Hoddesdon Town put league business to one side again on Saturday afternoon as another cup competition takes centre stage at Lowfield, with Allenburys Sports making the short journey from Ware for a 3pm kick-off in the second round of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy.

It is a competition with considerable history for the Lilywhites. Hoddesdon have lifted the trophy four times and have appeared in nine finals, a remarkable record which underlines the club’s long-standing affinity with this particular piece of Hertfordshire silverware. The most recent success came only two seasons ago, when Simon Riddle’s side defeated Royston Town Under-23s in a dramatic final at The County Ground in Letchworth.

Hoddeson Last Won This Competition in 2024

That night in March 2024 ended 1-1 before an extraordinary penalty shoot-out finally went Hoddesdon’s way by 11-10. Jack Riddle had headed Town ahead early in the contest before Royston equalised late on, but the Lilywhites eventually held their nerve from the spot to bring the trophy back to Lowfield for the fourth time.

Now the journey begins again.

Jack Riddle and Jack Gibbs With The Trophy

A TROPHY WITH HISTORY – AND PLENTY OF HODDESDON MEMORIES

The Hertfordshire FA Senior Centenary Trophy was first contested in the 1984/85 season, when Welwyn Garden City became its inaugural winners by defeating Pirton 2-0. Hoddesdon did not have to wait long to make their own mark, reaching the final the following year before going one better in 1986/87 with a thumping 5-1 victory over Bedmond Sports & Social.

Further triumphs followed in 2007/08, when Hertford Heath were beaten 3-1, and 2008/09, when Hoddesdon retained the trophy by overcoming Hatfield Town 5-3 on penalties. The 2023/24 success against Royston brought title number four and a ninth appearance in the final, adding another chapter to one of the club’s strongest relationships with a county competition.

The Herts Senior Centenary Trophy

There is therefore genuine history attached to Saturday’s fixture. Nobody inside Lowfield will be pretending that past successes provide any advantage once the whistle blows, but this is a competition which has created some memorable occasions for generations of Hoddesdon players and supporters, and another extended run would certainly be welcomed.

Town received a bye through the opening round this season, while Allenburys had to earn their place the hard way. The Ware side produced an impressive away performance against one of the strongest teams in their own division, defeating Ware United 1-0 to book Saturday’s visit to Lowfield.

1st Round Results

That result alone should remove any temptation to judge the visitors simply by their place one step below Hoddesdon in the pyramid.

LILYWHITES ARRIVE WITH MOMENTUM

Hoddesdon come into the tie enjoying another strong sequence of results, having responded emphatically to their FA Vase exit at Heybridge Swifts earlier this month. Three consecutive home fixtures since that defeat have produced three victories. London Harts United were beaten 4-1, Coggeshall Town were dispatched 3-1 last Saturday and May & Baker left Lowfield on the wrong end of another 3-1 scoreline on Tuesday evening as Hoddesdon progressed in the League Challenge Cup.

Hoddesdon's Season So Far

The numbers across the campaign make particularly impressive reading. Town have played 17 completed matches in all competitions, winning 14, drawing two and losing only once, while scoring 45 goals and conceding 15. At Lowfield they have been especially formidable, with six victories and one draw from seven outings, 20 goals scored and only six conceded.

League form has been stronger still. The Lilywhites remain unbeaten in the Eastern Counties League First Division South after 13 matches, recording 11 victories and two draws. Their 35 points leave them five clear of both Stansted and East Thurrock Community, although Stansted have played two games more and East Thurrock one more.

The League Table Makes Way For Cup Action This Weekend

There remains far too much football ahead for anyone at Lowfield to become distracted by what the table might eventually mean, but Hoddesdon have given themselves an excellent platform. Saturday is an opportunity to temporarily forget those league calculations and attack another route towards silverware.

Tuesday’s cup victory over May & Baker was particularly encouraging given the calibre of the opposition. Connor Casey opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Freddie Wilkinson produced a magnificent second-half strike and Jack Orchard headed home the third after the visitors had threatened to make it a nervy finish.

Jason Brown’s performance on the flank earned him the Man of the Match award, while Liam Nugent was also called upon to make several important interventions. It was another demanding evening, though, and with Saturday bringing Hoddesdon’s fourth consecutive match at Lowfield, management will again have decisions to make over workload and selection.

Jason Brown Won The Greene King Level Head Man Of The Match On Tuesday

ALLENBURYS CANNOT BE JUDGED ON STEP ALONE

Allenburys Sports operate in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division at Step Seven, one level below Hoddesdon, and currently sit seventh in a competitive 14-team division.

Their league record stands at four wins, two draws and four defeats from ten matches, giving them 14 points. Chipperfield Corinthians currently lead the division with 26 points from 11 games, ahead of Ware United on 24, but Allenburys remain comfortably positioned in the middle of the table with plenty of football still to play.

Allenburys Occupy 7th In The Herts County League Premier Division

Their overall record across the season demonstrates why Hoddesdon will need to be alert. Across 11 matches in all competitions Allenburys have won four, drawn two and lost five, scoring 24 goals while conceding 30. They have therefore averaged more than two goals per game themselves, but their fixtures have also tended to produce chances at both ends.

