TT INTERVIEW
Michael talks about the Saints from St Albans
ABOUT ME
I work in the IT industry and also volunteer for the club – most regularly helping on the turnstiles and our online store. After spending most Saturday afternoons playing football since I was a kid, it was then nice to instead watch others play football – and the community feel of a club like St Albans City FC was ideal. For the past 10 seasons, I’ve been watching the Saints home and away with my son (he’s now 17) and the first season was when were in the Southern League, so we experienced the joys of promotion through the play-offs in our first season!
EXPECTATIONS FOR 23/24
Last season we managed to get into the play-offs for the first time during this spell in the National League South – after beating Farnborough on the final day in front of about 3800 fans at Clarence Park. That put us in 7th place and then we made it to the Promotion Final after beating Chelmsford 1-0 after extra time and then Dartford on penalties. The final was a step too far after those two battles – and we lost 4-0 to Oxford City.
FIRST 3 GAMES
An opening day win against Weymouth at home, then a 2-1 loss at Yeovil (they certainly looked like they will be in the mix by the end of this campaign) and then a midweek win at Havant. Six points out of the potential 9 is probably better than I had expected, as it looked like a tough run of games to get the season underway.
KEY PLAYERS
This is David Noble’s first season where he gets to build his own team (having taken over last Autumn) – so there has been plenty of changes over the summer. But overall I think he has strengthened the team. One of our new players was previously with us – and will be well known to your fans – Ben Wyatt. He could be a key player but so too will be Mitchell Weiss leading the attack, Jack James as right wing-back, Dan Bowry leading the defence, Ryan Blackman as the combative midfielder – and then two young ballers in midfield – Ben Smith (ex-Watford Academy) and George Hoddle (yes, he is a relative of THE Hoddle!) – who is on a season loan from Cambridge United.
THE MANAGER
Our manager is David Noble – who grew up in Hertfordshire and was a product of the Arsenal Academy but is probably best known for his successful spells in the southwest when he played for Bristol City (under a certain Gary Johnson!) and also Exeter City. There also used to be a mural of David close to Bristol Temple Meads station (not sure if it is still there..!). He also had a spell at Boston United where he played alongside Paul Gascoigne – who commented on David’s natural ability in his autobiography.
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
A few players have knocks so is going to depend on who can pass as fit to play.
Johnson
Bowry, Brown, and uCarlyle (or Clark)
Two wing backs: Fage and Wyatt (or James)
Smith, Hoddle, Blackman, and Rasulo
Weiss
PRE-MATCH REFRESHMENTS
There are loads of good pubs, bars and restaurants in St Albans! I know The Robin Hood near the station was very welcoming to your fans last time you visited (as league champions!) – and will definitely welcome you back! If you want to see more of the city then venture to the Mad Squirrel taprooms next to the Abbey Cathedral (you get a 5% discount on food and drink if you show ypur match ticket) – or head to historic Fishpool Street and the Lower Red Lion or walk into Verulamium Park and visit the Ye Olde Fighting Cocks. Both have decent beer gardens. Do also check out the clubs guide to Visting Clarence Park: https://fanzone.stalbanscityfc.com/your-visit-to-clarence-park/
Clarence Park has 3 pitchside bars as well as the clubhouse (open to all supporters) – all serving craft beers, lagers, and cider from local brewers, Mad Squirrel.
FACTS ABOUT THE SAINTS
We used to have a tree in the middle of the terrace behind the goal at the Hatfield Road end. It prevented us from getting promotion to what us now the National League and the mysteriously died. A carved bench in the park next to the ground was made from the old tree.
Another is our FA Cup record. In 1922, we lost 8-7 to Dulwich Hamlet. All seven of our goals were scored by one player, Wilfred Minter – still the FA Cup record for number of goals scored by a player on the losing side!
PREDICTION
I think this going to be a close game, certainly closer than when you last visited and beat us 4-0. I’m going for a 1-1 draw.
Cheers, and hoping it’s a great game on Saturday!