side until March 2017.
During his time at the club, he led 'ricay to the Premier Division title in the Isthmian League in the 2011-12 season and became League Cup Winners in the 2016-17 season as well.
After leaving Billericay in March 2017, he was quickly snapped up by Kingstonian FC, for a short stint of just 7 months.
Edwards has been manager of Cheshunt FC since 2018 and had led them to promotions and many triumphs during his time at the club. He joined in January 2018 when the club were 6 points adrift at the bottom of the South-Central Division but managed to keep the Ambers in the league in the 2018-19 season.
He went one better last season. Under his guidance, Cheshunt managed to secure promotion in the 2021-22 season, after they beat Hornchurch 2-1 in the promotion play-off final.
Moreover, keeping Cheshunt in the league this year, would most likely be his greatest achievement yet!
Club Captain: Joe Re
Cheshunt FC midfielder, Joe Re, provides much experience to the Hertfordshire side, after making over 150 appearances for the club.
Furthermore, he has a rather unique story. The Italian-born midfielder spent over two years at Nottingham Forrest before hanging up his boots to become an accountant.
However, he has since returned to football with the club and he has become a fans favourite.
Re has been consistent too, winning both Players Player & Supporters Player in the 19-20 and 20-21 season.
In the 21-22 season, Joe Re made more appearances than any other player in the Isthmian Premier League and has continued to shine for The Ambers in VNLS.
Key Player: Reece Beckles-Richards
Another fans’ favourite at Theobalds Lane, Beckles-Richards joined on loan from Wealdstone in 2019 and notched an impressive 11 goals in 22 appearances. The 27-year-old forward joined the Ambers permanently at the end of 2020, and is well-known amongst the Cheshunt faithful as a scorer of important goals.
Scorer of Cheshunt’s only goal in the reverse fixture with City, Beckles-Richards leads the team as both the club’s captain and top goalscorer, with six goals.
Cheshunt will be hoping that the Antigua & Barbuda international adds to his scoring tally between now and the end of the season, as the Hertfordshire-based side bid to remain in the National League South for a second campaign.
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