Recent weeks underline that unpredictability. Their last outing brought an entertaining 4-3 home victory over Cuffley Seniors, an excellent result against a side sitting towards the upper reaches of their division. Before that came defeats against Everett Rovers Reserves and Enfield Rangers, but September featured that significant 1-0 Centenary Trophy victory away at Ware United, a 2-0 success against Cheshunt Development and a remarkable 5-3 win at Owens.

Any side capable of scoring five away from home and eliminating Ware United on their own ground deserves respect.

Allenburys Sports Season So Far

ONES TO WATCH – ALLENBURYS

Leading the way statistically for Saturday’s visitors is Conor Clarke, who has started all 11 of their recorded matches and leads the club scoring chart with four goals. His ever-present status makes him an obvious player for Hoddesdon to keep an eye on, with Allenburys likely to rely on his experience and consistency as they attempt to upset the Step Six hosts.

There is plenty of support behind him. George Beattie and Charlie Daniel have three goals apiece from only five appearances, while Callum Bennison, Alexis Krzykala, Bradley Niner, Sam Reynolds and Jacob Waring have all registered twice. The distribution of those goals demonstrates that the visitors are not reliant on one obvious scorer.

There will also be some very familiar faces around Lowfield. Former Hoddesdon forwards Harry Bushell and Callum Bennison are among the Allenburys ranks and will need little introduction to those who have watched Town over recent seasons. Both will know the surroundings and plenty of the players they could find themselves facing.

Ex Hoddesdon Town Forward Harry Bushell

Harry Bushell played for the Lilywhites for many seasons and was a hugely influential member of the reserve side that won a trio of Floodlit Cups in a row under Neil Conner and his assistants, Jon Dean and Dave Spratt. Harry has always had a great eye for goal and also has experience with Wodson Park. Capable of the spectacular, Bushell will need special attention.

Callum Bennison With The 2023-24 Herts Senior Centenary Trophy

Callum Bennison played for the Lilywhites more recently, scoring 6 goals in 30 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign. Spells with Oracle and Allenburys have seen Callum enjoy great success in local football, and he was part of the squad that won this trophy for Hoddesdon back in 2024.

Then comes perhaps the most intriguing connection of the afternoon. Allenburys also have Dan Orchard among their squad, the brother of Hoddesdon defender Jack Orchard. Should both feature, Lowfield could witness the unusual prospect of the Orchard brothers lining up on opposite sides in a competitive county cup tie. Jack himself knows Allenburys well having previously represented Saturday’s visitors, while Jake Harvey is another current Lilywhite who has worn their colours. Those connections should add an extra edge to an already interesting local encounter without detracting from the overriding objective of reaching the next round.

Jack Orchard Pictured During His Allenburys Stint

Jake Harvey Also Represented The Visitors Prior To His Hoddesdon Move

GET WELL SOON, JAKE

Thoughts within the Hoddesdon camp this week have also been with Jake Harvey, who suffered a nasty knee injury during Tuesday night’s victory over May & Baker. Harvey has made himself an important member of the group this season and nobody wants to see a player leave the field in that manner. Everyone connected with Hoddesdon Town wishes Jake well with his recovery and hopes the injury proves less serious than it initially appeared.

Football quickly moves on to the next fixture, but some things are more important than Saturday afternoon. Jake will have the support of his teammates, management and everyone around the club as he begins his recovery.

ONES TO WATCH – HODDESDON

At the other end, Allenburys will be fully aware of the threat posed by a Hoddesdon attack which has already accumulated 45 goals this season.

Connor Bolton remains the standout number. He continues to provide the most obvious danger whenever Town move into the final third. His penalty against Coggeshall last weekend took him further into double figures and his movement, pace and ability to attack space will inevitably occupy plenty of Allenburys’ pre-match planning.

Yet there are threats throughout the Hoddesdon side. Jack Gibbs has five goals from midfield, while Connor Casey and Freddie Wilkinson moved onto five apiece with their strikes against May & Baker on Tuesday. Ollie Babbage has four, Harrison Cage three, while Jonah Evans and Jack Orchard have both recently demonstrated that the defenders are perfectly capable of joining in.

Freddie Wilkinson Scored A Fabulous Goal From Distance On Tuesday Evening Against May & Baker

Evans has scored twice in his recent appearances, including that outrageous long-range effort against London Harts followed by his delicate finish against Coggeshall, while Orchard followed his Man of the Match display against the Seed Growers by powering home Tuesday’s decisive third goal.

The strength of Hoddesdon’s campaign has also been built upon availability and consistency further back. Blesson Asekolenga, Blue Gallagher and Liam Nugent have been virtual fixtures in the side, with Jack Orchard, Jack Gibbs and Jimmy Agnew also accumulating significant minutes. Whoever gets the nod on Saturday will be expected to maintain the standards established over the opening months.

