Two new faces and one returning skipper

Walthamstow manager Vinny Murphy has begun building his team for the coming 2025-26 season with the announcement of two new signings, a retunee after four seasons away, and a number of last season’s squad committing.

Goalkeeper had been a problem position for Stow last season, with four different stoppers being used over the course of the campaign. Murphy has looked to put that right with the acquisition of the vastly-experienced David Hughes.

Goalkeeper David is a serial promotion winner from the Isthmian North and joins from Bowers and Pitsea, where he spent the last two seasons. He was a play-off winner with Bowers in 2023-24, repeating a feat he accomplished with AFC Sudbury the season before. The season before that, he won the league with Aveley; also playing  amassive part in their run to the quarter finals of the FA Trophy.

He had been at Aveley for five seasons, and has also had spells with Harlow Town, Thurrock, Enfield Town and East Thurrock United.

Second in is defender Jack Johnson, who signs after a season out of the game through injury. Johnson may be a familiar face for those who were at the Lodge last season, as he could often be seen watching his brother, Louie. He will be the third Johnson brother to play for the club, following Bradley Johnson in 2004, and Louie last season.

Jack started off at Bishops Stortford, but spent three seasons at Enfield, where he was a league and cup winner. He signed for Stanway Rovers last season, but an injury ended his 2024-25 before it had even started.

The final ‘new’ player in at Stow is Reece Conway, who will be back for his fourth season at the club. Conway made his debut in the 2018-19 season, and made 37 appearances that season, scoring four times. He made a further 16 appearances across two pandemic-hit seasons, before signing for Enfield, where he won the Essex Senior League. He picked up his second ESL title last season, skippering Stanway Rovers to the title.

Three key figures from last season have also agreed to return, with defender Jordan Peart and midfielders Tyrone Baker and Rasheed Salau both commiting to another season in E17.