A tale of seasons past: 50 years of Oxhey Jets

A Tale of Seasons Past: 50 years of Oxhey Jets Football Club 1972-2022 1972/73

A new team is born!

John Elliott had been running a successful youth team in the Boys Brigade that had the support of the local church. One day, however, the vicar bumped into a young Colin Lawson and asked why he had not been at church that Sunday. “It wasn’t my turn on John’s rota sir” was the reply. That was the end of John being in charge of the Boys Brigade team and he was soon looking for a new home for his new team.

Oxhey Jets Football Club was formed at the start of July 1972. The first obstacle to overcome was to raise sufficient money to equip the team. Jets were given some great help with some initial funding from Dave and Lorna Mills, the landlords at the Jet pub, that got the Jets started, and funds were topped up with a jumble sale at the South Oxhey Baptist Church on July 8th 1972. It was agreed by the governing body of the Club, that with effect from August 12th, members would have to pay 5p per week subscription.

Unfortunately this was raised to 10p a week in order to meet the high cost of hiring pitches and changing rooms etc.

The club were Affiliated to the South West Herts Divisional Youth F.A, joining such well known teams as Holywell Boys and Parkwood Boys.

In January 1973 the Club was registered under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act in order that a weekly football lottery could be run using pre-printed tickets. At around the same time the club started selling various novelties, bearing the club name, and these like the football tickets proved to be extremely successful.

During the course of the year the Club organised several coach outings to which were invited not only Club members, but also friends of the Club. The trips organised were: – August 26th – Portsmouth Navy Day September 1st – Disney on Parade at Wembley Pool September 30th – Southend Lights February 2nd – Ice Show at Wembley Pool May 2nd – London 5-a-side Championship May 17th – Harlem Globetrotters at Wembley July 7th – Military Pageant Wembley July 14th – Royal Tournament at Earls Court Other events organised during our first year were a Christmas party for the Club members and a Dance and social held at Hamilton

Hall in Harrow at the end of the season during which the trophies won by team members were presented.

Jets first competitive game was away at Parkwood Boys, one of the strongest teams in the league, and Jets were well beaten 8-0. A week later, though and Jets had their first victory at St Meryl, winning 9-0, and they followed up a week later with a 14-0 win over Bournehall Rovers.

Although not quite at the level of the top teams in the league, Parkwood Boys, Leveret and Holywell Boys, Jets had a good season and established themselves at this level.

They also won the South West Herts U12 Charity Cup! In winning the cup they had three shock wins against the big three.

Jets beat Holywell Boys 5-2 in the quarter-final, a match where John Elliott had to go to hospital after his celebrations!

Then came another shock win in the semi-final, a 4-2 win over Leverets, Jets scoring three goals in the last seven minutes for a come from behind victory, thanks to two goals from Mark Inch and one apiece from Terry Greenland and Mark Aston.

Onto the final against Parkwood Boys held at Leggatts School. Parkwood took an early lead, but Terry Greenland levelled it before half-time. Parkwood went 2-1 in front with just 12 minutes left to play but Lee Saunders pulled it back to 2-2 with five minutes to go.

Onto extra time and Jets snatched the lead with another Greenland goal and looked to have won the game until, in the dying seconds of the match, Parkwood snatched an equaliser. The replay was played the following day and, in a tight game, Jets won the cup with a 1-0 victory.

Jets also won the St Meryl 6-a-side tournament with a team comprising C. Ellsworth, P. Kelly, L. Edwards, C. Lawson, M. Perring, D. Carr and N. Webber.

So, a great first season for Jets, with two trophies, a respectable league campaign and a growing club, even attracting transfers in from other clubs.

The top scorer that initial season was Terry Greenland with 38 league and cup goals, D. Stanley was the Player of the Year, and Mark Aston was the Star Player (most Man of the match awards).

Oxhey Jets 1972

1975/76 South West Herts Under 14 League

Finish Position: 1st

Although Oxhey Jets were formed in 1972, it was clear to see in a couple of years that the boys they had were merging well together to form a powerful football outfit. By the 1975/76 season, the Under 12’s and Under 14 teams had both won their respective league titles.

The Under 12 “A” side won every match of their Borehamwood & District Youth League campaign and scored a whopping 111 goals in just 18 league matches, but they were outdone by their Under 14 side, who won the South West Herts Youth League title, and scored 174 goals on their way to the title.

Earlier on in the season, Jets Under 14’s had beaten Swilletts “B” 15-1. Steve Halliday scored five goals while Mark Aston hit a hat trick in just two minutes!!

But better was to come!

When Jets faced Comets, little did they know that they would end up winning the match 22-0. The result hit the Watford Observer headlines when it was realised that even the goalkeeper scored one of the goals.

The final game of the season saw Oxhey Jets Under 14’s face title rivals Swillett “A” in a match where the winner would take the league title.

A crowd of over 100 spectators turned out to watch the match, and it was Swillett who took the lead in the first minute. But Jets rallied and with the help of Mark Kelly and Mike Dockree, Jets ended up winning the match with a superb 8-1 victory and winning the league title.

Jets before their trip to Liverpool, a young looking Bradley Walsh is shown with his tracksuit on back to front!

1976/77

South West Herts Under 16 League

Finish Position: 1st

The previous season was classed as a successful season, but they didn’t know what was ahead!

The Under 16 “A” team started their season with a 10-0 home win over Garwood, and the victories continued with four more wins over the likes of Evergreen, Croxley, St Meryl and Garwood (again). In fact, it wasn’t until January of 1977 that Jets conceded a goal, this came in the return fixture over Evergreen in an 8-2 win.

The goals continued to flow, the wins and the points built up and S.O.C.A, Holywell and Oxhey Jets “B” all fell victim to Oxhey Jets “A” as the team cruised away with the league title and finished the season as played 13, won 13, goals scored 97, goals against 4.

But that wasn’t all, the Under 16 Challenge Cup was next and Holywell were the first round opponents, Jets winning the match 17-0.

St Meryl were next on the hit-list and were destroyed in a 14-0 win. The semi-final saw Jets take on S.O.C.A and once again, Oxhey Jets came out on top after an 8-0 drubbing. The final saw Oxhey Jets face Croxley, Jets’ closest rivals for the league title. Croxley took the lead twice in the finial but Jets refused to say die, taking the game into extra time with Dean Cleary scoring the vital winner just five minutes from the final whistle.

More silverware came to Oxhey in the form of the League Cup, the first round saw Jets face Holywell, who by now were truly sick of the sight of the Oxhey outfit and there was no let-up as Jets came away with a place in the semi-final after an amazing 26-1 win. The semi-final saw Jets host Croxley, but the team from Rickmansworth way were once again the bridesmaid and never the bride as they lost to Jets in a 4-0 defeat. The final saw Jets take on middle table Garwood and came away with a comfortable 5-0 win. This team were truly unbeatable!

Ther Under 14’ s also won the Under 14 Challenge Cup, beating Gadeside Rangers 3-1. Colin Lawson was sent off for fighting. Steve Halladay and Mark Kelly scored the goals that gave them the cup in extra time.

Nicky Kent scored a cup final hat-trick in the Under 13’s 3-1 win against S.O.C.A Meanwhile, The Under 18’s team, nicknamed the “Babes”, won the the Under 18 League Cup against Croxley, winning 3-0, thanks to goals from Graham White, Rod Jennings and some bloke called Bradley Walsh!

