Welwyn Garden City

Welwyn Garden City FC

Ground: Herns Way

Capacity: 3,000

Club Founded: 1921

League: Southern League Division One Central - Step 4/8th Tier (current level)

Welwyn Garden City FC is one of many non-league clubs in the Home Counties that have progressed following the realignment of the non-league pyramid while upgrading their Herns Way home ground.

Club History

Early Years

The football club represents the new town, twenty miles north of London, which initially played friendly matches. They joined the Mid-Hertfordshire League, playing matches at Parkway before moving to the Bedfordshire & District League and then the Spartan League.

An amalgamation with Shredded Wheat FC took place in July 1934, suiting both parties. Welwyn were struggling financially, while the Spartan League were not admitting any further works teams. As Shredded Wheat, the side played in the South Midlands League, using Wheat’s ground. 

A New Start

However, they were forced to resign from the league at the AGM as the Wheat committee withdrew use of the ground and Parkway wasn’t up to the required standard. The club was consequently wound up in July 1935.

In May 1937 the Shredded Wheat company invited a re-formed City back to their ground in Broadwater Road with the new club gaining admission back into the Spartan League. After a debut season the club moved to share with Murphy Radio FC at Handside Playing Fields.

New Home Grounds

The local council found the club a new home in Springfield. Following World War II, ‘The Citizens’ competed in the Mid-Hertfordshire League before returning to the Spartan League. They departed briefly to play in the London League before returning under the management of former England goalkeeper Harry Hibbs. 

Welwyn dropped down to the Hertfordshire County League before the club moved into their Herns Way home during the 1960s. Spells playing in the London and Metropolitan London Leagues followed. In 1973, the club merged with Welwyn Garden United FC to form Welwyn Garden FC.

Ups and Downs

The side went on to win the Premier Division of the South Midlands League in 1973-74. The clubs split and went their separate ways again, with City returning to the top flight of the competition after being relegated.

John Sneddon had a spell as manager before finishing as league runners-up in 1985-86 under Ray Sullivan. Local and league cups were lifted around this period before Sullivan departed. Managers came and went throughout the 1990's without success.

Steady Progress

Malcolm Doctor was appointed as manager for the 1997-98 campaign in the combined Spartan South Midlands League (SSML), where City were placed in the Premier Division. A partnership was formed with Stevenage Borough following the appointment of Dave Bullock and Bill Bannister as joint managers.

City reached the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round before Dave Steadman took over the team for the 1999-00 season. They were relegated a year later. Guillermo Ganet was given the manager's job, taking the side back to the SSML Premier Division.

Further Improvements

Ganet departed with most of the team, with Howard Cowley coming in as his replacement. Another appearance in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup came in 2005-06, in a campaign which also produced a good run in the FA Vase. It ended after reaching the fourth round when Welwyn were expelled for fielding an ineligible player.

After Cowley’s departure, a succession of managers were tried without success. Joel Norris banged in the goals in 2014-15 as City romped to the Division One title and promotion, with the team also lifting their divisional League Cup. Ground improvements were completed at Herns Way as the team consolidated in 2016-17.

Step 4 Debutants

In November 2017, Osvaldo Ardiles unveiled the ground upgrades, which included two turnstiles donated by Tottenham Hotspur from their demolished White Hart Lane home. Meanwhile, the team managed by Adam Fisher did the business on the pitch.

The SSML Premier Division title was lifted along with two cup final appearances as City reached Step 4 of non-league football for the first time, joining Division One Central of the Southern League. 

Recent Years

Fisher resigned following an acrimonious dispute with the club, which claimed he had exceeded the playing budget. Many players followed him out of the door, with Dean Barker being appointed as the new team boss. Former England semi-professional midfielder Nicky Ironton later replaced him.

Despite finishing fifth in the league in 2021-22, City were excluded from the playoffs as Herns Lane failed to meet the grading criteria. Ironton was replaced by Max Mitchell, who was succeeded by Marc Weatherstone.

Ironton departed and was replaced by Max Mitchell, who then left to take the Potters Bar Town job a few months later. Marc Weatherstone was announced as his successor. Gavin Kelsey, who led Cockfosters to the FA Vase final, was appointed as manager in May 2026.

My visits

Monday 10th August 2009

I arrived in Welwyn Garden City in search of the football club on the train from Hitchin. I had a pretty good idea of the general location of the ground from checking out a map before I left. However, I hadn't accounted for the layout of the 'city'. It reminded me very much of Milton Keynes. 

Eventually, I found the ground and lo and behold, it appeared to be locked up! It was well protected from everywhere else by iron railings, thick bushes and trees. After walking around and seeing no photo opportunities, I got worried until I realised that the padlock on the car park entrance was just there for show.

Entry was through the gate from the car park in a corner of the ground where the club's social club and changing facilities were positioned. Further down the touchline was a small basic stand with covering for a few temporary seats and standing. 

