There was an air of optimism and a sense of a new era as season 2008-2009 began, with Kings returning to what was felt to be their rightful position in Division 1 of the Spartan South Midlands League after finishing the previous season as Champions of the Spartan South Midlands League Division 2 in season 2007-08.

The Herts Intermediate Cup and Division Two Cup were also won as the team completed a magnificent treble.

AUGUST
Kings began the new season well, progressing in the Herts Charity Shield at the expense of Premier side, St Margaretsbury at Gaywood Park with Simon Conway scoring the only goal of the match. New signing Ian Felgate slotted in well in midfield as the only debutant in the matchday fourteen. The competition is by invitation only and traditionally gives clubs an almost pre-season run out. The next round would not be until March!

The following Saturday, it was a case of north into Bedfordshire and Arlesey Athletic were dispatched with three unanswered goals. Sixteen year old Jack Johnson continued his fine form from the end of the previous season to bag a brace and strike partner Lewis Pritchard scored the other.

In midweek, a Lee Bircham penalty put Kings on their way at home to Tokyngton Manor and though the first goals were conceded, a Lewis Pritchard hat trick and another from Jack Johnson was more than enough to take the points in a 5-2 win. Lee Warysniuk made his debut and was to hold the left back position until returning briefly to Levy later in the season.

Come the next Saturday Kings hosted New Bradwell St. Peter and in an intriguing and closely fought encounter, Kings emerged with the points. The Saints answered Lee Bircham’s penalty, but Simon Conway notched the winner.

It was a similar story the following weekend when Crawley Green, who had gained promotion with Kings, were the visitors. It was a physical match, with little quarter given and the home side had drafted in Gary McMahon between the posts, with regular keeper Kevin Marsh unavailable. There was also a debut for Allan Arthur, a newly signed experienced striker from Leverstock Green. Lee Bircham converted his third consecutive spot kick as the only goal of a bad tempered encounter that saw Bircham and the Green’s skipper both sent off for an altercation immediately after the penalty. The signing of Arthur gave Steve Heath the bonus of having four top class goalscorers for two positions (Arthur, Pritchard, Conway and Johnson) and it was a situation he used to the maximum, rotating them throughout the season and yielding 65 goals from the quartet.

As the month drew to a close, Kings travelled to Stony Stratford Town, who also had a 100% record and comprehensively outplayed them, recording a 5-1 victory. Allan Arthur scored the first, Simon Conway came off the bench to record the fourth and Craig Preston, Steve Hutchins and fellow substitute and debutant Dan Tomkins completed the scoresheet. All this after Stony had taken a second minute lead!

SEPTEMBER
The month started with another clash between two sides who boasted a 100% record. Something had to give and this time the top two teams had to settle for a point apiece in a cagey affair, with Jack Johnson scoring for Kings and Ashley Deverell for Bedford. Tony Perry deputised for Marsh and was an able deputy on his debut.

The visit to Buckingham Athletic saw the Stags belie their lowly League position and give Kings a real run for their money. Allan Arthur scored the only goal of the game and the visitors were relieved to come away with the three points.

Two days later, attention switched to the Division One Cup and despite some good approach play that was as exotic as their name, visiting Sport London e Benfica were no match for Kings, who progressed to the next round with a 5-2 scoreline. The goals were shared between five players, Jack Johnson, Lewis Pritchard, Richard Harvey, Steve Hutchins and Warren Drysdale.

Tension resumed with League action at home to Winslow United, who adopted a physical, vociferous attitude from the off and in a bruising encounter, Kings edged home by the odd goal in three, courtesy of strikes from Lewis Pritchard and Richard Harvey. Former KL Youth product Phil Morgan, a regular in the previous campaign, returned from injury and was to be an integral part of the squad for the rest of the season.

It was a case of deja-vu during the midweek as Sport London e Benfica hosted the League fixture, the second meeting between the two in nine days. The outcome was remarkably similar, this time with a 4-1 scoreline, goals again well spread around from Lee Bircham, Simon Conway, Ian Felgate and Lewis Pritchard.

It was a different story on the visit to Cranfield United as Kings battled hard to hold on to their unbeaten record and a two all draw was a fair reflection, with Allan Arthur and Lewis Pritchard scoring the goals.

The next competition to rear its head was the Challenge Cup, or the League Cup if you wish for simplicity. Kings were drawn at home to Premiership neighbours Leverstock Green and produced a superb all round team performance to show Green the exit. Allan Arthur scored a brace against his old club and although David Parkinson replied, the result was more emphatic than the scoreline suggests.