Bradley was the top scorer for the Jets Under 18’s that season, scoring 17 goals from 27 appearances. He was also one of five Jets players selected for the league representative team, alongside M. Baguley, N. Morgan, R. Jennings and T. Horton-Hill.

Bradley’s time at Oxhey Jets was unfortunately a short one as he was quickly spotted by a Brentford scout and he signed for them.

Unfortunately, injuries quickly ended Bradley’s football career, but that led Bradley to focus on his comedy and acting, and the rest is history!

1979/80 Watford & District League Division One

Finish Position: 1st

1979/80 was the second season of Oxhey Jets Football Club fielding a senior side.

Consisting of at least five teenagers who had been with the Jets set up since the formation in 1972 and up through the youth leagues, and then shocking all in the Watford & District League on their debut season by gaining promotion at their first attempt from Division Two - finishing third in the table- and reaching the final of the Junior Benevolent Cup, losing to local rivals South Oxhey Sports, who would have thought that the young Jets would continue to improve in an even tougher division?

But they did.

As the new season, which started in September, finally came around and after two successful friendly matches that Jets won (9-0 verses Rangers and 3-1 against the Red Lion), Jets faced their first competitive fixture of the new season with a match in the Herts FA Junior Cup, a home tie against their rivals SOS (South Oxhey Sports) which saw Jets gain revenge for the Cup Final defeat the season before, with a closely contested 2-1 win. New arrival for Jets, George Hodges, getting the winner.

September 22nd saw a bit of Jets history be made as Jets travelled to play Royal Oak in their first Watford & District League Division One match, Jets came away with a 1-0 win.

October saw Jets defeat Duke of York in the second round of the Junior Cup but get knocked out of the Watford & District Challenge Cup, losing to Leggatts Old Boys reserves 5-2 at home but beating BBOB reserves away 6-1 in their only league match of the month in a game that saw Jets play below par and going a goal down until Tim Linehan came on as a sub and George Hodges scored four of the six.

November found the Jets back in fine form as they defeated Doolan Roofing 1-0 in the Junior Cup to reach the first round proper, a solitary penalty deciding the tie, converted by George Hodges. Jets also saw off Glenn Sports in the Benevolent Cup winning 5-2 away from home and keeping their league form intact by thrashing CSL 7-1 at home, despite initially going a goal down first before Jets hit back, and beating Ellesmere 63 1-0 away, that man again Hodges scoring the winner after missing a penalty earlier in the match December saw the busiest month of the season so far, a 2-0 home win against fellow title contenders Royal Oak on the first day of the month thanks to goals by Terry Greenland and Tim Linehan was followed a week later by the biggest win of the season, a whopping 13-0 victory over BBOB reserves, and the double was completed over CSL with a 5-2 away win. A break for Christmas followed but the last match of the seventies saw Jets win 4-0 at Chipperfield reserves in the Junior Cup.

A new year and a new decade saw Jets celebrate the fact with a 5-3 win away to Dymar Electrics in the league. In the Herts Junior Cup Jets found themselves facing a tough battle against North Herts League side Walkern, who were currently unbeaten in thirty three matches and with seven of their team selected for the North Herts Representative side, but Jets showed their resilience and came away from East Hertfordshire with a place in the next round after a fantastic 4-2 win over a side that would come to compete in the Herts County League in couple of seasons. This was known as the biggest result in the club’s history so far. And the cup wins would continue as Jets saw Albion Rovers out of the Benevolent Cup with a comfortable 4-0 away victory to finish the month.

Despite February being a mild month weather-wise, Jets only had two competitive matches for the whole month, first was the 3-1 win away to Glenn Sports to keep up their 100% league record, the other match was the away quarter final tie in the Junior Cup against Herts County League Division Three side, Potters Bar Crusaders reserves. Despite bringing over 100 Jets fans, Crusaders were clear favourites, but Jets prevailed to win with two first half goals from Chris Fowler, Dean Cleary with a penalty in the second half and George Hodges making sure near the end of the game.

March saw another busy month of football ahead, starting off with a emphatic 8-2 victory over Ellesmere 63 in the league but coming back down to earth with a bump after losing in the semi final of the Herts Junior Cup to Bengeo Trinity 3-2, spoiling the dreams of a final at Clarence Park. A week later and Jets were back in league action, and the blip that Jets suffered the week before were forgotten as Jets ran out 5-2 winners against Dymar Electrics. Jets continued their winning streak with a 3-1 win away at Oracle and finished the month off with their second semi final of the season, but once again losing to their nemesis Leggatts Old Boys reserves 3-1, the same team that knocked Jets out of the Watford & District Challenge Cup back in October.

April arrived and the title was already Oxhey bound, but there was only one thing left to wonder, could they finish the season in the league as undefeated champions and become one of the rare “Invincible” teams?

April 5th saw Glenn Sports come to Oxhey and went away with their tails firmly between their legs after a 6-1 whipping, but it was another fortnight before Jets would play the final league match of the season against Oracle, who had already secured fourth place in the league, and were looking at spoiling the party.

However, Oracle were to be no match for Oxhey Jets, who became Watford & District Division One Champions and were officially given the tag of “Invincibles” after beating Oracle six goals to one to make even more history for the South Oxhey club.

Maybe nowadays in modern football, fourteen matches in a league season would be scoffed at when leagues now have 40 or more league matches to deal with, but if you look at the 2012/13 season with the Jets’ “dream team”, they could only manage nine continous league matches without dropping a solitary point, so for any team to go through a whole season without a defeat or even a draw and winning every game, is certainly an achievement that looks never to be beaten.

Invincibles!!

2000/01 Herts County League Premier Division. Finish Position: 1st The championship winning season started with a 2-0 win away at Cuffley. And the wins carried on until a defence-minded Old Parmitetrians side held on for a 0-0 bore draw at the end of August.

Jets went into September with a 2-0 win at Sun Sports, but hit the brakes when Sandridge Rovers beat Jets 2-1 and Met Police Bushey took Jets apart 3-1 at the ground where both teams played (Jets were using the Met Police ground that season due to the Altham Way site being built).

The Met Police defeat was the last of the season though as they went on to a 22 unbeaten league run of 17 wins and 5 draws to take the title from Kings Langley by a superior goal difference of 17 goals.

But despite the amount of goals scored by Jets, they had to thank Sandridge Rovers for beating Kings Langley in the final match of the season to bring the title back to Oxhey.

Not only had the first team won their league title, but the reserve team did just as well - if not a little better, by scoring 100 goals in the league on their way to the Reserve Section Division One title!

In the Herts Centenary Trophy, Jets defeated Bedmond Sports & Social at Toms Lane by a solitary goal, and in the second round, demolished Old Parmiterians 7-0. The quarter final saw Jets face Colney Heath at “home” at the Met Police Ground in Bushey, but still managed to get past them with a comfortable 5-2 victory. The semi-final saw Jets face fellow title chasing Wormley Rovers, but it was the Wormley side that reached the final after beating a somewhat lacklustre Jets side 4-1.

In the Aubrey Cup, Jets put four past Benington with no reply, and gained revenge over their Wormley Rovers rivals with a 6-2 win at their place. However, it was Elliott Star who stopped the Jets’ chances of a double that season, with an emphatic 5-0 win to knock them out of the cup.

20001/02 Herts County League Premier Division. Finish Position: 1st So this team called Oxhey Jets had won the Herts County League Premier Division last season. But could they do it again?

The answer to that, was yes.

The Jets started in fine style, a 3-1 win against Metropolitan Police Bushey, but soon came back down to earth with a bump on their second match of the season where an over-confident Jets team lost 3-1 to Bedmond Sports & Social.

