Chesham United Pen Pics Andy Leese (Manager)

Chesham United Pen Pics
Andy Leese (Manager): A UEFA B Pro-Licence Coach who is currently working towards his A Licence. Andy was appointed Chesham manager in the summer of 2007 from Potters Bar Town. During his time at Potters Bar Town he guided them to the 4^th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, after saving the team from relegation the year before. Potters Bar also collected the SSML Floodlit Trophy and the Hertfordshire Charity Cup during his short stint at the helm. Andy started his management career at Somersett Ambury FC in the SSML in 2000, before leaving for Cheshunt in 2002. In 2003, Andy guided Cheshunt to the Ryman Division 2 Championship, before leading them to promotion to the Ryman Premier League the following season. Cheshunt also reached 4 cup finals in 2 years while Andy was manager. Andy also spent brief spells at Boreham Wood and Wealdstone.
In Andy’s first season, Chesham recovered from a slow start but missed out on the play-offs on goal difference in the Southern League Division One Midlands, and won the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup beating Wycombe Wanderers 3-0 in the final. In 2008/09 Chesham finished fifth but lost in the play-offs to Nuneaton Town, before achieving promotion in the 2009/10 season beating Slough Town 4-0 in the play-off final. Chesham then finished 6^th in the Southern Premier having been in the play-off race for much of the campaign. Since then, Andy led Chesham to three consecutive play-off finishes, including the Play-Off Final in 2014 and to the FA Trophy Second Round in the 2012/13 season. In the 2015/16 season, Andy led Chesham to the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup, where the club faced former Premier League side Bradford City, having beaten League Two club Bristol Rovers 1-0 in the First Round Proper.
Jon Meakes (Assistant Manager): Jon has worked with Andy since joining Cheshunt in 2002, also joining Chesham as Assistant Manager in 2007. Jon previously managed Potters Bar Town and been assistant at Hertford Town. Jon was a centre-half in his playing career, and had played for Northwood, Hertford Town, Dunstable and Potters Bar Town.
Shaun Reece (Coach): Shaun joined Chesham as a fitness coach in 2012, having previously been a player at the club in the 2005/06 season. Shaun joined while completing his degree at university, but has since graduated and progressed with his football coaching. Shaun also heads up the academy set-up which launched in 2015. In his playing career, Shaun also played for Cheshunt and Hitchin Town.
Dave Sandiford (Goalkeeper Coach): Dave joined Chesham in 2015 to help work with the club’s goalkeepers, Dave’s previous clubs include St Albans City.
Ashlee Jones (Goalkeeper): A 29-year-old goalkeeper who joined the club in the summer of 2016. Ashlee came through the ranks at Southampton where he reached the FA Youth Cup Final. Ashlee then moved onto Rushden & Diamonds, and has since had Football League experience with Wycombe Wanderers and Darlington. Ashlee joins Chesham from Leiston, where he earned plaudits for his performances, whom he joined from Lowestoft Town. Ashlee’s previous clubs include Canvey Island, Boreham Wood, Billericay Town, Kingstonian, Fisher Athletic and Potters Bar Town.
Matt Nolan (Goalkeeper): A young goalkeeper who joined the club in the 2015/16 season, having been part of the Ware FC Academy Elite side. Matt has been a part of the Broxbourne Borough Under 18 side, and has played in the Cuffley 1^st team. Matt has played for the Chesham United Reserves side, and was on the bench for the FA Cup Second Round tie at Bradford City in the 2015/16 season.
Darren Purse (Defender): 39-year-old experienced centre-back who re-joined Chesham United in July 2016 from Hayes & Yeading United. Darren first joined Chesham midway through the 2013/14 season, having had a short spell at IFK Mariehamn in Finland. Darren then moved onto Conference South football midway through the 2014/15 season with Welling United and Staines Town. Darren is a well-known figure having made 556 league appearances from 1996 to 2013. Darren is best known for his spells at Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, and commanded transfer fees of around £2.5m across his playing career. Darren is also known for scoring a penalty for Birmingham against Liverpool in the 2001 Worthington Cup Final. Other clubs include Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Leyton Orient, Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Port Vale.
Mat Mitchel-King (Defender): Another experienced former Football League player, Mat joined the club in the summer of 2016 from Hemel Hempstead Town in Conference South. Mat has further experience of this league, having played for St Neots Town. Mat started out at Cambridge City and Mildenhall Town, before moving onto Histon in 2005 in Conference South, where he was a regular for four years, before earning a two-year contract at Crewe Alexandra. Mat made 93 Football League appearances for Crewe and AFC Wimbledon, and also played for Dartford of the Conference following his release from AFC Wimbledon.
Brett Longden (Defender): 22-year-old Brett joined Chesham in the summer of 2016, having been a regular at league rivals St Neots Town. Brett is comfortable playing in either full-back position and started out at Luton Town, where he made his debut in the 2011/12 season. Brett was part of the Luton squad that was promoted back to League football in 2013/14, having gained senior experience at St Neots. Brett then also played on loan in Conference South at Boreham Wood and Maidenhead United. Brett then joined St Neots on an initial loan arrangement before making the move permanent in 2015.
Benji Crilley (Defender): Another young prospect who joined Chesham ahead of the 2016/17 season. Benji started out in the Luton Town academy and then spent time at Ware in the 2015/16 season. Benji offers versatility in defence and has the opportunity to develop his career at the club.
Laurie Stewart (Defender): Centre half who joined Chesham from Hitchin Town in the summer of 2013. Was Hitchin Town’s Player of the Season for the 2011/12 season, having joined from Harlow Town the previous summer. Laurie has also played for Ware, Cambridge City and Bishops Stortford. Missed the whole of the 2015/16 season through injury.
Toby Little (Defender/Midfielder): Toby is a left-sided player who re-joined the club in September 2014 after a brief spell at Conference South side Wealdstone. Toby initially joined the club from Basingstoke Town in October 2012, having previously played for Woking and Hayes, and also represented England at College and University level.
Nick Beasant (Defender/Forward): The son of former England goalkeeper Dave, Nick is a versatile player who joined Chesham in January 2015. Nick is an experienced player in this league, having started out at Bedford Town, where he scored 11 goals playing as a forward. Nick then moved on to play for Cambridge City, where he helped them to a play-off position. Nick then played for Dunstable, before moving to Chesham.
George Fenton (Defender): A strong and rapidly improving defender who was the captain of the reserves at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, before earning a place in the first XI matchday squad, making 22 appearances. George then progressed further in the 2015/16 season as a regular in the starting line-up. George was the captain of the under-18 team that won their league in the 2010-11 season, then went away to University before coming back to the club.
Ben Ford (Defender/Midfielder): Ben is a utility player who joined Chesham in September 2015. Ben started at Kettering Town before moving onto Nuneaton Town in the Conference. Ben then went on a couple of loan spells to Kettering and Bedworth. Ben then started the 2013/14 season at the now-defunct Hinckley United. Ben then spent some time at St Neots Town, before playing for Biggleswade Town and Arlesey Town.

