Chelmsford City play St Albans for the second time in the Vanarama National League South this season on Saturday, 10th December (3pm kick-off).
The opposition
St Albans sit in 5th place after 21 games in the Vanarama National League South this season. They have won 9, drawn 6 and lost 6, scoring 31 goals and conceding 19 in the league campaign so far which all adds up to 33 league points.
St Albans have had an up and down campaign, struggling early on but their results have picked up since David Noble was appointed as manager firstly as caretaker in September and then permanently in November.
St Albans have only won 3 times at home in the league this season, but they have won their last two at Clarence Park in the league, beating Weymouth and Bath.
As previously mentioned, the man on the touchline for the Saints is David Noble. Noble took over from long-serving manager Ian Allinson in September, and after a decent spell in caretaker charge, was appointed permanently in the middle of last month.
Noble, a midfielder by trade, played for West Ham United, Bristol City, Exeter City, Rotherham United and Oldham Athletic amongst others, and won international honours with both England & Scotland at youth level, and won 1 cap for the Scotland B team in 2003.
In terms of players, St Albans have Norwich City loanee goalkeeper Dylan Berry in between the sticks who has replaced the injured Michael Johnson.
In defence they have former Arsenal academy and Wycombe Wanderers loanee Tafari Moore. They also have former Leyton Orient man Michael Clark as well as Callum Adebyi, and former Watford trainee Joy Mukena.
In midfield they have former Hemel Hempstead Town and Havant & Waterlooville man Chris Paul, Devante Stanley, and Kyran Wiltshire, who scored against the Clarets at Melbourne on the opening day. They also have Huw Dawson who has come through the club’s academy and ex-Claret Chez Isaac, who has not featured since early November.
Up front they have another former Claret Shaun Jeffers, who is once again leading the league’s top scorers with 14 in 21 league games, after he scored 27 last season for the Saints. Supplementing him they have former Luton winger Zane Banton as well as strikers Joe Neal and Mitchell Weiss.
Previous Meetings
The last time the two sides met was the opening day of the 2022/23 season when Devonte Aransibia scored a late equaliser to grab a point for the Clarets.
City are undefeated in their last 3 visits to the Mozzarella Fellas Stadium winning 3-0 last season with goals from Cameron James, Charlie Sheringham and a wonder goal from Louis Dunne.
The last time St Albans beat the Clarets at Clarence Park, current Chelmsford player Khale Da Costa scored for the Saints in a 3-1 win in 2019.
Team News
Khale Da Costa and Ade Oluwo have missed the last month or so with injuries. Callum Jones is also nearing a return from his long-term ankle injury. The suspensions picked up against Dulwich do not count for another few games.
Ticket News
Tickets are now available to be purchased in advance of the 3pm kick-off on Saturday and can be bought by clicking this link.
Ticket prices online:
Adult – £16.50
Concession – £11
Next Gen (ages 18-21) – £8
Youth (ages 12-17) – £6
Premier League/Championship Season Ticket Holder – £11
Hospitality – £50
Entry can also be purchased at the turnstiles on the day at the Mozzarella Fellas Stadium. Please note that card payments only are accepted at the turnstiles.
The York Road turnstiles will be open from 12:15pm, with the Clarence Park and Hatfield Road turnstiles opening from 13:30pm to 15:15pm.
Ticket prices on the day:
Adult – £16.50
Concession – £11
Next Gen (ages 18-21) – £8
Youth (ages 12-17) – £6
Junior (U12s) – FREE* (Under 12 tickets can only be selected when an over 12 ticket has also been selected.)
Hospitality – £50
Where to follow the game…
The Club will be only providing coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets) using the hashtag #TheClarets.
There will also be live audio commentary from Radio Clarets.
Post-match reports and interviews will be found on the club website, social media and ClaretsTV following the game.
How to get there…
The easiest way to get there from Chelmsford is by taking the supporters coach. The coach leaves Melbourne Stadium at 12.15pm and the County Hotel on Duke Street at 12.30pm. Prices are £20 for adults and £10 for U18s. Please phone or text Dave Cresswell on 07582797001 to book your seat.
St Albans will be showing England’s World Cup Quarter-Final match vs France after the match from 6pm (kick-off 7pm).
Weather
It is set to be a bitterly cold afternoon in Hertfordshire with temperature at kickoff set to be 0 degrees, dropping to minus 2 by the end of the match. However, it is set to stay dry.
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