Elliott Star were next on the fixture list and they were made to pay for the previous Saturday’s under-par performance with a 5-0 spanking.

But by mid December the chances of Jets hanging on to their title looked forlorn and after a fifth defeat of the season in late March at home to their nemesis Bedmond Sports & Social, who had just done the double over them, it looked like Jets’ rivals, Sun Sports, were on the way to taking the Premier Division title back to Watford.

But April saw Jets have to play six matches, while the Sun only had three to play. If Jets could win all their matches, it wouldn’t matter if the Sun won all of their games, Jets would take the title by a point!

Jets travelled to St Peters first, and came away with a 2-0 win, while Sun won 3-0 at home to London Lions.

An away day at Cuffley saw Jets win 3-0, and news came through that the Sun had won 4-0 at Met, Police, it was still all to do.

Oxhey Jets played one of their games in hand, a home match against Bovingdon, which Jets won 3-1. Nails at Sun Postal Sports were beginning to be bitten!

A tough match lay ahead for Jets, an away game at Elliott Star, but Jets came through with flying colours after a 5-2 win, The Sun didn’t play that day, they still had one game left to save their season.

Sun Postal Sports had to win at Elliott Star to keep their now diminishing hopes of a trophy alive, Jets didn’t have a game that day so some players came along to cheer Star on in the “Battle of the Planets!”

Sun beat Star 1-0. It was now down to Jets to have to win their last two league matches.

Oxhey Jets travelled to relegation threatened Croxley Guild and came away with a 4-0 win, Jets were now just two points behind the league leaders.

The last game of the season came on a Bank Holiday and they faced mid-table Wormley Rovers, only a win would do/ Oxhey Jets won the game comfortably 4-0, the title was going back to Oxhey!

In the Herts Centenary Trophy, Jets were given bye for the first round, and faced Hatfield Town at home in the second round, where

they won easily 4-0. The quarter final saw Jets face the challenge of Leverstock Green, a team mid-table in Division One of the South Midlands League. Green took the lead but a late penalty, converted by Ian Holdom, took the game into extra time. Gary Page scored Jets’ winner to put them into the semi-final where they would face arch rivals Sun Postal Sports. Just one goal settled the tie, and that goal went Jets’ way. They faced Elliott Star in the Final.

The County Ground, Letchworth was the place to be, A brace from Wayne Gladdy and another from Scott Simmonds had put Jets in front three times, but on each occasion they were pegged back by the Borehamwood based side. With the match seemingly destined for extra-time, Holdom emerged as the match-winner when he scored with a sweet drive to spark jubilant celebrations.

In the Aubrey Cup, St Peters gave Jets a hard game that Jets just managed to win by 3 goals to 2. The team from Altham Way then travelled to Bedmond Sports & Social in the second round and came away with a 3-1 victory. Once again Jets were drawn second out of the hat for the quarter final game against Hadley and once again came away victorious after a comfortable 3-0 win.

Jets were given a tough draw in the semi-final although at least they had home advantage this time as they beat Sandridge Rovers in a close 2-1 win to meet their closest rivals, Sun Postal Sports.

Scott Simmonds struck a shot out of the blue for Jets to take an unexpected lead just before half time. Sun equalised in the second half and the game went into extra time. With only six minutes left in the match, and the game looking like it would be decided on penalties, Wayne Gladdy slotted home the winner from close range.

Jets had won the Herts County League Premier title, won the Herts Centenary Trophy and also the Aubrey Cup, but that wasn’t all…

The West Herts St Marys Cup was still to be played for after Jets knocked out Bovingdon on penalties after a nail biting 2-2 draw.

Third choice keeper Harvey Stillman being the hero between the sticks saving two out of the five spot kicks.

The St Marys Cup saw much changed Jets facing Ryman League Hemel Hempstead Town. Jets were 1-0 down at half time and a crucial mistake just after the second half saw the Tudors take a two goal lead, Jets pulled a goal back but a further two goals in the final ten minutes saw the quadruple go up in smoke….but a fantastic treble certainly wasn’t bad was it?!!

And once again, the Jets reserves did their fair share in the season too, running away and retaining the Reserves League title and winning the Reserve Cup convincingly by beating Second Division reserves champions London Lions ressies 5-0

20002/03 Herts County League Premier Division. Finish Position: 1st It wasn’t a great start to the new season after the rather unexpected resignation, due to work commitments, of manager Paul Waites.

Eddie O’Connor was to take the top spot but was still coaching in the USA. up stepped Benny Higham who had to pick players not just for the first team, but looked after the reserves as well!

A true case of Benny and the Jets!!

But by November the championship looked too much of a tough nut to crack after losing league fives matches already, especially as one of the defeats was to bottom of the table Croxley Guild, But mr O’Connor decided enough was enough and dropped certain players known to be dead wood and an improvement was made immediately as Jets went on a nine game winning streak, the first time they dropped a point or two was the 0--0 draw at Toms Lane against Bedmond Sports & Social. The remaining seven matches were won straight out and Oxhey Jets won the title by five points, Sun Postal Sports being the runners up.

The 4th January 2003 became a historic day in the history of the club as the home match against Old Parmiterians saw them play a home match under the new £50,000 floodlights. Jets won the game 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal by Nathan Roberts In the Aubrey Cup, Jets retained the trophy. After receiving a bye in the first round, the second round saw Jets travel to Hinton and came away with a 3-1 win. The quarter final gave Jets another away day, this time to Rickmansworth to take on Mill End Sports & Social, a team looking for promotion from Division One. A close game ensued with jets coming out the victors by two goals to one.

The semi final saw Oxhey Jets host Hatfield Town, but the cup proved a leveller to the two sides that were divided by 24 places in the Herts County League’s two divisions, Only a scrambled effort from Nathan Roberts separated the teams on 33 minutes to send Jets through to the final for the second season in succession.The home of Ware Town was where the Aubrey Cup Final was to be played, the opponents being Sandridge Rovers. Rovers had enough chances to take the lead in the opening minutes but it was Jets who took the lead on a quick break and on their first attack of the game. Paul Finnerty passed to Wayne Gladdy, who scored the winner in the previous season's Aubrey Cup final, slotted home to give the Jets the “Double Double”!!

But more was to come! The treble was on.

Jets took part in the Rickmansworth Charity Cup and were matched against Mill End in the Ricky Cup semi-final. Gary Page had to go off injured with a suspected torn stomach muscle and then to make matters worse, Wayne Gladdy got himself sent off. The incident swung the match Mill End's way, and, after coming close on numerous occasions, they eventually found a deserved equaliser 15 minutes from time through Matty Atkins.

Jets found themselves then hanging on for extra-time, when the siege continued as Mill End, in one incredible scramble lasting 30 seconds or more, hitting both post and crossbar and had two efforts cleared off the line.

But it was the decision to move Paul Turner out of defence and into midfield saw Jets finally stem the tide to take the game to the lottery of penalties.

Mill End missed their first attempt but a sequence of eight successful kicks gave Nathan Roberts the opportunity to win it for Jets with their final attempt. However, his effort was pushed on to a post and it was not until Mill End's Darren Horwood missed the sixth sudden death penalty, and the 16th overall, that Jets finally secured a passage into the Final against Evergreen on the Easter Monday.

Evergreen, from Division One, performed admirably, and the game looked to be heading for extra time before Oxhey took the lead on 81 minutes through the in-form Paul Danlsow, who crashed home a superb strike from 25 yards. Evergreen showed great resilience, and drew level three minutes later when Paul Preece stabbed home the loose ball after Jets' keeper Neil Deamer spilled a high-ball.

