08 Aug 2026
Kai Brown poached his ninth goal in seven pre-season friendlies to ensure St Albans City claimed a well-deserved 1-1 draw in a fiercely competitive local derby game with Hemel Hempstead, writes Jess Unwin.
Saints certainly held their own against their neighbours, who currently play at a higher level in the football pyramid, making this another encouraging performance in City’s warm-up games before the league season starts this coming Saturday.
Manager Gary McCann told the St Albans Times: “We’ve acquitted ourselves extremely well in all the pre-season friendlies except for perhaps against Luton, but we played in 30°+ heat that day with 10 players for 88 minutes.”
Besides the goal-scoring form of Brown, other positives from the pre-season schedule include picking up just one minor quadriceps injury to defender Frankie Musonda, and the emergence of talented young centre back, Zak Sowden-Fletcher.
After starring as a trialist for City, the 18-year-old has now signed for the club and McCann is clearly delighted. He revealed: “As a young defender he’s got the whole world at his feet. He’s an outstanding prospect who’s going to be a key component of our season. He wants to put his head on things, he wants to clear his lines, he wants to tackle, he wants to be physical – some people might call that old school, but I call it right school.”
Last Saturday’s Hemel game was one of very few chances. When the Tudors did take the lead in first-half stoppage time it was through a questionable penalty, but Brown’s 66th-minute equaliser underlined once again his ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Potters Bar vs St Albans City 1-3
Hanworth Villa vs St Albans City 2-1 (St Albans scorers – Darion Furlong)
Bedfont Sports vs St Albans City 1-4 (St Albans scorers – Kai Brown 2, Ollie Baker, Joe Beardon)
St Albans City vs Luton Town XI 1-4 (St Albans scorers – Kai Brown)
St Albans City vs Berkhamsted 4-0 (St Albans scorers – Kai Brown 3, Triallist B)
St Albans City vs Watford XI 2-1 (St Albans scorers – Kieran Petrie, Ollie Baker)
Real Bedford vs St Albans City 4-4 (St Albans scorers – Kai Brown 2, Jack James, Darion Furlong)
St Albans City vs Hemel Hempstead 1-1 (St Albans scorers – Kai Brown)
St Albans City FC have a new away clash kit for season 2026-27. Our picture shows it being modelled by new signings Kai Brown (right) and Frankie Musonda. The kit is available from the club shop at Clarence Park and can also be ordered from the club’s website.
Hemel Hempstead photos by Jim Standen.