OCTOBER
The other local derby at Sun Postal Sports was held the following weekend as a League fixture and it wasn’t one for the spectators as both were determined not to lose and consequently ground out a dour, no-score, bore draw, effectively cancelling each other out.

Another different story the next weekend as Harpenden Town came to Gaywood Park and in battle between two well-matched sides, Kings always looked to have the edge and shaded it through Craig Preston’s winner after Allan Arthur and James Ewington had set up the finale for their respective teams.

The incredible 47 game unbeaten run in all competitions finally came to an end on a cold night at Premier side Brimsdown Rovers with a 3-0 loss in the second round of the League Cup. The last time Kings had tasted defeat was on 15th September 2007, losing 2-1 to Kent Athletic, the only League game lost in the promotion campaign from Division Two. The thirteen month run was a tremendous achievement, which must rank highly in this, or any other League.

Three days later it looked as if the League record would go as well, as Kings left it very late at Bedford, coming back from a goal down to see Allan Arthur and Jack Johnson net in the dying minutes to turn defeat into victory. It was enough to take Kings to the top of the table as early pacesetters Bedford Town Reserves faltered. However, Royston Town’s strong run continued, together with the advantage of games in hand.

There was another break from the main programme, with The Herts Senior Centenary Trophy (County Cup) taking precedence the following weekend, A trip to the home of Herts County League side Baldock Town Letchworth presented few difficulties and Kings ran out comfortable winners by four goals to one, scorers Lee Bircham, Gary Clark, Jamie Hall and Dan Tomkins.

NOVEMBER
Simon Conway opened the scoring against struggling Brache Sparta with a brace, which was then matched by strike partner Jack Johnson and second half substitute Alan Arthur. Craig Preston, Ian Felgate and Richard Harvey completed the rout.

There had been little love lost for some time between Kings Langley and Hatfield Town and the midweek visit to Welwyn saw the atmosphere boil over onto the pitch, where Hatfield were determined to end Langley’s unbeaten League run by fair means or foul. The over aggressive attitude culminated in an assault on Lee Waryszniuk by the Hatfield centre forward that resulted in the presence of the police and a hospital visit for the Kings left back. The almost incidental result was a 3-1 loss that ended the record run of 37 unbeaten League games (23 Division 2 and 14 Division 1) in a most unsatisfactory way. Allan Arthur netted the consolation.

A superb volley from Lewis Pritchard secured a point in a hard fought encounter at London Colney, as Kings Langley joined early pacesetters Bedford Town Reserves in finding it tough to be in pole position. Royston Town took over the top spot, with games in hand.

The midweek home fixture against Arlesey Athletic was played under lights at Hemel Hempstead Town F C and a patient performance delivered the points. Lewis Pritchard was again on target and Dan Tomkins scored direct from a corner.

A week later, the home fixture was reversed to Amersham Town, due to the current lack of floodlights at Gaywood Park. The venue made little difference to Kings and further progress was made in the Division 1 Cup, with a Lee Bircham penalty being followed by a close range strike from Allan Arthur, an own goal and a Simon Conway effort that capped a sparkling performance in a 4-1 win.

The resumption of League duties saw honours even at Hoddesdon Town, with the prolific Allan Arthur adding to his tally in an absorbing encounter where the draw was a fair reflection of two evenly matched sides. Steve Heath had added another Leverstock Green player to his list, signing diminutive winger Ben Hammond and he came off the bench to make his debut. He was to challenge for the wide right role for the rest of the season.

The month closed with a somewhat shock exit from the Herts Centenary Trophy at the hands of Herts County League leaders, London Lions. In a flowing match that could have gone either way, Simon Conway cancelled out an early setback, but London Lions went ahead again and hung on to the finish

DECEMBER
Visiting Ampthill Town proved difficult opponents, despite having a man sent off, as Langley struggled to a single goal victory, courtesy of an Allan Arthur conversion of an Ian Felgate cross.

The eagerly awaited top of the table clash at Royston Town produced an absorbing game, despite adverse conditions, where freezing winds were the order of the day. Honours were shared as it ended goal-less, thanks to some fine saves from Tony Perry between the Kings sticks and despite a powerhouse midfield performance from Steve Hutchins.

The gaining of that point was a vital one and kept the gap between the two manageable, but as so often happens, the impressive performance was followed by a woeful one at mid table Amersham Town, as Kings threw away the initiative and lost to an Amersham team that had comfortably beaten a month previously. Unable to find the net, the cause was lost when the home side won a penalty that proved to be the difference It was the last Saturday before Christmas and put a blight on the festivities.

The day after Boxing Day, Stony Stratford Town came to visit and the goal touch finally returned. A brace from Allan Arthur and one from Richard Harvey put Kings on the road to victory, while Town’s consolation was a powerful volley, after Kevin Marsh had blocked the initial shot.