But, in a dramatic final twist, Oxhey grabbed a last-gasp winner through Danslow, who added yet another chapter to his fairytale end to the season.

The reserves also managed to secure their championship title for the third successive season.

20003/04 Herts County League Premier Division. Finish Position: 2nd Jets started the 2003-04 knowing that the ground improvements were finally finished - to the tune of £1000,000 - and Jets were ready to move on up to the Minerva Spartan South Midlands League – all that was required was to earn promotion!

In came Terry Chamberlain and Neil Whiting from Ruislip Manor while Paul Turner left Jets to try his luck at newly promoted Sun Postal Sports.

The season started well with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Cuffley, this was followed by a derby day match at Moatfield, beating Bushey Rangers 2-0 but the third match of the season saw Jets lose at home to an improved Hadley side..

Hadley would go on to do the double over Jets and defeats to Wormley Rovers and Metropolitan Police Bushey would cause Oxhey to lose out on gaining a fourth title to Hadley, who won the title from Jets by just three points. In fact, had Oxhey Jets beaten Hadley on

the penultimate match of the season, then the title would have been theirs due to a superior goal difference. But in the end it didn’t matter, Hadley’s ground had failed their ground status. Jets had gained promotion to the Spartan South Midlands League!!

Having floodlights helped Oxhey Jets take part in the newly formed World Class Homes Midweek League and reached the semi-final of the league’s cup competition, losing only in extra time in the second leg to Bishops Stortford.

2003 saw another new moment in the history of the club as they were entered into the FA Vase for the first time ever. They were drawn away to St Margaretsbury of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division in the second qualifying round. The difference showed as St Mags stuffed Jets 4-1.

In the Aubrey Cup, a shock result reverberated around the league, Hinton had knocked Oxhey Jets out in the second round winning 3-1. Hinton went on to win the trophy that season. The Herts Centenary Trophy wasn’t much better either. After being awarded an away win from the abandoned first round match against Mill End Sports, Jets failed to progress any further after losing to Sun Postal Sports at Bellmountwood Avenue.

Despite those setbacks, Jets still managed to gain some silverware for their ever expanding trophy cabinet. They retained the Rickmansworth Charity Cup and beat Greenacres (Hemel Hempstead’s reserves) in the final of the West Herts St Mary’s Cup 4-0, Gary Page scoring two, (his second a wonderful overhead kick), Wayne Gladdy one, and the piece de resistance, a move that started with keeper Dean Layton and included all but one player, finishing with a fine shot from Nathan Roberts to become only the third Herts County League side to win the prestigious trophy in over 100 years of the competition.

As for the reserves, well they yet again won their league for a fourth successive season as well as winning the Minerva Spartan Midweek Reserve Cup, beating St Margaretsbury reserves (a revenge of sorts!) and Harefield United reserves both by a 3-1 margin.

The semi-final was a closer contest with Jets winning a nail biting match on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The final saw Jets ressies bring the trophy home after a narrow 1-0 victory over Dunstable Town reserves.

2004/05

Minerva Spartan South Midlands League Division One. Finish Position: 1st

Oxhey Jets started their new era in the Minerva Spartan South Midlands League, Division One by drawing with Cranfield United in an entertaining 3-3 draw at Altham Way. Wayne Gladdy scored twice with Scott Simmonds netting the other goal.

Things seemed easier from there as wins over the likes of Brache Sparta, Ampthill Town, Biggleswade United and Kentish Town amongst others followed, with Jets losing only three league matches that season, Shillington 3-2, Brimsdown Rovers and Buckingham Athletic. In other words, not a lot of difference from the Herts County League days!

Jets clinched the league title on the 26th April when a 5-1 win over Winslow United. Paul Turner opened the scoring after 24 minutes with a header, Chris Harding converted a penalty to make it 2-0 but lack of concentration and the thought of lifting the trophy caused Winslow to pull a goal back before half time. Jets made it 3-1 when Chris Ingham hit a free kick into the wall which bounced back for him to hammer home after 75 minutes. Three minutes later a long long clearance by keeper Paul Taylor was edged onto the deadly Wayne Gladdy to score. With a tremendous thunder, lightning and rain storm hammering down it was Gladdy again in stoppage time that slotted the 5th to send everybody wild on the whistle as Jets were confirmed as Champions.

Jets finally recorded a victory in the FA Vase after beating Bedford United & Valerio 1-0 at home in the first qualifying round but went no further than the second qualifier as they lost to Royston Town on home soil.

More glory lay ahead for Jets when, after destroying Old Parmiterians 6-1 away,and London Lions, also away, 8-0. They went on to met Sandridge Rovers in the semi-final and booked a place in the final after a 2-1 win to face Hatfield Town in the final.

A wonder goal from Garry Beadle after 16 minutes settled some cup final nerves. Beadle who from a full 25 yards hit a blistering curler into the top corner of the net. A goal to grace any game, Wayne Gladdy scored the second to help Jets join the small elite band of clubs to hold the Hertfordshire Centenary Senior Trophy.

Once again a treble was on the cards, with the Spartan South Midlands Floodlight Cup still to play for, at Cow Lane, home of Tring Athletic, against of all teams, Tring Athletic. Tring had already had a decent season in the Premier Division, so with that, and home advantage, they were clearly favourites to win the cup.

Scott Simmonds failed a pre match fitness test and Mitchell Murphy out of action with a neck injury, despite those setbacks, Jets attacked with gusto but failed to score, even when Tring went down to 10 men when they had a player injured and had already used all three subs. In extra time, tring went down to nine as one of their substitutes was given a straight red card.

Buoyed by this, Jets continued to try and break Athletic down, but with eight men in defence, it was clear they were holding out for penalties.

So onto penalties and the drama went up a gear, 1-0 Tring, Chris Harding scored… 2-1 Tring Chris Ingham nets… Then Taylor saved but the linesman flagged for a retake, he saved again, but again the lino asked for it to be retaken again. Taylor saved yet again, and again the lino waved for another retake. The Jets crowd erupted with anger and finally at the 4th attempt Tring scored, 3-2 to Tring.

Wayne Gladdy netted to make it 3-3. Taylor saved again, another retake said the lino causing all hell broke out and only the intervention of league officials stopped Jets from walking off the field in protest and giving Tring the cup. Tring score on the retake, 4-3 to Tring. Marc Ayres converted to make it 4-4. Once again, Taylor saved the penalty, but this time the flag stayed down and Jets could finally smell victory. Garry Beadle striked… Saved by the Tring keeper… but the infamous lino flagged again for yet another retake and Beadle hammered home into the bottom corner to set the crowd and players on a wild celebration.

Jets had yet another treble under their belt.

2005/06 Minerva Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 13th It seemed that after a succession of glory years, Oxhey Jets Football Club had finally consolidated themselves as a Spartan South Midlands Premier League club. Their first ever season among the “big boys” of the league (2005/06) saw Jets finish in a disappointing 13th place. But, they managed to reach the magical 40 point mark, 40 being the usual safety mark for points amassed in a season, in a 0-0 draw away to Tring Athletic by mid-April.