Dave Fotheringham (Midfielder): A former Chesham United youth player, Fotheringham has notched up over 400 appearances for the club. Dave made his debut in 2002, but left in 2005 for Hemel Hempstead Town then Maidenhead United. Returned in the summer of 2007 and is a favourite with the Chesham supporters for his inexhaustible work rate. Missed most of the 2015/16 season through injury.
David Pearce (Midfielder): Dave joined Chesham on a permanent deal in November 2014 after a successful loan spell from Hemel Hempstead Town, where he scored 17 goals in the team that won the 2013/14 Southern Premier title. Dave joined Hemel Hempstead in February 2011 following the demise of Windsor & Eton, and won numerous awards in his time at Vauxhall Road including 3 individual awards in the 2011/12 season. Dave came through the youth set-up at Wycombe Wanderers, and had enjoyed a successful loan period at Bracknell Town. Dave finished as joined top scorer in the 2015/16 season, scoring 18 goals.
Bruce Wilson (Midfielder): Bruce is another player who returned to The Meadow in the summer of 2015, having spent a year at St Neots Town. Bruce’s versatility and experience has been a great asset to the team in his time at the club. Bruce initially joined the club in the summer of 2011, where he was a regular for three years and was a part of the team that narrowly missed out on promotion in the 2013/14 season. Bruce has also played for Hemel Hempstead Town and Windsor & Eton, where he was part of the team that won the 2009/10 Southern League South & West Division.
Adam Martin (Midfielder): Adam joined Chesham in October 2015 having started the season at Slough Town. Adam is a combative central midfielder, and started his career at the former Berkhamsted Town, before moving onto Hemel Hempstead Town. Adam then moved to Conference South football with St Albans City in 2010/11 and was a regular there, before moving to Slough Town for a couple of seasons before going to Burnham and Wealdstone. Adam then spent some time at Cambridge City before returning to Slough Town during the 2014/15 season.

