In truth, a bye in the first round draw last week, saw the Lilywhites progress without even kicking a ball, and they will therefore travel to Oxhey Jets in the Quarter Final at The Boundary Stadium on Altham Way in South Oxhey, with a date to be confirmed asap.

The draw in full is as follows:

(All dates TBC)

1st Round

1 Oxhey Jets v BYE
2 Hoddesdon Town v BYE
3 London Colney v Coney Heath
4 Wormley Rovers v Harpenden Town
5 Tring Athletic v Baldock Town
6 Sawbridgeworth Town v Letchworth Garden City Eagles
7 St Margaretsbury v BYE
8 London Lions v BYE

Quarter Final

9 Oxhey Jets v Hoddesdom Town
10 London Colney or Colney Heath v Wormley or Harpenden
11 Tring or Baldock v Sawbridgeworth or Letchworth
12 St Margaretsbury v London Lions

Semi Final

13 Winner of Match 9 v Winner of Match 10
14 Winner of Match 11 v Winner of Match 12

Final

15 Winner of Match 13 v Winner of Match 14

Usually the competitive curtain raiser to a new season, the Herts Charity Shield has a rich history dating back to 1919, where Hertford Town were crowned inaugural winners, beating Letchworth Town 3-1.

Hoddesdon Town are five-time winners of the Shield, with our most recent success being in the final of the 2003/2004 season, beating Welwyn Garden City 3-2.

Last season, our campaign was ended prematurely as we slid to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to local rivals Wormley Rovers on Tuesday the 1st of August.

Our first appearance in the final came way back in 1922 where, after a 0-0 stalemate in 90 minutes, opponents Hitchin Blue Cross turned on the after burners and ran out 3-1 winners after extra time. We were again on the wrong side fortune in 1928, when Welwyn Garden City won their first ever trophy in the club’s history, at the expense of Hoddesdon Town, sweeping us aside 5-2 in 90 minutes.

In the early 1940’s. the competition wasn’t played due to the onset of World War II, but in 1948 the Lilywhites finally refused to be denied, claiming their first ever win in the final, a 2-0 victory against St Albans City Reserves. It would be twenty long years before Hoddesdon made the final again, but they did so two seasons on the bounce in 1968 and 1969. Unfortunately, they lost both games to Harpenden Town (1-2) and Tring Town (0-1) respectively.

However, it wasn’t long until double heartache was banished, and double delight was ushered in, winning both the 1971 and 1972 finals, beating Leggatts Way Old Boys (3-0) and Tring Town (4-1) respectively. Indeed, the 1971 victory formed one third of the famous treble win, sitting alongside victory in the Spartan League Challenge Cup Final and winning the Spartan League itself. Hoddesdon also retained the Spartan League Challenge Cup in 1972, completing an excellent ‘double’ that season.

Shield number four was attained in the 1978-79 season as the Lilywhites handsomely beat Royston Town 4-1.

More heartbreak was dished out in the 1994 and 1998 finals by London Colney, as they saw off Hoddesdon 2-0 and 1-0 in the respective culminations of the competition.

Hoddesdon, however made it win number five in 2004 with the afore mentioned 3-2 win against Welwyn Garden City. That was the last time Hoddesdon made it all the way to the showpiece final and with the competition once again being suspended between the 2019-20 season and the 2022-23 season due to Covid19 protocols, it would be marvellous if the team could follow up their Herts Senior Centenary Trophy win, with an appearance in one of Hertfordshire’s oldest competitions. However, last season’s runners up, Oxhey Jets, will be no push over for Simon Riddle’s side, as they clash sometime in August.

On the 10th of April, Oxhey succumbed to a 4-0 defeat to Tring Athletic at The County Ground in Letchworth. Goals from Max Hercules, George Carbery and a Harry Shepherd double secured the famous old shield for the Cow Lane club. You can watch highlights from that game HERE.

With 11 final appearances and 5 wins, Hoddesdon would love to find themselves, once again, at The County Ground come April 2025, and that begins with the tricky trip to Watford.

You can read the full history of Herts Charity Shield finals HERE.

Keep your eyes on this website and our social media channels for announcements regarding the confirmed date of this mouth watering tie.

#COYL