It was in the Herts Senior Cup, however, that Jets really made their mark. In December Jets hosted League 2 Barnet and, in a famous night for the club, won their first game against league opposition. Jets took the lead after just nine minutes when Paul Turner scored from close range, Barnet equalised and Jets fans must have thought that was going to be it, but Wayne Gladdy netted in the 61st minute to send the Jets fans, players, staff and tea lady into raptures of joy. In injury time, Barnet brought their keeper up for the final

fling, but Jets held on for a memorable and historic victory over league opposition. The Bees were gracious in defeat and gave the club a signed Barnet shirt which still holds pride of place in the club boardroom. Jets followed that up with a 2-1 win over Hemel Town in January, but then lost the semi-final 2-3 against Bishop Stortford, conceding in the final minutes of extra time to deny the opportunity of going to penalties and pulling off a third giant-killing in the competition.

Another piece of history was made when Jets played in the most famous cup competition in the world, the F.A Cup. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to last long, losing at the first stage 2-1 at home to Lowestoft Town. The FA Vase fared no better, losing 2-0 to Romford.

2006/07

Minerva Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 7th

2006/07 was a marked improvement on the previous season league-wise, and now with some experience of life in the fast lane of the Premier Division, Jets surprised everyone, including themselves, at finishing in a very respectable 7th position with 67 points, with a mid-season run of going eight matches undefeated certainly helping Jets got off to a good start, winning away at Hertford Town 3-0. Their best run being just the one defeat in thirteen league matches during mid-season.

Jets also reached the Premier Division cup final, after knocking out Royston Town, Hertford Town and St Margaretsbury in the semi-final on the way, where they lost to Edgware Town by the only goal of a closely fought cup tie. .

But the highlight of the season was in the FA Cup when Jets were drawn away to AFC Wimbledon in the second qualifying round, after already having beaten the likes of Concord Rangers, Ruislip Manor and Aveley. Despite the 3-0 scoreline in the Wombles’ favour, everyone at the club agreed that it was an unforgettable day.

The giant-killing continued in the Herts Senior Challenge Cup, Jets defeated St. Albans City by 4-1 before losing, in the next round, to Borehamwood in extra time 5-2, after drawing 1–1 at the end of regular time.

The FA Vase saw a revenge of sorts over last season’s victors. But first they had to dispose of Raunds Town of United Counties League Premier Division in the second qualifying round, and Bedfont Green of the Combined Counties Premier Division before facing their nemesis of last season, Romford. In an entertaining and at times, nail-biting match at their Rush Green ground, the tie finished 4-4 after extra time. Steve Stratford scored twice, Ian Holdom amd Hussein Ali netting the other goals. In the replay on a Wednesday night, revenge was sweet as Jets beat the Essex League side 3-1, Wayne Gladdy scored twice while an own goal completed the goals.

Jets then had to travel to Suffolk in the third round proper but were soundly beaten by Ipswich Wanderers 4-0,

The Challenge Trophy saw Jets reach the quarter final of the competition, seeing off Leverstock Green, Biggleswade United (on penalties) and Aylesbury Vale, but succumbing to Amersham Town 3-2 in the quarters, Jjamie Arthur netting a brace for the blues.

2007 - 2011

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Positions: 19th, 13th & 19th again

2007/08 was certainly a season to forget, finishing in a lowly 19th place out of 22 and despite reaching the final of the St Mary’s Cup, Jets were soundly beaten 5–1 by Hemel Hempstead Town. The FA Cup saw them reach the Preliminary round, losing at home to Burnham Ramblers while in the FA Vase, Jets were knocked out at the first hurdle by the sea, losing to Concord Rovers 3-0., 2008/09 saw Jets finish in 13th place but managed to reach another final, this time it was the South Midlands Floodlight Cup which the Oxhey boys lost 2-1 to Royston Town.

But it was to be the Herts Senior Cup that again gave Jets fans a memory to keep. Clarence Park, home of St Albans City was the place to be, a place in the semi-final of the competition at stake. The first half was goalless, with St Albans frustrated at not scoring despite having a goal disallowed.Two minutes into the second half, Jets scored. Paul Turner had started the counter attack, and it

ended with Adam Lowton slotting home a low shot for the opening goal for Jets On 80 mins Jets doubled their lead when Nathan Roberts opened up the City defence with a pin point ball to Jamie Arthur who rounded the City ‘keeper before making no mistake firing home past a retreating City defender. City were struggling to get back into the game and that gave Jets the opportunity to add a third and the killer blow in the 90th minute with Jamie Arthur turning provider and providing a great ball for Adam Lowton to latch onto and drive home his second goal of the game.

Both the First team and Reserves made County Finals during the 2009-10 season. The Reserves made it to the Intermediate Cup Final but were beaten 3–0 by Hemel Hempstead Town Reserves. Jets’ second visit to The County Ground saw them win the Charity Shield for the first time, beating St Margaretsbury 4-2. A great cup win for Jets with goals from Lee Armitt (2), Wayne Gladdy and Tim O’Mara.

2010/11 was a disappointing season, Jets finished the campaign in 19th place, equalling the club’s worst ever final placing since joining the league. The only highlight was the press coverage keeper Sam Styles got for scoring in our FA Cup match at AFC Hornchurch. It is extremely rare for a keeper to score in the FA Cup and he was named the player of the round for which he got a trophy and tickets to the cup final.

Jets beat Hatfield Town 3-2 in the extra preliminary round and St Margaretsbury in the preliminary round 4-1, and although Sam scored for Jets against AFC Hornchurch, a team two steps higher than Jets, in the first qualifying round, Hornchurch beat Jets 8-2.

2011/12

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 17th

2011/12 Jets’ league position did not improve much in the 2011-12 season, when they finished 17th, but once again the Cup’s came to the fore with two Cup final wins, a run that took us all the way to the Herts Senior Cup final, Jets beat Wodson Park 6-0,and Hertford Town away 1-0 to host highly ranked Hendon, losing narrowly 2-1, where a total of 376 supporters came to watch.a fantastic performance by Jets, Oxhey Jets were only the second South Midlands side ever to reach the Herts Senior Challenge Cup Final, a great achievement even though Jets were well beaten in the match by Bishops Stortford. The final itself was a disappointment, Jets going down 7-2, but it would have been more competitive if the Jets’ keeper hadn’t been sent off after just 15 minutes.

Jets then beat Kings Langley in the Herts FA Charity Shield by 4 goals to 1 to lift the title for the second time in the last three seasons.

Lynsjey scored first for Kings Langley to give the favourites the lead but five minutes before the interval, Gavin Hart’s shot was deflected past the Kings’ keeper Ross Hampton at his near post. Buoyed by the equaliser, Oxhey were in front within two minutes of the restart when Jets were awarded a penalty which Lewis Putman converted. With only nine minutes left on the clock, Steve Brown

headed in at the back post to make it 3-1 and with four minutes into added time, and after Kings Langley had a player sent off, Luke Beardsworth headed in past Ross Hampton to put the icing on the Charity Shield cake.

There was still the West Herts St Marys Cup to go. Oxhey Jets were labelled as “pub cloggers” on a Hemel fans forum before the match, giving the Jets players all the incentive they needed to beat a team two levels higher than themselves on their home soil.

Some food interplay involving half a dozen Jets players saw the ball fall to Andy Lomas, who hit the ball on the volley from 30 yards as it curled into the roof of the net, setting off wild celebrations for the “Blue Army”.

Skipper Ian Bywater proudly led his historic team to the Cup as the Jets’ game count went past 65 first team games caused by outstanding runs in the FA competitions as well as the County and League cups that season.