JANUARY
The first fixture of the new year was a trip up the M1 to Bedford Town Reserves, who made up the quartet contesting the top spot. There was a feeling of disquiet when the team sheet showed that there was a heavy inclusion of Southern League Bedford Town’s first team players included due to their not having a game that day. However, there was nothing in the rules to disallow that, as long as they were registered in this League, although it raised questions of Reserve Teams competing in a league for Step 6 first teams. Kings took their medicine, but the extra quality showed in a 0-3 reversal.

The winter weather was to provide interruptions during the month and the next action was a home quarter final tie in the Division One Cup against New Bradwell St. Peter, again played at Hemel Hempstead Town F C. A brace from Simon Conway was enough to send Kings through to the semi-final.

At rural Winslow, a Lewis Prichard brace and a Lee Bircham penalty appeared to have sealed the points, with Kings 3-1 up and a petulant United reduced to ten men. But United battled back with two in the last ten minutes to earn a 3-3 draw, leaving Langley to reflect on a missed opportunity.

Kings were buoyed by the signing of former Canadian international Marc Bircham, brother of Lee and he inspired a 2-0 home win against Sun Postal Sports, with rare goals coming from Lee Johnson and Gary Clark. The weather immediately became more serious and snow was to cause postponements.

FEBRUARY
A goalkeeping error and a dubious penalty gifted visiting Cranfield United an interval lead and when they went further ahead early in the second half, the game seemed over. But a Craig Preston header inspired a spirited comeback in which Ben Hammond’s fierce volley and the persistence of Jack Johnson amazingly levelled the score with seven minutes to go. But heartbreak followed, as Cranfield broke immediately to grab the winner with a goal that had more than a suspicion of offside about it. So ended a home League undefeated record of nearly 18 months.

Three nil down at half time, Brache Sparta were totally overwhelmed in the second half, as visiting Langley reached double figures. The score sheet showed an Allan Arthur hat-trick, a brace from Jack Johnson, two own goals and strikes from Lewis Pritchard, Richard Harvey and Lee Bircham. It inspired minimum pleasure as it was painful to see a club that had once dominated the Luton & District League apparently in its death throes, having conceded 19 goals in two matches against Kings. In the event, they were to struggle on for another two years before folding.

A six man, nine pass move ended with Gary Clark opening the scoring at New Bradwell in midweek, as Langley brushed aside the third placed side with a superb team display. Clark added another, doubling his season’s total, Lee Bircham converted his eighth penalty of the season and Allan Arthur tapped in a cross from the hard working Simon Conway to seal a 4-0 victory.

The visit of Sport London e Benfica closed the month as the two teams met for the third time this season and the result was again a comfortable one for Kings. Simon Conway eluded the Benfica defence to score after 25 seconds and Allan Arthur extended the lead 5 minutes later. Langley had to wait until mid-second half for Lewis Pritchard to volley a third to wrap up the points.

MARCH
First v second should have been the final, rather than the semi-final of the Division One Cup, but more atrocious conditions at Royston saw the Crows break the deadlock with a well flighted free kick on the stroke of half time. Langley had two good opportunities to win the game, but went out to a late goal from a defensive error.

With fixtures piling up, Kings were obliged to go to neighbours Sun Postal Sports on the Thursday, the third game of the week. The competition was the somewhat second tier County Cup known as the Herts Charity Shield and rather than exit two cups in the same week, further progress was made with goals from Gary Clark, Jack Johnson and Lewis Pritchard in a 3-1 victory.

In the League at Harpenden, real character was shown to overcome a harsh first half dismissal as Ian Felgate starred with a powerful header from a Simon Conway cross and sealed it with a volley from an almost identical position to record a 2-0 win against the odds..

When Kings entertained London Colney in midweek, the game was in the balance until the last five minutes as Langley held on to a lead given by Lewis Pritchard’s turn and shot from a Simon Conway pass. A frenetic encounter ended with Lee Bircham’s free kick crossed by Pritchard for Gary Clark to steer home (88) and Simon Conway forcing in the 100th goal of the season as the keeper fumbled (90+2).

Although ensconced in mid-table, visiting Bedford showed that their recent good results against top half teams was no fluke, with a hard-working performance in which their central defenders withstood everything that Kings Langley could throw at them to secure a goal-less draw..

As the title race entered the last lap, every game was a cup final and Kings nerves were stretched at Ampthill Town, where despite controlling the game, the result was reliant on a 50th minute penalty, coolly slotted home by skipper Lee Bircham for his ninth conversion of the season.

