Welwyn Garden City are hoping to have got the balance between experience and youth just right as they look for a positive Southern League campaign - and the signing of a a former Watford man is the perfect example of the latter.

Matty Whichelow played 21 times for the Hornets between 2010 and 2013 before going on to represent Boreham Wood and Wealdstone.

He hasn't played competitive football for close to five years but, now closing in on his 33rd birthday, he has returned to the sport at Herns Lane and he isn't the only one to join the WGC cause.

City manager Marc Weatherstone said: "Yeah, it's massive. You need the youth for their legs and for their running but you also need the experience of the older heads. 

"We’ve got Matty Whichelow in there who’s been a pro. He’s not an 18-year-old, he’s not going to get around the park, but his head will get him to where an 18-year-old will run because he reads the game. 

"We’ve kept hold of our captain Brad Wadkins, that’s a massive coup to re-sign him, and we’ve got Flo Bojaj, who is on trial still but who's played with Huddersfield. 

"He's getting fitter, carrying a bit of a knock, but he's come in so we can have a look at him. 

"We've signed Aiden Read from Cockfosters and he’s been immense in pre-season, looks strong and comfortable in the defence. 

 "And I’m happy with the trialists too, I’ll be signing a few of them after this. 

"That just makes your life easier, you’re not stressing near the end of pre-season thinking of who to get in." 

They aren't the only ones recruited or retained by the Division One Central side.

Experienced defender Ryan Sellers, 29, had joined earlier in the summer having previously played 15 times for Wycombe Wanderers nine seasons ago.

A player with plenty of non-league know-how is midfielder Jack Green, who has turned out for St Albans City, Hitchin Town and Royston Town among others.

Among those retained from last season are goalkeeper Donnabhan Green, who will be this season’s number one, full-backs Harvey Steel, Josh Bryant and Ryan Kirwan, central defender Alex Harris, Jack Vasey in midfield and Cyrus Babaie upfront alongside the youthful quartet of Bailey Stevenson, Henry Jones, Lucas Jordan and Ryan Ansell.

Weatherstone did see some leave the parish though, Dernell Wynter joining Cheshunt, Lynton Goss going to Leighton Town and Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo signed by Bedford Town.

"I lost more than I envisioned losing," admitted the boss, "but I want to see my players develop, I want to see them push on because I think it's a good sign for us as a club. 

"We’ve lost three or four players to step three clubs which I'm really happy with. 

"When you’re at our level, you know you are going to lose players. 

"People have the ambition to crack on and our resources are really low here. We don't pay much so when players get opportunity to earn a few pounds more, then I don't blame them. 

"If they're going down a level or staying at the same level, then maybe I will question it, but if they go up a level then I'm more than happy with that, you know. 

"But every year you need to recruit, the recruitment drive is massive and I feel like I've recruited really well.

"By the start of the season we’ll know our 11, we’ll have a settled team and we’ll be strong."