Promotion after a nervous and long wait was deserved for Colney Heath but it also brought some very-welcome side-effects - with the return of fan favourites Jon Clements and Sam Doolan.

Ace striker Clements spent last year with Walthamstow, moving last summer as did Sam Doolan to Southern League Berkhamsted.

But the big defender said there was no doubt in his mind about returning to the Recreation Ground.

"As soon as I knew the boys were going up, it was a no brainer to come back," said Doolan.

"I’ve been here for the last four years and with Thommo [Ryan Thompson] over six, it was an easy choice.

"It was horrible to not go up [two seasons ago] but the boys worked extremely hard last year and carried the torch on to get over the line."

Herts Advertiser: Sam Doolan will hope to pose a threat for Colney Heath from set-pieces.Sam Doolan will hope to pose a threat for Colney Heath from set-pieces. (Image: Karyn Haddon)

And with other new faces coming in, Doolan sees no reason why the Magpies can't surprise a few people.

He said: "We’ll easily hold our own in step four and can even challenge in the top half.

"We’ve got a big squad going through pre-season but once we start gelling a little bit more and the new faces learn how we play, it will just add even more quality to us."