08 Aug 2026
Cutting the average age of the playing squad has been a key factor in the St Albans City management team’s recruitment plan for the 2026-27 season, writes Jess Unwin.
Talking to the St Albans Times, manager Gary McCann said he and director of football Harry Wheeler had targeted new signings between the ages of 28 and 34 in their efforts to reshape the City line-up.
They hope this will make the squad less vulnerable to injuries – Saints lost too many players to the treatment table last season – and help produce the style of football they’re aiming for.
McCann said: “I feel we’ve brought in the right balance of a sprinkling of young talent like Keiran Petrie, Mikey Faulkner, Kai Brown and Zak Sowden-Fletcher, with the experience of
Jake Gray, Charlie Edwards, Remi Sutton, Darion Furlong and Frankie Musonda.
“The balance is good and where it needs to be for the identity we want for our team.”
He added the new recruits would complement the players retained from last season and would allow City to “play with energy, tempo and on the front foot”.
In total, St Albans City have signed 10 new additions and persuaded eight players who featured last season to stay on board for the new season.
McCann said it was unlikely there would be further permanent signings: “We’re working on loan options in the background should we need them, but outside of that we have the squad we’re going forward with, plus five or six really good youngsters from the academy system who have done extremely well in pre-season.”
Sam Donkin – Goalkeeper, 28. Signed midway through last season from Billericay Town (manager Gary McCann’s previous club) and quickly established himself as the first choice between the sticks, displacing Magnus Norman. Began at St Neots Town before moving on to Corby Town, Stamford, Whitehawk, Biggleswade Town and Leiston.
Jack James – Defender, 26. A firm favourite with City supporters for his whole-hearted commitment to the City cause, he started his senior career with Luton Town. James signed for St Albans in June 2022 and has since made 120-plus appearances, usually in the right back position.
Lewis Page – Defender, 30. His playing career has included time with West Ham, Charlton and Exeter City, before signing for Saints in summer 2025 from Ebbsfleet United. The left back got seven assists and one goal in all competitions in 2025-26.
Remi Sutton – Defender, 34. Featured for AFC Hornchurch, Basildon United, Thurrock, Enfield Town, Romford and Cheshunt, before joining us in May 2026 from Cray Wanderers.
Darion Furlong – Defender, 26. The summer signing captained Cheshunt last season. He is the son of former professional Paul Furlong and brother of Darnell Furlong, who currently plays for Ipswich Town. Previous clubs include Leverstock Green, Potters Bar, Hitchin Town and Ware FC.
Frankie Musonda – Defender, 28. Made 15 appearances for Luton Town before loan spells at Braintree, Oxford City, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans. After several seasons in the Scottish Championship with Raith Rovers and Ayr United, he joined Bahrain SC. The Zambian international signed an 18-month contract with City in the close-season.
Zak Sowden-Fletcher – Defender, 18. Learned his trade by progressing through the Cambridge United academy system and had a loan spell with Newmarket Town. He signed for Saints after impressing as a trialist in pre-season friendlies.
Adrian Mariappa – Defender, 39, the former Watford, Reading, Crystal Palace and Bristol City man, played 72 times for Jamaica. He joined Saints in October 2025, making his debut against Burton Albion in the FA Cup.
Alex Dyer – Midfielder, 36. An experienced campaigner whose CV includes nearly 300 games for Wealdstone FC, plus spells playing in Sweden and Kuwait. Deservedly named the Manager's Player of the Season after contributing 11 assists and 2 goals in all competitions in 2025-26. He also made 48 appearances – more than anyone else in the squad.
Jake Gray – Midfielder, 30. Joined the Saints from Hemel Hempstead Town in May 2026. Played in the English Football League and at National League level. Former teams include Crystal Palace, Luton Town, Yeovil Town and Woking, and played for Saints manager Gary McCann during his tenure as boss at Hampton and Richmond Borough.
Charlie Edwards – Midfielder, 34. After playing for teams across the Home Counties and London, the summer signing for Saints had successful seasons with Canvey Island and Cray Wanderers, before moving to Brentwood Town and featuring in a Blues team that were the early table-toppers in the Isthmian League Premier Division last season.
Zane Banton – Midfielder, 30. Club captain Banton is hugely popular with supporters and is City’s longest-serving current player, with more than 300 appearances and 60-plus goals since he first signed for the club in 2017. He scored 13 goals and provided three assists in all competitions in 2025-26.
Haziz Kone – Midfielder, 28. Kone joined last season from Aylesbury Utd and St Albans City’s management team have persuaded him to stay on at Clarence Park for the 2026-27 campaign.
Ollie Knight – Striker, 29. Plays wide on the left and arrives at Clarence Park from Enfield Town. He had a key role in Towners’ 2023 promotion to the National League South, where they stayed until relegation last season. Former teams are Forest Green Rovers, Cirencester Town, Frome Town and Metropolitan Police.
Kieran Petrie – Striker, 21. Signed from Wealdstone at the end of November 2025, he operates across either wing and bagged four goals and three assists in 2025-26. Petrie started his career with the Arsenal academy before briefly joining Swansea U18s. He then played for QPR U18s and U21s.
Inih Effiong – Striker, 35. Returns to St Albans for his third spell with the club. He has turned out for a plethora of teams, including Hitchin Town, Chesham, Hayes & Yeading, Dunstable, Biggleswade Town, Barrow, Woking, Ross County, Barnet, Stevenage, Dagenham & Redbridge, Braintree and, most recently, National League side Eastleigh.
Kai Brown – Striker, 25. Arrives at Clarence Park having notched 28 goals last season for Waltham Abbey of the Isthmian League North Division. Brown joined the Abbots after playing in Ipswich Town’s under-18 and under-23 teams and then spending time at 11 different clubs.
Mikey Faulkner – Striker, 20. Collected 25 goals and provided 15 assists in Maldon & Tiptree’s promotion as champions of the Isthmian League North Division last season. Learnt his trade in the Southend academy, before moving on to Heybridge Swifts, Basildon United, and Bowers & Pitsea.
U23s players St Albans manager Gary McCann has said the young talent coming through the club’s academy set-up can make a real impact in season 2026-27. Names to look out for include defenders Ollie Baker, Dan Austin and Max Fergie, midfielder Joe Beardon, striker Charley Fitzsimons and keeper Jake Boxer.