The rest of the ground was surrounded by a small path and flat grass, with more space behind the goals than down the sides. It was very basic, and a ground I was glad I didn't go out of my way to watch a match at. 

I'm not sure what sort of crowds the Citizens attract, but I can't imagine them being very large owing to the location, lack of homes nearby and the sparse facilities on hand. It cannot be very easy for clubs to survive under such circumstances. I have every admiration for club officials who keep their beloved clubs going.

I left the ground, carefully shutting the gates behind me. Herns Lane had also played home to near neighbours Hatfield Town for a few seasons, so that they could compete in the Spartan South Midlands League until a suitable venue was found nearer home at Gosling Sports Park in the south of Welwyn.

Welwyn Garden City 0 AFC Dunstable 1 

Southern League Division One Central - Tuesday 5th March 2019

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 93 🎟️ £8

I hadn’t caught up with my regular non-league companion Tony for a couple of weeks, so when he texted to offer a choice of matches, Welwyn was top of the list. He was happy, as it would also be a new tick for him.

After a nap following an early shift at work, I took the short ride up to Stanmore at 6.45pm, where my willing pilot soon pulled up. It was good to have an overdue chat about all the usual football stuff and my recent interesting social media activity.

It was the first time in my recollection that fox hunting had been addressed in the car between the pair of us, or a Twitter conversation between David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, for that matter, but welcome to 2019!

The traffic was thankfully light, and Tony had soon worked his way through the myriad of roundabouts and wide avenues that new towns offer. I must confess that they weren’t particularly my cup of tea, having been brought up somewhere very different.

We parked up on the verge opposite the ground on Herns Lane before paying our £8 admission and another quid for a decent programme for the original match, which had been postponed a few weeks earlier.

A cuppa cost £1 for a good-sized cup as we took up a position along the side near the seats. A covered standing section had been added by the entrance since my previous call to satisfy the ground graders. An enclosed artificial pitch had also been installed behind the near goal.

The pitch looked lush, with wide areas between the touchline and perimeter railings. The rain began to fall just before kick-off and continued throughout the game, getting progressively heavier.

The game got off to a dramatic start after two minutes when City winger David Manu pushed the ball past Dunstable defender Drew Roberts. The men collided, with referee Mr Donaldson pointing to the spot. It could be placed in the “soft” decision category.

Elliot Bailey saw his penalty well saved by former Welwyn keeper Dan Green. Home midfielder Jesse Walklin went down after six minutes, clutching his hamstring, which had kept him out of the previous two matches.

He was in obvious pain, but still tried to run it off on the sidelines after treatment from the physio. There was no way he was going to recover and was probably risking further damage despite his valiant efforts.

That was pretty much the main highlight of the first half. Both sides tried playing football, but the play became scrappy. I mentioned to my mate that I fancied AFC would come out on top. They just looked that little bit quicker and stronger.

Citizens keeper Lewis Todd saved at the feet of Martel Powell before Jermaine Hall went close for the visitors. Jon Sexton responded for the hosts with a run and then shot that found the frame of Green, who collected safely.

I’d done my lap of the ground as well as putting on a line on the fixed odds, which wasn’t going particularly well. Our interest was roused by Ajax going 2-0 up in their Champions League clash away to Real Madrid.

City sub Taishan Griffith was warming up and came over for a chat with his dad, who was standing near us. He’d been at Hendon earlier in the season, with both really pleasant characters. Taishan came across and shook my hand, which was a nice touch.

Dunstable took the lead ten minutes after the break. Their big centre-forward did well on the left of the box, using his physique to hold off Dan Carr before laying the ball square for Christian Tavernier to smash high into the net.

Todd saved well from Christie shortly before the custodian denied Powell. City gathered themselves and then took over in attacking terms, forcing some pressure on the AFC defence.

Carr put in a good low cross which just evaded forwards Bailey and Eusebio Da Silva from getting a vital touch. Matty Campbell-Mhlope went close on a couple of occasions as City continued to press forward.

Referee Donaldson caused uproar among the faithful behind the goal when he halted a Welwyn attack and blew for a goal kick even though the ball looked a couple of yards from crossing the line.

City looked for an equaliser right until full-time. In the last meaningful action, Da Silva pulled the ball back for Bailey, whose effort was blocked by the Dunstable defence. The result was just about right. It hadn’t been a classic, but every player had given his lot.

Tony’s prudent parking proved profitable as we were soon on our way. Ajax went on to complete a remarkable win, while my fixed odds went down the drain once again. There was still some football action in store for me.

Scarborough Athletic were taking on York City in the semi-final of the North Riding Senior Cup, with the game ending 0-0 after ninety minutes. The Scarborough News Twitter feed was broadcasting a live feed of the penalty shootout.

The wonders of modern technology allowed me to watch Boro complete a 3-0 win on spot kicks in front of 1,600 fans. I went to bed happy, having ticked off a new ground and the derby win from over two hundred miles away!