Click here for tonight's matchday programme

This game is being sponsored by The Varney Family in memory of Fred Varney, one of our greatest supporters. Fred was a supporter of Hoddesdon Town for 75 years, and in his time an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the Committee. He passed away in 2011 at the age of eighty three, and as a tribute, his extended family members once again generously sponsor a Lilywhites home game in his memory.

They say a week is a long time in football, and as it has been over TWO weeks since Hoddesdon kicked a competitive ball in anger, it feels like an age that Simon Riddle and his team have had to endure to get back onto the pitch.

Two friendlies in that time have done much to keep the machine ticking over, but there is no substitute for the cut and thrust of league football and the lads will surely be chomping at the bit as the action returns to Lowfield this week.

A midweek win over London Colney at Lowfield saw a convincing performance end in a confidence boosting 5-0 win, with Blue Gallagher scoring an absolute worldie, as Hoddesdon unpicked the defence of the visitors time and time again. On Saturday, Spartan Premier side Dunstable Town made the trip to Hoddesdon and squeaked a 1-0 win in what was a very useful exercise for both sides. With minutes in the tank for most of his squad, manager Simon Riddle will be pleased that momentum has been maintained during this barren period.

A faulty fuse board put paid to all football at Lowfield for nearly three weeks and we thank committee member Paul Sullivan and his band of merry men for all their hard work to reinstate power to our home ground. A couple of games, regrettably, had to be postponed and rescheduled, and just as we moved back into Lowfield, it was frustrating to have the plug pulled on all competitive football.

However, we are now back up and running with all fixtures, fittings, appliances and devices working perfectly, ready to relaunch our campaign, and that begins with the visit of FC Baresi this coming Tuesday.

The club was originally formed in 1993 as Santos FC by Amjad Mahmood, who is the current chairman, and affectionately known as 'Mr FC Baresi'. They started playing as friends and formed a team. There were other friends who had teams and so they formed a league which was called Suraaj Basmaati League. Then in 1994, there was the Asian Football League which was formed, so both leagues decided to become one. A name change to Royal Antwerp followed, because the founder of the Asian league and his team Gapelle had a big rivalry with Santos FC. In 1997, they changed the name to FC Baresi after the ex-AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi. The club went on to win three titles in six years.

The club folded in 2009/10 season due to players leaving for university, however in 2017 they reformed with a new batch of young players, with a few old faces to help guide the youngsters. In the first ever season in the Essex Alliance Football League, the club went on to win the league and cup double and were the first team in the history of the Essex Alliance Football League to have gone the whole season unbeaten in the league. The following season saw them promoted two divisions and went on to win the league for a 2nd year running which resulted in being promoted to the Premier Division, which is now known as the Senior Division. Our opponents currently groundshare with Ware at Wodson Park, after previously playing at Britannia Sports Ground and the George White Ground, both in Walthamstow.

It has been a tough start to the season for manager Tufail Amjad, just three wins coming from their opening eleven league games, with two draws and six defeats, scoring nineteen and conceding eighteen. Eleven points see's them currently occupy 15th place in the table. Hoddesdon will, however, need to be on their guard, as the visitors do come with a few threats. Firstly, they have won two and drawn one of their six away games this season, showing that they do have the ability to cause problems on their travels. Second placed title chasers Hackney Wick found that out to their cost, as Amjad's side took a rather useful away point from their encounter on the 21st of September, in a pulsating 2-2 draw. They have also gone to Southend Manor and Barkingside this season, and won the game, none more impressive than the 5-0 thumping of the latter a month ago. That was the second time this season that they have scored 5 goals, with a 5-1 home win against struggling St Margaretsbury on the 18th of September.

Unfortunately for Baresi, that was their last win, and last time out, they suffered a 2-1 away defeat to Lewisham in the London Senior Trophy. With no victory in almost a month, it can be assured that they visitors will be desperate to spoil the party at Lowfield this week.

Amongst their ranks, there are one or two names well known to a few in non league circles, none more so than Murat Karagul.

