The big striker, whose break into senior football came in WD4 in the 2013/14 season after working through the junior ranks at the club, returned early on this season, clearly excited by the potential he saw in Steve Heath’s side.

Having started the season in Step 3 at Berkhamsted, Bateman made the decision to drop down the divisions to join Kings Langley in Step 5, and he credits the ambition of manager, Heath, and chairman, Darren Eliot, as well as the groundstaff, for making that choice an easy one.

“The project both Darren and Steve were building to try and gain promotion, along with the history I’ve got with the club was what convinced me to come back.

“I thought it was unfortunate Kings got relegated last year when the club is built for a higher level, so I’d like to play a part in getting them back up.

“The pitch isn’t too bad either, I suppose!”

After leaving the club to join Leighton Town in 2016, Bateman pushed on to play at a good level, with the likes of Hemel Hempstead and Royston Town.

He now finds himself at a lower step in the pyramid, but in a league full of quality and teams desperate to rise up the ranks. So, how has he found his time in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division so far?

“The league is very tough this year, as you can tell from the small points difference between the teams at the top.

“Everyone wants to gain promotion and push on, which I feel has made the level much stronger than the name it’s given.”

The number of out-and-out No.9s seen in the game is at a lower rate than perhaps ever before, with the value of a good one displayed by the impact of the likes of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.

Bateman falls very much into that category, and has scored six goals in his 11 appearances for the club so far this term, including the winner in the 1-0 win over Harpenden Town at the backend of last year - their most recent fixture thanks to the disruption caused by the weather.

You frequently hear stories of professionals beginning their career in an attacking role, before gradually being shuffled backwards - Jamie Carragher, for example, began his career as a striker.

Bateman’s journey, though, follows the opposite path.

“I actually started as a left back, moved into a left winger and then eventually turned into a striker during my Kings Langley under-18 floodlit season.

“I then altered between the wing and No.9 when I broke into the Kings Langley first team.

“I definitely enjoy my role and, of course, it helps that you get the glory, as long as the ball’s hitting the back of the net!”

But Bateman has more strings to his bow than simply hitting the back of that net, and taking the adulation that comes with it.

His hold-up play and interactions with his fellow attackers are arguably the strongest part of his game, regularly using his head as an asset to set others in on goal.

Bateman believes that skill, particularly useful when operating in a frontline featuring 30-goal Louie Collier, can be just as important and rewarding as getting on the scoresheet himself.

“I’d hope so, and I think we’ve shown that so far this season with the amount of goals we’ve scored.

“Of course I want to score as many as possible, but as long as we’re scoring as a team, that’s all that matters.”

And it really is all about the togetherness for Bateman, who has captained the side in the absence of full-time skipper Alfie Osborne.

Having experienced the taste of serious success at the club in his first spell, he’s hungry to do it all over again, and believes this squad has the quality and appetite to make that happen.

“My main ambition is to get the club promoted, scoring as many goals as I can along the way.

“But my ambition doesn’t stop after this season. I’d like to kick on and help Kings Langley get back to Step 3, where they were a few years ago.

“I was part of the triple promotion squad back then (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) and would love to be a part of it now.

“I know my teammates have the same objectives as me and we all believe it’s something we can achieve.”