Matt Taylor (Midfielder): Matt joined in the summer of 2015 from Conference South side St Albans City. Matt made 12 appearances in the 2014/15 season and 20 in the 2013/14 side that clinched promotion through the play-offs. Matt was a youth team product of St Albans, and made his senior debut in the 2011/12 season.
Stephan Hamilton-Forbes (Midfielder): Stephan is a young player who has been at Chesham since 2013. Stephan started his career at Watford, where he got a professional contract, and also had short spells on loan at Havant & Waterlooville and Harrow Borough. Stephan broke into the starting line-up in the 2015/16 season, and made 34 appearances in all competitions.

Sam Youngs (Midfielder): Sam returned to Chesham in the summer of 2015, having had a short spell at the Meadow in the 2010/11 season. Sam is a classy attacking midfielder who has enjoyed three spells at Rugby Town, making a significant impact in the 2012/13 season, scoring 12 goals. Sam first played for Rugby Town in 2009, then joined Redditch United in the 2013/14 season before returning to Rugby. Other clubs include Hemel Hempstead Town, Banbury United, Ware and Halesowen Town.
Callum Woodcock (Midfielder/Forward): Callum is a young forward who joined our youth system for the 2014/15 season before progressing into the Reserves after several impressive performances, and continued his development by scoring 15 goals in 28 games for the Reserves in the 2015/16 season. This earned Callum a promotion to the first team squad and made his first team debut against North Leigh in the FA Cup, and will be hoping for more opportunities in the 2016/17 season.

Brad Wadkins (Forward): A young and pacy forward who returned to The Meadow in the summer of 2015. Wadkins was a key part of the Under-18 team that won the league in 2011. Brad was then promoted to the first team squad making 46 appearances in the 2011/12 season. Wadkins then moved onto Hendon before going to St Albans City, and scored 13 goals in the 2014/15 season for Aylesbury. Other clubs include Leverstock Green, Potters Bar Town and Chalfont St Peter.
Barry Hayles (Forward): An experienced forward who joined Chesham as a player-coach in 2015. Barry has played in the Premier League and internationally earning ten caps for Jamaica. Hayles started his career at non-league Stevenage Borough, where he scored 73 goals in 154 appearances. Hayles then joined Bristol Rovers and was the top scorer in Division Two in the 1997/98 season, which earned him a move to Fulham where he helped the Cottagers to two promotions. Hayles then played for several Championship sides including Sheffield United, Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City. After dropping out of the full-time game Hayles twice helped Truro City to promotions, including scoring 20 goals in the 2010/11 season and has also played for Arlesey Town and St Albans City.
Ryan Blake (Forward): A 25-year-old pacy forward who joined Chesham in 2014 from Burnham. Blake impressed at The Meadow in his first season at The Meadow, bagging 21 goals and winning several post-season awards. Ryan then wrote his name into Chesham folklore by scoring the winner in Chesham’s 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers in the 2015/16 FA Cup, and also finishing as joint top scorer with 18 goals. Ryan has also played for Hemel Hempstead Town.
Drew Roberts (Forward): An experienced, prolific goalscorer who returned to The Meadow for the 2016/17 season. Drew initially played for the club in the 2013/14 season, where his 39 goals were instrumental to the club’s title push and eventual second placed finish. Drew is well known to fans of the league, and scored 31 goals for Arlesey Town in the 2012/13 season, and 34 for Bedford Town the year before. Drew left Chesham to join St Neots Town ahead of the 2014/15 season, where he scored 31 goals. Drew started out at Leighton Town, before going on to play for Barton Rovers, Bedford Town (two spells), Kettering Town, Aylesbury United, Histon, Hemel Hempstead Town, Cambridge City, St Albans City and Brackley Town.