The Bees return to action tonight as they make the short trip to Berkhamsted, kick-starting their summer schedule of friendlies.
Darren Currie will be taking some of his first-team players along with a handful of youngsters to a game where Bees fans could also take a first look at new goalkeeper Scott Loach.
Opposition:
Berkhamsted kicked on from their 2018 South Midlands Premier promotion after finishing sixth in the Evo-Stik Southern League last season.
The Comrades, who also won the St Mary’s Cup in May, have welcomed back a handful of stars from last campaign as well as clinching a few new signatures this summer too.
This year also proves to be a significant one for the club as it marks a decade since they were founded following the folding of Berkhamsted Town.
They hit the ground running during their first season in 2010, winning the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Division 2 title in a campaign that saw them only lose twice.
The Comrades tasted glory again in 2011 after winning the First Division in a season where they also featured in the FA Cup for the first time, coming up against St Albans City.
Berkhamsted would go on to stay in the South Midlands Premier division until clinching promotion last year.
Managers: Steve Bateman & Lee Bircham
Berkhamsted-born Steve Bateman originally took the reins at the club back in 2017 with Lee Bircham as his assistant.
However, after an impressive first season in the Evo-Stik Southern League last campaign, the latter took on the role of joint-manager.
Bateman began his playing career at Everton before going on to put on the shirts of Harrow Borough, Chesham, Slough and Hemel.
After hanging up his boots, the Berkhamsted joint-boss returned to three of his former clubs as a manager.
He tasted promotion at Hemel and enjoyed play-off finishes with Chesham, Slough and Aylesbury.
Bateman also took Berkhamsted Town to the FA Vase final in 2001 but his side fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Taunton Town at Villa Park.
As for Bircham, his playing career saw him feature for the likes of Greenwich Borough, Kings Langley and Aylesbury United.
Whilst at the latter, the former defender won the Premier Division Cup and tasted promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League.
Connections:
Bees duo Martyn Box and Antonis Vasiliou, who both broke into the first team last season with the latter signing his first professional deal last month, spent time on loan at Berkhamsted last season.
Ticket Prices:
Adults – £5
U16’s – £1