2012/13 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 3rd Without a doubt, the 2012/13 season was, and still has been, the club’s most successful league season in their history with the club finishing in an amazing third place, just three points behind second placed Aylesbury United and the invincible Dunstable Town team, who won the title amassing 114 points. The season started on a high, with a 6-1 away win at Hatfield Town. Jets would then lose their next match at home to St Margaretsbury in a shock 1-0 defeat. This was followed a month later by an even bigger shock defeat, losing at home 8-0 to Haringey Borough. But that was the impetus to start an amazing 18 game unbeaten run. Unfortunately, the run was stopped by the league leaders and invincible Dunstable Town, who trounced Jets 4-0. Oxhey recorded their highest league win that season, a 10-1 victory over Hatfield Town in front of just 31 people (That result was bettered only a couple of seasons ago when Jets beat London Colney 10-0). There was a backlog of fixtures due to some of the worst weather seen in years which meant that the last few weeks saw Jets playing up to three matches in a week.

Once again, Oxhey Jets were to appear in not one but two cup finals. First up was the Herts Charity Shield, which Jets managed to retain by beating Hertford Town 4-0 at Vauxhall Road. Half time saw the teams level at 0-0 but in the 58th minute, Ian Bywater headed home the first goal. Just four minutes later, a solo run by Lewis Putman saw him go past two defenders before slotting the ball into the net. In the 66th minute, Bywater scored again, diverting a cross with a part of his body. The final goal came from Andy Lomas, who had developed a habit of scoring fantastic goals in cup finals! A volley from 25 yards out saw the ball fly over the keeper.to confirm the rout.

There was still the Floodlight Cup final to deal with, Cockfosters being the opponents. This was match 93 of a successful, but tiring season and Jets were looking weary, Lewis Putman and Warren Gladdy were out injured, then news came through that Danny Tilbury and Chris Killer had both failed their pre-match fitness tests. Jets held on until the 37th minute when a deflected clearance found a Cockfosters player who rounded Jets keeper Beasant to knock the ball into the net.

After the interval, Jets found their second wind and fought to get back into the game. Luke Beardsworth had to go off with a chest injury, but in came Adam Lowton, looking fresh and adding strength to the Jets attack. But it was a centre half in the shape of Steve Brown who got Jets level with a superb header to make things even again.

There seemed to be something about Jets scoring cracking goals in cup finals, and this match was to be no different. After some decent interplay, the ball was smashed home in spectacular style by Lee Inch from outside the penalty area. Fans and players alike went wild as the ball hit the back of the net. 2-1 to the Jets and another trophy for the bulging cabinet.

John Elliott admitted that this team was one of the best that Oxhey Jets had ever had, But that wasn’t all!!

The Reserves won the Spartan South Midlands Reserves Cup and two other teams representing Jets won the Watford Sunday League Division Two title while another became West Herts Division Three runners up. And on top of that, the Jets Academy team were runners up in both their league and cup.

Oh, and John Elliott received his British Empire Medal for services to young people and the community in South Oxhey.

Not a bad way to celebrate Oxhey Jets’ 40th anniversary!

2013/14 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 18th After the cup-laden years of 2010-13, Jets faced a rebuilding season in 2013-14. Wayne Gladdy stepped in as manager to help the team and, after a poor start of just one win during the opening seven matches. However, a resurgence in the second half of the season ensured the club avoided relegation, finishing 18th out of 22 teams.

The FA Cup finished early for Jets, in the Extra Preliminary round to be exact,, after drawing away to Hadley they lost to the Barnet based team in the home replay.

Things were a little better for Jets in the FA Vase, disposing of Stotfold in the first round winning 3-2, Sim Armstrong, Luke Beardsworth and Dominic David scoring the goals. Jets were drawn at home again for the second round when they were pitted against Hadleigh United of Suffolk. The Oxhey team were the favourites for the tie but an entertaining match saw the blues unexpectedly crash out of the competition, losing 3-2 in front of a crowd of just 67 spectators..

However, it was in the St Marys Cup that the Jets shined.

Beating Tring Athletic 1-0 in the first round and Berkhamsted in the semi-final, Leverstock Green were the finalists on that bank Holiday Monday at Vauxhall Road..

The Thursday before saw Jets knocked out of the Floodlight Cup semi-final, losing 4-2 to Stotfold. The pressure was on for another trophy and to make the season a success.

Jets took the lead thanks to Lewis Putman but Liam HInds equalised for Green to bring things level at the break. Disaster then struck as Chris Killer scored an own goal to give Leverstock the lead, and with just 15 minutes to go Adam Lowton finished superbly to equalise, as extra time looked likely, Lewis Putman broke through the Green defence to slot in a winner for Oxhey Jets to bring home the West Herts St Marys Cup.

Elsewhere within the Jets family, the reserves team finished the season as runners up in the Herts Intermediate Cup while the ever progressing Academy team won the Allied Counties East Division

2017/18

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 19th - Phew!!

From 2014 to 217 Oxhey Jets suffered a trophy drought. Their league positions during those three seasons were 12th, 17th and 15th in the Premier Division table. Jets were becoming just another team in the table and one where visiting teams would rub their hands at the thought of a point or three. Only the Vets managed to claim a title during those dry years, they reached the final of the Webster Cup in 2015/16 and 2016/17 and finally got their hands on some silverware when they won the West Herts Division One title.

But if Jets fans thought that the previous seasons were bad for the first team, worse seemed ahead.

The season started with the traditional opening match day, a Herts Charity Shield tie, Berkhamsted were the opponents at Broadwater, and it was the Comrades who came out the happiest after a 5-2 win.

This was followed by a thumping at Bell Lane in the FA Cup, where Leighton Town won the match 4 goals to nil. Two weeks of the season and out of two cups already.

Despite that, the league season started well, A 1-0 win away to Crawley Green was followed by an impressive 4-1 home victory over London Tigers and Jets continued their good form with another away day win, this time a 2-1 success over Stotfold at Roker Park.

Things were going reasonably well.until late October, which was when the wheels decided to get a bit wobbly, just two more wins and eight draws in twenty four league matches saw Oxhey Jets face the dreaded thought of relegation for the first time ever in the club’s history.The club decided that a change of management was needed. In came Tim O’Sullivan and Pat Fallon.

The duo were well known previously at Jets, Pat Fallon being a top goalscorer in his day for the blues. The pair were recently at Sun Sports, where they helped the club break FA Cup and FA Vase records.

But miracles did not happen overnight, a narrow 1-0 defeat at Wembley and a 3-2 defeat at home to St Margaretsbury saw Jets drop deeper into the relegation dog-fight. A 5-0 defeat away to Harpenden made a lot of Jets fans start making plans for trips to the likes of Bedford, Langford and Hillingdon Borough for next season., but the fat lady had refused to sing, it still wasn’t over yet.

Despite the defeats, the mood within the club had begun to turn and the players were given a glimmer of hope.

Cockfosters had lost to Biggeswade United 2-0 in their penultimate game of the season, which meant that with just two league matches remaining, Jets needed two wins and a plus 5 goal difference to stay up.

A big win was needed against mid-table Hoddesdon Town at Boundary Stadium. Chris Blunden scored the opening goal for Jets, where a huge sigh of relief was to be heard around the ground! Things got even better when Jahobi Maher scored a cracker from an angled shot to make the score 2-0 at half time. In the second half, Jets continued to press and the Hoddesdon goalkeeper made two important saves before Chrissie Blunden scored his second of the night in a 3-0 victory. .

Cockfosters’ last game of the season was played four days before the Jets final match and Fosters lost it in a 3-1 defeat at home to Wembley.

This meant that Jets could be saved, if they won their last match of the season by a clear two goal margin!

