AFC Welwyn
 | |||
| Nickname(s) | The Romans | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 | ||
| Ground | Herns Way, Welwyn Garden City | ||
| Owner | Tawhid Juneja | ||
| Chairman | Dave Wickham | ||
| Manager | Brett Donnelly | ||
| League | Spartan South Midlands League Division One | ||
| Website | https://afcwelwyn.co.uk/ | ||
|
| |||
AFC Welwyn is a football club based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England. They are currently members of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One and play at the Herns Way ground.
History
[edit]The club was established in 2023,[1] by Tawhid Juneja and Richard James, after rebranding from the Welwyn Garden City FC Development team.[2] They joined the Spartan South Midlands League in Division Two, at step 7 (level 11), for their inaugural season.[3][4]
They won their first competitive game in the league 8-1, at home, against Milton Keynes Irish Reserves on 5 August 2023.[5]
Their first ever cup competition was in the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, where they were beaten 3–2 on penalties by Cuffley Seniors after a 2–2 draw on 30 September 2023.[6]
In their first season (2023-24), the club won the division, gaining promotion to league one. They were also successful at winning the league cup.[7]
AFC Welwyn are also known as "The Romans", chosen because of the nearby Welwyn Roman Baths, situated in Welwyn Village. This theme was also incorporated into the team logo and badge. The club motto is "Sic Parvis Magna", which translates into English as "Greatness from Small Beginnings".
Ground
[edit]The club plays at the Herns Way ground which it shares with Welwyn Garden City F.C..[8]
Location: Welwyn Garden City Football Club, Club House, Herns Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1TA.
Honours
[edit]- Spartan South Midlands League
- Division Two champions 2023–24
- Division Two Cup winners 2023–24
Records
[edit]- Best FA Cup performance: N/A - AFC Welwyn have not entered the FA Cup yet.
- Best FA Vase performance: Second Qualifying Round, 2024-25.[9]
- Attendance: 170 vs Old Bradwell United, 21 March 2024 (Played at Herns Way).
Player Statistics
[edit]Information correct as of 23rd November 2024. Competitive matches counted only.
The player who holds the record as AFC Welwyn's top goal scorer is Kendall Ata Gyamfi, with 34 goals in all competitions.[10]
The player with the record for the most number of goals in a season for AFC Welwyn is Kendall Ata Gyamfi, with 23 goals in the 2023/24 season.[11]
The player with the record for the most number of goals in a single match for AFC Welwyn is Charlee Yearwood, who scored 5 against Milton Keynes Irish Reserves on 5 August 2023.[12]
Will McNeill became the youngest player to score a goal when he scored in the 12th minute against Newport Pagnell Town Development on the 13th April 2024, aged 17. He scored twice in the match, helping the team to win 4-2.[13]
Ashton Broome-Alexander became the youngest player to debut for AFC Welwyn, when he played in goal against Long Buckby AFC, while on loan from St Neots FC, on 27th July 2024, aged 17.[14]
Sam Galatis holds the record for the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in a season. 12 clean sheets (2023/24 season).[15]
The player with the most appearances for AFC Welwyn is Kendall Ata Gyamfi, with 57 appearances in all competitions, and is the first player to pass fifty competitive games for the club.[16]
The longest unbeaten run that the team has achieved is 23 competitive games between February 2024 and September 2024.
Management Team
[edit]Club officials
[edit]Management
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Brett Donnelly
|
| Assistant Manager | Leon Gutzmore
|
| Assistant Manager | Callum Donnelly
|
| Coach | Ryan Wiffin
|
| Goalkeeper Coach | Nathan Godfrey
|
| Assistant | Jamie Dunn
|
List of Managers
[edit]Information correct as of 23rd November 2024. Competitive matches counted only.
| Name | Nationality | From | To | P | W | D | L | Win % | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard James | England
|
1 July 2023 | 28 February 2024 | 26 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 61.54 | |
| Liam Errington | England
|
29 February 2024 | 31 October 2024 | 30 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 70.00 | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two champions & cup winners: 2023–24 |
| Tawhid Juneja | England
|
1 November 2024 | 24 November 2024 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 66.67 | |
| Brett Donnelly | England
|
25 November 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Notes: Statistics do not include the Sarratt v AFC Welwyn game (6th May 2024) that was postponed and eventually awarded as a 0-0 draw by the FA. [17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Club History". AFC Welwyn.
- ^ "Rebranding and New Start".
- ^ Williams, Mike (2023). Non-League Club Directory (46th ed.). Mike Williams Publishing. ISBN 978-1869833763.
- ^ "AFC WELWYN". Football Club History Database.
- ^ "First League Game". Welwyn & Hatfield Times. 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Cup History". Welwyn & Hatfield Times. 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Promotion News". Welwyn & Hatfield Times. 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Ground Information". Football Ground Map.
- ^ "Best FA Vase Performance". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Highest Goal Scorer". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Most Goals in a Season". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Most Goals in a Game". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Youngest Goalscorer". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Youngest Player". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Most Cleansheets". fulltime.thefa.com/StatsForPlayers.
- ^ "Most Appearances".
- ^ "Sarratt v AFC Welwyn".