A Waltham Abbey summer

We couldn’t write abut our new clubs prior to our AGM, so over the next couple of weeks we’re going to catch up on their signings and other news. We’re off to visit the Abbotts next!

Welcome back to Waltham Abbey, making a welcome return to our fold after three years away. The Abbotts have made a couple of new signings over the summer, and retained a number of last season’s Play Off Final squad. 

Lewwis Spence has spent a number of years as a triumphant Urchin, lifting the FA Trophy at Wembley with Hornchurch and, of course, lifting our league title trophy only a few months ago. He also spent a period last season as the Urchins interim manager, and made 158 appearances for the club in total, scoring 27 goals, after first arriving in the summer of 2018. Earlier in his career the midfielder played for the youth team and then the first team at Crystal Palace. He moved on to Wycombe Wanderers, and then Dover Athletic, before spells at Thurrock- twice- as well as Bishop’s Stortford and Greenwich Borough. 

Sam Robbins returns to the Abbotts after six years away. The defender has spent most of that time with Bishop’s Stortford. He made forty seven appearances during his first campaign, 2018-19, and thirty two more before the following campaign fell over. He played thirteen times as the Blues reached the FA Cup First Round the following year, what there was of it, before we returned to normal and he made forty two appearances as Stortford reached a Play Off Semi-Final in 21-22. Seven appearances in 22-23 was followed by twenty four in National League North last season. 

Retained players are: 

Asher Silverman, Aaron Eyoma, Ace’a Laurent, Babadi Kamara, Bradley Robinson, Declan Rydings, Edwin Mensah, Harrison Walker, Jason Hallett, Kieron Cathline, Nathan Koranteng, Prince William Domafriyie and Sam Shaban.