Page 11 - Bath City v Hemel Hempstead Town - Saturday 7 November - VNLS

TODAY’S VISITORS

We welcome to Twerton Park...

HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

1885 – The club was formed as 1992 – Vauxhall Road was damaged beaten by Farnborough in the semi-
Apsley End FC and first played in the by a fire, which resulted in temporary final on penalties.
West Herts League. structures put in place for five years. 2013 – Following two reprieves
1899 – Apsley joined the Herts County 1998 – In their only season in Division from relegation, the Tudors bounced
League, competing until 1922, when Three, Hemel won the title. They back under Dean Brennan and again
they started a spell of 30 years in the followed this by clinching Division Two suffered play-off heartache, this time
Spartan League. in 2000, but ground grading issues losing to Gosport in the final on
1951 – Just before switching to the denied them further progress. penalties in front of a record crowd of
Delphian League, Apsley changed 2004 – A sixth place finish in Isthmian 2,840. Some consolation saw them lift
their name to Hemel Hempstead FC, Division One North earned them a the Hertfordshire FA Senior Challenge
adding “Town” as a suffix four years place in the new Southern Premier, but Cup for the first time since 1926.
later. their first season at this level resulted in 2018 – The Hertfordshire club reached
1955 – The dissolution of the Delphian relegation. the play-offs but again it was penalties
League resulted in a move to the 2006 – Town recovered from a slow which stood in their way, Braintree
Athenian League in Division Two. start and a late surge of form saw knocking them out in the quarter-finals.
Back-to-back promotions took them to them make the play-offs. Brackley were Brennan moved to Billericay soon after.
the Premier but by the end of the 60s defeated in the final as they regained 2020 – A 3G pitch was installed
they were back in Division Two. their Premier Division status. They at Vauxhall Road shortly after the
1972 – A merger took place between nearly made it consecutive promotions, enforced early conclusion of the
Hemel and Hemel Hempstead United, but a play-off semi-final defeat at 2019/20 season following the
with the name remaining as “Town”. Twerton Park against Team Bath killed Covid-19 pandemic.
off hopes.
1977 – The Tudors joined the Isthmian
League where they remained for 25 2009 – A succession of managers
years, largely between Divisions One took charge as Hemel reached the
and Two. play-offs again, where they were
Golden Era Conference South for the first time respectable 9th place.
2013-14 in their history. The next season They met City soon after the Bury
started unspectacularly, but an
2013/14 was the best season improvement saw them reach clash, losing 1-0 at Twerton whilst
in the club’s history to date. the FA Cup 1st Round for the seeing three players dismissed in
Dean Brennan’s free-scoring men first time, losing 3-1 to Bury in the second half – Jorell Johnson,
netted 128 goals in 44 league November 2014. They finished Oliver Thorne and Kyle Connolly.
games and won the league their first season at this level in a
by 10 points to propel them to

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