Jimmy Agnew

ALLENBURYS – A WARE FOOTBALL NAME WITH DEEP ROOTS

Allenburys Sports may be unfamiliar opposition to some Lowfield regulars, but the Allenburys name has a remarkably long association with football in Ware.

Records trace the original Allenbury’s side back to the 1919/20 season, when a Ware-based club of that name joined the Herts County League Eastern Division. They later competed in the North & East Division before leaving in 1922, returned to county football in 1951 and earned promotion from Division Two the following season. In 1955 the club became known as Allenburys Association.

The Allenbury’s Sports name later appeared in the Herts Senior County League in 1985/86. One of the club’s significant achievements followed in 1990/91 when they won the Division Two championship, taking 54 points from 22 matches after recording 17 victories and losing only twice. They subsequently spent several seasons in Division One before leaving in 1996, then returned to the competition in 2002.

The modern senior side returned under the Allenburys Sports name in 2024 when Oracle Components changed their name, continuing a football identity closely associated with the Ware area and the Allenburys Sports and Social Club. They finished sixth in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division in 2024/25 and ninth last season before beginning the current campaign.

That history, coupled with their collection of former Hoddesdon players, makes Saturday considerably more interesting than a simple Step Six versus Step Seven cup fixture.

CROSS: “THEY’VE ALREADY SHOWN WHAT THEY CAN DO”

Assistant manager Jeff Cross believes Allenburys’ first-round victory at Ware United FC provides all the warning Hoddesdon should require and insists there will be no complacency within the home dressing room.

“If anybody looks at the league step and thinks that makes Saturday straightforward, then they haven’t been paying attention. Allenburys went away to Ware United, who are right up near the top of their league, and knocked them out 1-0. That tells you straight away that they can organise themselves, compete and get a result against a good side.”

Assistant Manager Jeff Cross Gave His Thoughts Before The Weekend

Cross is also expecting the numerous connections between the clubs to add something extra to the afternoon, particularly with several visiting players returning to familiar surroundings.

“There are loads of connections. Harry and Callum have played here, Jack and Jake have played for Allenburys and obviously you’ve got the possibility of Jack and his brother Dan being on opposite sides. That makes it interesting for everyone watching, but once the game starts it becomes a proper cup tie and friendships go out of the window for 90 minutes.”

The assistant manager also acknowledged Hoddesdon’s proud record in this competition, while stressing that history has to be earned afresh by each new group of players.

“This football club has a brilliant history in the Centenary Trophy and the lads should know that. Four wins and nine finals is something to be proud of, and some of this squad experienced that night against Royston a couple of years ago. But the trophy from 2024 can’t help us on Saturday. If this group wants another day like that, they have to start earning it again now.”

Jeff was a magnificent captain and player for Hoddesdon but after a quick look through the archives, we think this trophy evaded him as a player. In 1987, under manager Terry Scales, Hoddesdon won their first ever Centenary trophy, and alongside defeating Bedmond 5-1 in the final, that team won a double, taking home both the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy and the South Midlands League Challenge Trophy. Records suggest that was just before Jeff's time at the club but he was of course part of the management team that collected to trophy in 2024.

Cross also had a message for Harvey following Tuesday’s injury.

“First and foremost, everyone is thinking about Jake. It was horrible to see him go down like that and we’re all hoping he makes a good recovery. He’s a popular lad and an important part of the group, and we’ll give him whatever support he needs. Saturday matters to us, of course it does, but Jake’s health matters considerably more.”

ANOTHER LOWFIELD CUP AFTERNOON AWAITS

Hoddesdon will start as favourites by virtue of their league status, home advantage and outstanding form, but knockout football has a habit of punishing anyone who approaches it with assumptions. Allenburys arrive having already eliminated one of the strongest sides in their own division away from home. They have goals throughout their squad, a group containing several players with intimate knowledge of Hoddesdon and absolutely nothing to lose when they step onto the Lowfield pitch.

For Town, meanwhile, it is another opportunity to continue an excellent start to the campaign while reconnecting with a competition that has already provided the club with so many special memories. The 2024 trophy may already be safely stored in the history books, but the possibility of creating another Centenary story begins on Saturday.

Hoddesdon Town v Allenburys Sports
Herts Senior Centenary Trophy – Second Round
Saturday 24th October 2026 – 3:00pm
Lowfield, EN11 8PX
Entry is £8 Adults, £5 Concessions and Under 16s Free

Hoddesdon Form: Three consecutive victories since the FA Vase defeat at Heybridge, including 4-1 v London Harts, 3-1 v Coggeshall and 3-1 v May & Baker.
Allenburys Form: Most recently beat Cuffley Seniors 4-3 after defeats to Everett Rovers Reserves and Enfield Rangers; reached this round by winning 1-0 away at Ware United.
Hoddesdon Ones To Watch: Connor Bolton, Jack Gibbs, Connor Casey, Freddie Wilkinson, Jonah Evans.
Allenburys Ones To Watch: Conor Clarke, Harry Bushell, George Beattie, Dan Orchard, Callum Bennison.

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