Page 26 - Yate Town FC v Hendon 010223

In Town today

• The club’s nicknames are the Greens or the Dons. They were the Green, even
when they wore blue in the mid-1930s but at the time, the club was still known as
Golders Green.
• Many Hendon players have stepped up to the Football League, including Iain
Dowie and Junior Lewis. In recent years, Charlie Goode signed for Scunthorpe
United and, in 2018 and 2019, respectively, Ashley Nathaniel-George and Ricardo
German joined Crawley Town. Also in 2019, Jacob Gardiner-Smith signed for
Wycombe Wanderers.
• Hendon set a new club record with a 25-match unbeaten run in 2015. After a loss
to Peacehaven & Telscombe in January, the Greens did not lose again until the
Ryman League Premier Division Playoff final in mid-May.
• Hendon’s longest serving manager was Gary McCann, who was in charge from
February 2005 until May 2018. Both his assistant Freddie Hyatt – like McCann a
former player – the club’s physical therapist Mark Findley also gave more than 10
years of service.
• Betty-Leigh Allinson, manager Lee’s eight-year-old daughter, spent spring 2020
doing a one-mile cycle ride for 100 days to raise funds for a local charity. The FA
learned of her sterling efforts and awarded her the England Lionhearts No.5 shirt.
• In 2022, Hendon set up a Former Players Group and all nine surviving players
from the 1972 FA Amateur Cup victory over Enfield attended the end-of-season
game against Merthyr Town.

BACKROOM STAFF

LEE ALLINSON: (Manager): Lee was appointed first-team manager in November 2019
following a successful spell at Biggleswade Town who he left having guided them into the
play-off picture in the Southern League Premier Central. Lee had previously enjoyed playing
spells with the Waders and notably Boreham Wood before a spell as assistant manager at
St Albans City under his father, former Arsenal player Ian.
CAMERON MAWER: (Assistant Manager): Joined the club's backroom staff in April 2021
as Assistant Manager to Lee Allinson after spending 8 years at Boreham Wood as Academy
manager and first-team coach. After beginning his playing career with Watford and having
a spell at Peterborough United, Cam had successful stints at Grays Athletic and Weymouth
in the Conference before moving on to Arlesey Town and Biggleswade Town.
DAVE SANDERSON: Experienced goalkeeping coach who was appointed to the backroom
team in the summer of 2021
SOPHIE PYLE: Physiotherapist appointed in September 2021 having been with Codicote
FC, Brings with her a raft of experience having served at the London Marathon and World
Indoor Athletics Championship (2018).

HAFED AL-DROUBI: Experienced goalkeeper signed in January 2023 from Kings Langley.
A regular face on the local Non League circuit, Hafed's previous clubs include Chesham
United, Harrow Borough, Potters Bar Town and Northwood. Came through the ranks at
Besiktas and Luton Town.