The only trouble was that the match was to be against the recently promoted Berkhamsted at fortress Broadwater. The only home defeat Berko had suffered that season so far was the 4-0 thumping to champions Welwyn Garden City…so no added pressure then!!

Tim O’Sullivan’s pre match team talk was on a par to Churchill’s “We shall fight them on the beaches” speech: “We all, come in with me and I will lead you, yeah?

And we will all, f**king go in that trojan horse and we all will stick together and get what we need to stay up, yeah?

It's just…f**king…business”.

In the bright sunshine, on a carnival day for the already promoted home team, battle commenced and after a couple of early goalmouth scrambles, the first goal of the afternoon came after Andy Amoah crossed and Vass Mandeville opened the scoring. Jets were on their way!

But not for long, a disputed penalty helped Berkhamsted equalise just after the half hour mark.

A few one on one clashes caused some yellow cards but a pitch fight on the halfway line helped Jets’ cause when a Berko player got himself sent off for starting the fracas.

Berko were down to 10 men and Pat Fallon called out to the players to “spread the game”, so that the Berkhamsted players would tire as the game, and in the heat of a May day, would go on. Wise advice from an old hand in these situations!

Skipper Jude Bell had to go off injured but was replaced by the dependant Jack Halcombe.

Half time 1-1.

After 58 minutes Andy Amoah again provided the cross, this time for Chris Blunden to hit home to make the score 2-1 in the Jets favour.

But another goal was still required, and as a Jets attack broke down, Berko went up the other end and equalised again for Jets hearts to sink in the 64th minute.

With just ten minutes left of the Premier Division, substitute Issac Ebelebe crossed a beautiful ball into the penalty area and found an unmarked Tom Gibson, who rose like a salmon and headed brilliantly past the outstretched arms of the keeper into the top corner to make it 3-2.

Jets were certainly going to give it their all and would go down fighting if anything, and from the re-start, Jets obtained control and another young substitute, Olawale Salami dropped a pinpoint cross for the young centre-half, Vass Mandeville, to head home to make it 4-2.

The crowd erupted as it became clear Jets had a good few supporters in the crowd and there were scenes of joy as the great escape was on.

The final whistle was finally blown after what seemed an eternity but the Jets had done it!

The relegation trap door opened and it was Cockfosters who went down purely on a.lower scoring goal average than the Jets.with equal points .

Hugs of joy and relief as Jets are safe!

2018/19 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 9th After the success of narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Tim O’Sullivan and Pat Fallon got to the task of giving Oxhey Jets back their long lost mojo.

The season started, as it always did with a cup tie tio kick off the new campaign in the form of the Herts Charity Shield. An attendance of 58 saw Jets crash at home to a strong Colney Heath side. Four first half goals from the Magpies saw a shocked Jets pull one back in the second half - a penalty from Nick Kerley, but once again, the Oxhey side were out at the first hurdle.

A week later and Jets hoped that they could get off to a good start in the league, but that wasn’t to be either as they lost at home to Crawley Green, Kerley again scoring the goals.Confidence was built up a couple of days later when they travelled to London Colney and came away with a 1-0 win, Rak-Su’s Ashley Fongho, from The X Factor, playing at left back for Jets, a video of his late tackle on a London Colney player was played on Soccer AM later that season while Rak-Su were guests!

Jets went on to beat Stotfold and Wembley and after a hard fought 0-0 draw away to Leighton Town they found out that they were top of the Premier Division…if only the season could have finished there and then!

From there the only way was down and after a couple of league defeats, the FA Vase saw Jets draw Harefield United, unbeaten and top of Division One. Luke Jones gave Jets the lead after 85 minutes and, thinking that the match was won, rested on their laurels. This came to bite them on the bum as United equalised in injury time and took the match into extra time. From there, Harefield took control of the game and came out giant-killing winners, winning the match 4-1 during the extra 30 minutes.

Words were harshly spoken and an all round better performance came against Potton United with the Jets winning the league encounter 3-2, but that was just putting a plaster over a broken bone as Jets continued to leak goals and lose points But in October came a young man who had been scoring goals for fun in the reserves. Sean Giordmaina was finally given a chance to play for the first team in the Premier Division Cup against Harpenden Town and not only scored on his home debut but changed the tempo of the team when he played.

The next match saw Jets face Cockfosters at the Boundary Stadium. Things were not going well for Cockfosters and came to a head in the second half when one of their players was sent off. The player took umbrage and assaulted the referee to everybodies shock. The match was abandoned and, after deliberation by the Football Association, Oxhey Jets were awarded the three points and the player banned from playing. Jets would pick up points with ten more wins and eight draws to give Oxhey a ninth place finish, the club’s third highest placing in the history of the club.

Halfway through the season (January),an arrangement was also made between a member of the backroom staff and the management duo of O’Sullivan and Fallon, that if Jets lost a match by three clear goals, certain players of the team would have to eat a raw sheep’s testicle, but, if Jets won by three clear goals, then Tim and Pat would have to “swallow their pride” and eat the appendage!!

Throughout January and February, Jets would win or lose by a goal or two, but not by the magical three required. That was until the second of March, when Jets beat London Colney 3-0. The players just so happened to quickly remember the bet and, true to their word, Tim, Pat, and even Mick the coach had a nibble at the tasty morsel, much to the players delight and hilarity. To make matters even worse for them, the event was recorded on Youtube to show the club’s “Crazy Gang” spirit!

Jets didn’t have a lot of luck in the cups that season, with the exception of the St Marys Cup. Drawn against Oxhey FC in the first round, Jets took their local opponents apart in a 6-0 win, Andy Brennan scoring a hat-trick. The semi-final saw Jets travel to Leverstock Green. Pancake Lane was a very unhappy hunting ground for Jets as they had already lost twice there that season, 6-0 in the league, and 2-1 in the Herts Senior Cup. But Oxhey Jets were a different team than had faced the Green a few months before. Sean Giordmaina, Luke Jones and another newcomer, Henry Marku, scored the goals that gave Jets a well deserved final place with a 3-1 win.

The end of season finale was held at Vauxhall Round, home of Hemel Hempstead Town, where Jets faced Berkhamsted. Jets fought hard and did well against the team a step higher in the football league pyramid, but Berko scored the only goal of the game to take the trophy back to Broadwater.

The reserves took things a step further. They finished the season as runners up in The Herts County League Division One and gained promotion to the Premier Division, and also reached the final of the prestigious Aubrey Cup, losing 2-1 to Premier Division runners up New Salamis.

But it was in the Herts Intermediate Cup where Jets reserves beat Royston Town reserves 2-0 at the County Ground, Letchworth.

On top of that, club secretary Dave Fuller was awarded the Spartan Secretary of the Year award…and about time too!!.

Champions! Jets Reserves won the Herts Intermediate Cup

2019/20

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 5th before season abandoned

Things were looking up for Oxhey Jets. After a positive season where the club had finished in the top ten of the table and reached a cup final, the players had finally started to gel and the mood in the camp was a positive one despite Sean Giordmaina leaving to.try his luck at a higher level with Chalfont St Peter..

Jets started the season with a long journey to Eynesbury Rovers and came away with a thoroughly deserved point from a 1-1 draw, Carlos Simao scoring the equaliser in the second half.

Jets first away game of the season.was once again at Cotlandswick, home of the Blueboys, London Colney. Once again, Oxhey came away with all three points after a 3-1 win.

