Hemel Hempstead Town FC and Hemel Hempstead Town Youth FC are delighted to announce that John Hyatt will return to the club for the 2025/2026 season as our Head of Performance for both our U18 Southern Counties League squad and our newly established U16 Girls JPL programme.
John returns for his second spell with the Tudors after an incredibly successful three seasons between 2021 and 2024, where he played a pivotal role in leading the U18 Boys to four trophies, including a prestigious treble and a record-breaking FA Youth Cup run which culminated in the boys losing narrowly on penalties to Sheffield Wednesday on a memorable afternoon at Hillsborough.
Hyatt will be joined by Jon Davies, who also returns for a second term, taking on the role of Squad Manager for both the U16 Girls' and U18 Boys professional phase squads. The Tudors' youth development programme continues to go from strength to strength, with this year’s U18 Boys' having recently won the Hertfordshire FA County Cup. With a proven sustained pathway to the first team, we are hugely proud of the ongoing success of our youth system, with standout players from our 2024 FA Youth Cup squad now gaining invaluable first team experience out on loan.
Kombe Kawimbe, Brad Smith, and Bradley Roberts are all currently gaining valuable senior experience with their loan clubs, and we look forward to seeing them continue their development, where we hope they will play an important role in the first-team squad in future seasons. As part of the club’s long-term strategy, significant investment has been made in strengthening ties between the youth section and the senior club.
The introduction of the U16 Girls performance squad reinforces our commitment to developing young female talent and builds upon our programme throughout the girls section from Under 8 to Under 15, which continues to grow and thrive. Our Under U12 Girls, who presently compete in the JPL and who have made an impact at National Cup level this season along with our other age groups continue to grow in the Herts Girls Partnership League with the opportunity to play JPL football.
The creation of an U16 Girls performance squad is also a significant step towards the introduction of a new women’s team at Hemel Hempstead Town FC, acting as a vital pathway, providing talented players with the development and exposure needed to progress into the senior women's game. The opportunity to develop through our JPL programme and also our Full-Time Academy System between 16-19 once again reiterates are commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for our girls sections. “We are absolutely delighted to welcome John and Jon back to the club,” said Senior Club Chairman Dave Boggins and Youth Section Chairman Steve Neville. “Our vision is to continue strengthening our youth setup and bridge the gap between our youth section, the academy and the first team”
“We are planning a clear development pathway for both our elite boys and girls, enabling us to nurture the very best talent in Hertfordshire and have them based out of our Focus Community Arena campus”
This is an exciting new chapter for the whole club, and we look forward to the continued success of our youth squads, as well as the promising future of women’s football at Hemel Hempstead Town.
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