In this guest post, Sam Harris introduces us to the match day experience at Hertfordshire club, Berkhamsted FC.
Southern League Division One Central side Berkhamsted FC were only founded in 2009 but have packed a lot into their comparatively short history at Broadwater. Their creation just a dozen years ago came after Berkhamsted Town, a side with a long and illustrious history – which included winning the Herts Senior Cup and reaching the final of the FA Vase – was dissolved due to outstanding debts.
In 1983, the club moved to Broadwater and the current outfit has resided there since its formation, although there are currently plans from the Berkhamsted Sports Ground Charitable Association Limited (BSGCA) to relocate the club to Bourne End.
The BSGCA believe the move would help finance a sporting project in Berkhamsted, but -unsurprisingly – there is opposition from the club to these plans, highlighting the 100 years of football played at the stadium and are a popular attraction in the town.
Introducing Berkhamsted FC, the Comrades
The Comrades made an instant impact season as they claimed the Spartan South Midlands League Two in 2009/10, losing just two matches and scoring 121 goals.
Back-to-back promotions were secured as they stormed to the Division One title with 107 points, the highest total in the National League System and one which earned the club the Stanley Rous Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to a club that brought the most prestige to Hertfordshire for achievements in the recently concluded season.
The next few years saw the Broadwater outfit show their cup pedigree as they won the St. Mary’s Cup in 2013/14 beating Tring Athletic 3-1, and they claimed the Premier Division Cup two years later, seeing off Colney Heath 5-3 on penalties.
In 2016-17 they again beat Tring in a final, this time to secure the Hertfordshire Charity Shield and another cup competition, the FA Cup, attracted a record attendance at Broadwater when 366 saw them play Slough Town in the first qualifying round four years ago.
They have played in the Southern League Division One since 2018/19 after gaining promotion from Premier Division after finishing runners-up to Welwyn Garden City.
Although they have yet to experience life in the Southern League, they were in a great position last year before the coronavirus pandemic, top of the table after 28 matches before the league was abandoned.
Connor Calcutt is one of the highest profile players to play for the club, starting his career at Broadwater in 2011 and impressed during his years at the club with 37 goals in 70 games. This included 41 goals in the 2013-14 campaign earning him a move to Football League side Stevenage where he played for a year before embarking on a nomadic non-league career.
The experience at Berkhamsted FC
Ticket prices at Broadwater are reasonable with Adults £8, Concessions £4, Unaccompanied Children £1 and Accompanied Children Free.
Season tickets are also sold for £120 with Concessions being charged £60.
There is also a clubhouse on site with a bar offering refreshments which houses a pool table and darts board. Broadwater offers a seated stand on one side with an uncovered terrace opposite as well as covered terracing behind each goal.
How to get to Broadwater
Accessible by train the Broadwater ground is conveniently located, a mere 250m from the train station. For fans arriving by car there is a free overflow car park.