It was apparent that unless their form dipped dramatically, Royston would be Champions and the race was on for the other promotion spot. Kings had held that slot for the majority of the season, with Hatfield and Bedford Town Reserves breathing down their necks, so the home game against Royston, held at Hemel Hempstead Town was a vital one. Royston were worth their interval lead, courtesy of a powerful Craig Hammond header in the second minute that was the first League goal conceded after an impressive run of 7 consecutive clean sheets. Kings stormed back after the interval and Jack Johnson’s superb half volley into the top left hand corner gave the keeper no chance. With the game poised, Kings looked the more likely winners, but a goalmouth scrimmage resulted in a surprising decision to award Royston a penalty and in a double blow, to dismiss Marc Bircham. When the referee pointed to the spot after James Milton’s run was aggressively halted, only to change it to a free kick a foot outside the box, it confirmed the feeling that this was not Kings’ night.

APRIL
Despite injuries and fatigue after the third game in five days, Langley so nearly made it through to the final of the Herts Charity Shield at Broxbourne Borough. As on Monday night, they went behind to an early well taken goal, but battled back to equalize through a calm Simon Conway finish and go ahead early in the second half as Matt Clements forced the ball home in a crowded box. But Broxbourne struck back almost immediately and then sealed a Final appearance as the extra game took its toll.

The Saturday saw the fourth game in seven days as Kings welcomed Buckingham Athletic to Gaywood Park and Craig Preston hammered home a cross to set Kings Langley on their way. Jack Johnson’s persistence robbed the centre back and saw him unselfishly square the ball for Steve Hutchins to side-foot home the second and although Buckingham pulled one back against the run of play on the stroke of half time, Simon Conway put the game beyond their reach mid second half.

There was little respite, as next up was arguably the promotion decider and rematch against third placed Hatfield Town at Hemel Hempstead Town’s ground under floodlights. Fortunately, there was no repeat of the scenes that marred the previous encounter as Kings did their talking on the pitch with an all-action performance that seemed to demoralise Hatfield from the start. Ben Hammond delivered a telling cross that was swept past the keeper by Lewis Pritchard and a second half penalty for a foul on Jack Johnson was dispatched with aplomb by Steve Hutchins to seal the vital points.

Langley built on that result four days later at home to Amersham Town, as a brace from Lewis Pritchard was enough to calm the promotion nerves. In-form Amersham never really recovered from the early strikes and their misfortune in hitting the crossbar. Nevertheless, the home side were not unhappy to hear the final whistle as Amersham disputed it until the end.

What would be the last midweek game of the season saw Kings travel to Tokyngton Manor in North London on a spring evening and go a goal down in the first minute. Normal service looked to have been resumed when well executed goals from Richard Harvey and Lewis Pritchard reflected a 2-1 scoreline, but there was a sting in the tail as a late equaliser was conceded somewhat against the run of play.

Four days later, a workmanlike performance at Crawley Green brushed aside the opposition, with a disputed penalty by Lee Bircham adding to Lee Johnson’s powerful headed opener. With Hatfield going down to Stony Stratford in a bizarre 7-6 score line, Kings Langley were confirmed as runners up.

And so to the last game of the season and there was a celebratory mood at Gaywood Park with the pressure off and a relaxed Kings Langley cruised to a win over Hoddesdon, with hardworking central midfielders Richard Harvey and Steve Hutchins getting just reward with a goal apiece.

Congratulations to Steve Heath, Neil Bartlett and the players on another highly successful season, with the blend of youth and experience producing entertaining, skilful and determined football that made them a very difficult team to beat. We look forward to a new era in the Spartan South Midlands Premier League.

Epilogue
Unfortunately, there was a twist in the tail as, although Planning Permission had finally been granted for the Gaywood Park floodlights and they were in place, it was deemed by the League and the F A that, as they were not in place by March 31st, the Club was in breach of the rules and not only refused promotion, but to be considered for relegation. Every club but one voted against the latter and Kings were to continue in the Division One next season. It was a crushing disappointment and one that was to ultimately lead to the loss of the manager next season and the break-up of the successful team.

Footnote
It was a bitter irony that Hatfield Town, believed to be the one team mentioned above, were promoted in Langley’s stead, as the third placed team. The clubs would meet again once during the next decade, with Kings winning on penalties in the Herts Charity Shield on the opening day of the 2012-13 season. However, by the start of the 20’s, Kings would have risen from Step 6 to the heights of Step 3 and Hatfield would sink to the lower levels of Step 7 in the Herts County League. What goes round……!

ALL THE STATS!...
Click HERE for squad picture, season overview, league table, appearances and goals stats, season analysis and more!