The former Ware FC centre forward has a real pedigree in non league football and has already proved to be a key figure in the Baresi dressing room. His time at Ware started when then manager Tony Faulkner brought him in to the side for an FA Trophy game against Whitehawk on the 2nd October 2010. Three days later, Ware beat Cheshunt 3-1 in the league with Murat scoring twice. Murat went on to make another 20 appearances that season and scored a total of seven goals before trying his luck with Wingate & Finchley following his final game away to Romford on 5th February. He had a second short loan spell with Ware the following season playing six games and scoring once under the management of Stuart Nethercott before returning to Summers Lane. He was back for his final period with Ware when Kem Kemal took over as manager in 2013/14, with Murat making his third debut in Kem's first game at Heybridge Swifts on the 28th of December. Murat has a great wrok ethic and 'cam do' approach, always ready to fill in as appropriate in defence, midfield or attack and never giving less than 100%. This was never more apparent than in an away game to Romford on 17th January 2018. Goalkeeper Harry Voss was stretchered off the field after five minutes having collided with a goal post and was taken to hospital for checks. Murat took over between the posts and kept one of Ware's few clean sheets of the season, to ensure a first victory away to 'The Boro' since November 2009.

Murat played only twice more before an injury to his left knee brought an end to his Ware career at 232 appearances. That said, he signed for FC Baresi back in July of 2023 and with his new side playing their football at Wodson Park, Karagul finds himself in familiar surroundings that hold happy memories for him.

Murat certainly played his part last season, with FC Baresi winning the Essex Alliance Senior Division in convincing style.

They topped the table with 71 points, 13 clear of their nearest rivals, and set a new league record, becoming the first team to break the 100 goals scored barrier, finishing the season on 101 goals in just 28 games. They narrowly missed out on a famous double, losing the Senior Division Cup final to Walthamstow Reserves 2-1 at Brisbane Road, the home of Leyton Orient, but winning the title at a canter with only one defeat on their record, certainly showed their credentials to move up the pyramid and ply their trade at Step 6. And whilst it has been a tough start to the 24/25 season for the club, they have a talented squad and will cause many teams problems this season.

You can follow FC Baresi on X by clicking HERE.

For Hoddesdon, the form of the team is a bit of an unknown with the down period lasting longer than we all hoped.

However, new signing Stuart Zanone got his Lilywhite career off to a great start, scoring twice on debut in a 3-2 away win against Newbury Forest last time out. Indeed, he almost opened his account just 20 seconds into the game, with Bailey Eden following up the rebound to put Hoddesdon ahead, and further underline his status as a key part of the squad this season. Zanone will be hot on the heels of current leading goalscorer Ben Clarke, who has four goals in 13 appearances, and Callum Bennison who has three in 7. Bennison's goal scoring record in particular is impressive when you consider the fact that all seven of his appearances this season have been from off the bench!

Hoddesdon do have injury concerns going into this game with Connor Casey still a doubt, alongside goalkeeper Liam Nugent and last season's top goalscorer, Connor Bolton, both carrying significant knocks. Man of the match last time out, George Hamill seems to have settled down very nicely into the side and has been a great addition to the club this season. In the same vein, Jonah Evans is one of only three players this season to feature in every game, starting 12 of our 13 games, and coming on once as a substitute. Bailey Eden and Ben Clarke also have 13 appearances each but not as many starting berths as Evans. Midfielder Blue Gallagher isn't far behind with 12 appearances this season, all from the starting line up on the team sheet.

The Lilywhites head into this game in 9th place in the league table, but with the enforced break in play, they do have a significant number of games in hand over the teams above and below them, and a win would certainly boost their playoff hopes. Indeed, if they won all of their five games in hand over second placed Hackney Wick, for example, they would find themselves level on points with one of the league's favourites for the championship this season. A tough task but not impossible.

The Bar and Tea Bar will be open all evening, serving hot and cold refreshments and Lowfield365 Members will enjoy up to 20% discount on their round at the bar. You can sign up today by heading to our club shop HERE or speaking to a member of the bar team.

Kick Off is 7:45pm and Entry is £8 Adults and £5 Concessions, Under 12s FREE.

Enjoy the game.

#COYL