United’s final home match of 2024 sees The Tudors head to Plainmoor
With last weekend’s home win over Farnborough seeing Paul Wotton’s men climb to the top of the National League South table for the first time this season, the next test for The Gulls will come in the shape of Hemel Hempstead, who will no doubt be eager to impress their newly appointed manager.
Who’s the boss?
Lee Allinson was recently named as the man to replace previous boos Bobby Wilkinson, who left the role following a decline in form that had seen Hemel fall down the table following a superb start to the campaign.
Allinson made the switch from Hendon, where he had been manager for the last five years and whom he left in 7th position in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Lee will be supported at Hemel by his management team of Chris Winton (assistant manager), Gary King (director of football), and his father, Ian Allinson (football operations), the former Arsenal and Colchester United midfielder.
How have they been doing?
After a stunning start to the 2024/25 campaign saw Hemel establish themselves as one of the early-season pacesetters, a dramatic loss of form eventually paved the way for the departure of previous boss Bobby Wilkinson.
25 points from 22 matches still leaves The Tudors with some breathing space ahead of Aveley (15 points) in the last of the dreaded relegation places, whilst there is still plenty of time to embark on another impressive run to reset their focus on the other end of teh table.
Player to watch
A highly experienced midfielder, George Williams is now in his second full season with The Tudors having initially joined on loan from Boreham Wood in January 2023.
Quickly establishing himself as a fans favourite, in addition to coaching the academy students at the club in the week, he has become an influential player on and off the field at Hemel.
George has also enjoyed spells with his boyhood club MK Dons having come through the ranks which earned him a move to Championship Fulham alongside a call up to the Welsh National Team resulting in him going to the Euros in 2016.
Played for both
Aaron Jarvis started his career at hometown club Basingstoke Town in the 2016/17 season, with his 14 goals in 47 games prompting the then League Two Luton Town to sign him on a two year deal.
Although he only made five appearances for the Hatters, he did enjoy action after being loaned out to Boreham Wood and then Falkirk in the Scottish Championship.
Upon his release from Kenilworth Road, Jarvis joined Sutton United, before a loan stint at Hemel Hempstead saw him notch one goal in six league games. Scunthorpe United were next destination for the striker, prior to his departure at Glanford Park alerting the attention of then-United boss Gary Johnson.
During his first season at Plainmoor, Jarvis became the first player since Robin Stubbs in the 1965/66 campaign to score two hat-tricks in one season, and he became a firm favourite with the Yellow Army before signing for Yeovil last summer.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 3 – 2 Hemel Hempstead | National League South | Saturday 16th December 2023
It was almost exactly a year ago that the two sides locked horns in last season’s corresponding fixture, with United producing a stirring comeback to come back from two goals down to run out 3-2 winners.
It was the visitors who struck first through Joe Iaciofano’s early penalty, and that lead was doubled soon after through Kyla Ajayi. Ryan Hanson dragged his side back into proceedings shortly after, before Ethon Archer levelled things up to round-off an action-packed first quarter.
It took a late, late winner from Dean Moxey to turn one point into three, with even the late dismissal of Brett McGavin failing to spoil the festive mood for the Yellow Army.