The boys are officially back in town! The Fleet face Hemel Hempstead Town in our first home game of the season at the Morrow Stadium this Tuesday – writes Libby O’Connell.

Form Guide

The Fleet got their season off to an incredibly strong start away at Waltham & Hersham on Saturday, coming home with a 2-0 victory and plenty of positives to take into future games.

Dom Samuel made it two opening away games in two seasons marked by an early goal as his third minute strike was reminscent of Kwesi Appiah’s equally early conversion at Dagenham to begin last season. That was the No.14’s 30th goal in Fleet colours.

The second goal on Saturday came from another player with plenty of Fleet history behind him as Toby Edser fired home after Jake Vokins break into the box produced a great delivery to set up the finish.

The result was a strong return for Josh Wright’s side, with the clean sheet adding to what was already a convincing opening-day performance.

Visitors Hemel Hempstead Town sit 17th in the National League South table, with two wins, two draws and three losses from their opening seven fixtures.

Their latest three results have been less positive, with a 1-1 draw against Farnham Town on Saturday coming after two defeats to Folkestone Invicta and Weston-super-Mare over the past two weeks. The heavier of the two losses came against the latter, with the Tudors falling to a 3-1 defeat despite forward Remaye Campbell putting them ahead early on.

They were unable to find the net against Folkestone on Bank Holiday Monday, leaving their opponents with a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory.  Hemel did manage to secure a point at home to Farnham on Saturday, equalising in the first-half just minutes after their opposition had taken the lead.

Off the back of those results, it will be interesting to see whether the pressure builds for the Tudors on Tuesday night – although in their favour, their two wins this season have come away from home.

Last Time Out

The Fleet and the Tudors are no strangers to each other, having faced off in the National League South last season and in numerous previous campaigns.

Both fixtures last season ended in draws, with a goalless result at The Focus Community Arena in the early stages of the season followed by a 2-2 draw in Kent back in February (pictured).

Although Hemel have yet to register a win over the Fleet, that 2-2 draw must have felt like one as they struck 84th and 95th minute goals to come back from 2-0 down.

Many of the Fleet players who featured in that game are likely to appear again this Tuesday, including Ben Chapman, who scored the second goal that night, alongside Edser and Samuel.

Both of Hemel’s goalscorers from that one have since departed the club.

Who’s Who?

Hemel announced a new signing last week with Watford Academy midfielder Leo Ramirez-Espain coming on loan, hot on the heels of another, Jacob Cook from Swansea City.

The 19-year-old Ramirez-Espain has already secured minutes for his parent club’s first team, as well as spending some time on loan at Yeovil Town last November.

Forward Remaye Campbell is another face to watch out for, as Hemel’s top scorer with three goals from the opening seven fixtures. Campbell signed for the Tudors in January and quickly became a regular in the starting XI.

New addition David Longe-King has also found the back of the net for the Tudors this season. The centre-back signed ahead of the 2026/27 season following his departure from Hampton & Richmond Borough, and he previously played for other National League sides, including Dagenham & Redbridge.

The Manager

Lee Bircham returned to the club back in May, following his original departure during the 2020/21 season.

He recently guided Bedford Town from step four to step two with back-to-back title wins, and enjoyed similar success at previous club Leighton Town, where he also won two consecutive titles.

The Referee

Henry Harvey of Suffolk takes charge of the Fleet for the first time. He was promoted to this level in the summer. Before that he was promoted from Level 4 to 3 after impressing in only one season at the lower rung.