The FA Cup was next, a home tie against Flackwell Heath. It was the first home match of the new season and before the match, a new stand was named in honour of Garry Beadle, an ex Jets player who sadly took his own life a few months earlier.. After an emotional tribute, Flackwell came away from the Boundary Stadium with a place in the next round, beating Jets 4-0.

A draw at home to Arlesey Town was next and after that, an over confident Jets side went to the other side of Milton Keynes to play Milton Keynes Robins of Division One in the League Cup. Vincent Shrieves was the man of the match, scoring five goals for the Robins as they beat Jets 7-4 in the biggest cup shock of not just the round, but the tournament itself!

That result caused the confidence that was in the first team to burst like a balloon, something needed to happen.

And it happened in the Herts Charity Shield match against top of the table Colney Heath. After a 1-1 draw the game went to penalties, Jets lost 5-4 but the effort and determination to try and beat the table-toppers gave Jets the much needed booster that they desperately required.

North Greenford United were the opponents in the FA Vase, Jamie Speer and Andy Brennan scored a goal in each half to see Jets through to the next round.

Vale Farm, Wembley was the next venue, and Jets found themselves 3-0 down at half time and without a goalkeeper as young Filip Chalupniczak had to go off injured at the break. Upstepped Mr Versatile, Jamie Speer, one of the shortest men on the pitch but he happily donned the gloves to go between the sticks. A penalty was awarded to Jets just after the re-start, Reece Cameron converted and the comeback was on. Next came the goal of the game if not a goal of the season contender. Andy Brennan was tripped but instead of going down, he retained his balance and struck a blinder from an angled 30 yards. Straight from the kick off, Oxhey gained possession and Reece Cameron netted his second of the game, making the score 3-3. In injury time, Substitute Darren Brew knocked

in a scrambled effort to give Jets the victory and the three points. O’Sullivan’s men then went on a seven match unbeaten run in the league, losing at home to Harefield United. The winter months of December and January were dark ones, and not just because of the nights. With only one win during those two months, Jets dropped down the league positioning but February seemed to be an awakening as on the first of the month, Jets came away from Newport Pagnell Town with an injury time winner through a fantastic strike from Louis Bircham. Jets would then beat Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (4-2), Broadfields United (3-0),, London Colney (3-0), and Tring Athletic (2-0) while drawing at home to Crawley Green in a goalless game, giving Oxhey Jets the “Team of the Month” award.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic caused the football season ,as well as everything else, to close down, leaving Oxhey Jets’ season to become null and void. Before the shutdown of the season, Jets had played 29 league matches and had 50 amassed points, finishing in a very respectable 5th place.

As mentioned earlier, Jets had knocked out North Greenford United in the FA Vase, the next round saw them face Hackney Wick of the Eastern Counties League. Jets downed the eastenders 7-0, a hat-trick from Nick Kerley and goals from Jude Bell, Scott Bonner, Ashley Lewis and Luke Preedy saw the Oxhey side into the second round. A tougher task lay ahead for Jets as a trip to Deal Town, one time winners of the FA Vase, was next on the rocky road to Wembley Stadium.

The team got together early that day for breakfast at the local cafe before getting aboard the coach to take them to Deal in Kent. The weather was bad, the traffic on the motorway was also bad, and delays were caused. Rumours were bounced around the coach that the match would be called off due to the adverse weather conditions and the Jets coach arrived about 40 minutes before kick off, while the rain still.lashed down.

The match kicked off and it was Oxhey who took the lead in front of 148 sodden spectators, Carlos Simao’s shot was half-saved by Deal;s goalkeeper and Reece Cameron reacted the quickest to fire home the loose ball. 35 minutes were on the clock when Deal equalised and Tim O’Sullivan had to tear up his half time notes when Deal took the lead three minutes before the break.

The weather continued to get worse, with gale force winds whipping up from the nearby English Channel as well as constant rain causing puddles to appear on the pitch. But Deal were in the ascendancy throughout the second half, having three more efforts before scoring their third goal just after the half hour mark. By now Jets heads were down, Nick Kerley was sin-binned and Deal took further advantage of the situation by adding their fourth goal of the tie.

Despite losing and being knocked out of the FA Vase, the trip home was a happy one, with Jets players singing songs and having fun!

After all, there’s always next year!!

2021/22 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. Finish Position: 15th Jets start to the 2021/22 season has been described as a disaster or a ‘car-crash’ and the facts were that in mid-September the manager, coaches and some players left for various reasons, Jets went to the bottom of the league, and a complete rebuild was needed around the players who had stayed loyal to the club.

First of all, though, Jets had 3 days to put a team together to play a home FA cup tie against Kingstonian who were coming into the game unbeaten at the top of the Isthmian Premier. A huge task, but Jets loyal players turned out, some veterans on the pitch, and Andy Lomas stepping in to take charge for the day. A big crowd turned out, drawn to the game hoping to see some FA Cup giant-killing but even more because they wanted to show their support for Jets after the way Jets had been treated. In a fantastic match Jets held Kingstonian 2-2, both goals from Lewis Putman, one an absolute corker, and Jets so nearly snatched a winner.

The replay however, was not so magical, as Jets lost to Kingstonian 8-1 As bad luck would have it, the FA Vase was also played around the same time that Jets had to beg and borrow as well as use youth and veterans to pull a team together. The tie was an away day to local rivals Wembley and again, a heavy defeat showed up on paper (5-1), but everyone who pulled on a blue shirt that day was a hero.

September continued to be a month to forget with more heavy defeats to New Salamis and Flackwell Heath, but In October, Kevin Christou took charge of the team and, along with his coach Matt Coker, recruited players to join the loyal Jets who stayed with the club, rebuilt the team, and achieved some good results, especially against the top teams,Leighton Town and Risborough Rangers, pulling Jets well clear of relegation, finishing in 15th place (If you had offered John Elliott a 15th place finish at the end of September, given the position Jets were in he would have taken it right away).

Oxhey Jets were drawn away to Royston Town of the Southern League Premier Division Central. It was one of those days where nothing would go right as the Magpies went in at half time 7-0 up. The only things Jets could do against such a strong team was damage limitation and the final score saw double figures as Royston ran out winners by a 10-0 scoreline.

In the newly named Gladwish League Cup, Jets had to face top of the table New Salamis. After the league defeat that Jets had suffered against them a month earlier, Salamis were overconfident. They were to get a shock as they lost to the new and improved Oxhey Jets in front of 71 people. The Cypriot team, staff and fans let their club down after abusing the female assistant referee ,not cleaning up their dressing room and not even staying after the match, which of course, was their prerogative, but the taste of sour grapes were definitely in the air!!

The next round saw Jets face bottom club Crawley Green. Hands were rubbed at the thought of a place in the next round but

overconfidence had found its way into the Jets dressing room this time! Crawley Green coming away from Boundary Stadium with a 3-2 win and Jets were out The last cup competition Oxhey Jets were involved in was the Premier Division Cup. In the first round, Jets were drawn away to lowly London Colney and were given an automatic away win as the home team were unable to field a side. The second round saw Jets travel to Holmer Green, Tom Inch and Kristian Swaby scored the goals to put Jets into an unexpected quarter final after a 2-1 win.

The draw was once again unkind to Jets as another midweek away trip came in the shape of a trip to Flackwell Heath and in a close game, Flackwell went through after a 1-0 win. Flackwell were to reach the final that season, losing to Tring Athletic 3-0 Oxhey Jets have spent an enjoyable 17 years in the Spartan South Midlands, and now, with league re-alignments, move to the Combined Counties Premier League North. A new adventure as we start our Golden Jubilee season.