As Newport County prepare to take on Boreham Wood FC, we take a closer look at Sunday’s opposition.
What’s their story?
Boreham Wood earned promotion to Division One after winning Division Two in 1968–69. Their rise continued in 2005–06 when they won Division One East and reached the FA Trophy semi-finals, securing a place in the Isthmian League Premier Division. A fourth-place finish in 2009–10 led to play-off success over Aveley and Kingstonian, earning promotion to the Conference South.
They reached the FA Cup first round in both 2012–13 and 2013–14, before finishing runners-up in the 2014–15 Conference South season. Play-off victories over Havant & Waterlooville and Whitehawk then took them into the National League for the first time.
In the National League, Boreham Wood enjoyed several strong seasons. Their 2017–18 campaign included a first-ever FA Cup win over Football League opposition, beating Blackpool 2–1, and a run to the play-off final at Wembley. They reached the play-offs again in 2019–20 and enjoyed notable FA Cup runs, including a third-round tie with Millwall in 2020–21.
The club achieved a historic FA Cup run in 2021–22, reaching the fifth round after victories over AFC Wimbledon and AFC Bournemouth, before losing to Premier League side Everton.
After finishing sixth in 2022–23 and reaching the play-off semi-finals, Boreham Wood were relegated the following season. However, they immediately bounced back in 2024–25, finishing fifth in National League South and winning the play-off final against Maidstone United to secure promotion.
Who’s the boss?
Luke Garrard has been in charge at Boreham Wood since 2015, stepping up when he was only 30. He was already well-known around the club, having played for them earlier in his career after spells with Swindon and AFC Wimbledon. Injuries pushed him into coaching sooner than he expected, but he stayed with Boreham Wood and worked his way through the academy before taking the main job.
Since then, Garrard has done a lot with very little. Boreham Wood don’t have the biggest budget, but he’s made them a regular presence in the National League play-offs and turned them into a tough side to play against. The standout moment came in the 2021–22 FA Cup when his team went on that unexpected run to the fifth round, beating Wimbledon and Bournemouth before eventually going out to Everton.
He’s known for being hands-on, emotional on the touchline, and fiercely loyal to the club. After nearly a decade in charge, Garrard has become part of the identity of Boreham Wood, and despite the ups and downs, he’s kept them competitive and punching above their weight.
Who’s the captain?
Callum Reynolds has settled back into Boreham Wood well since rejoining the club in January 2025. He’d already had an earlier spell with the Wood, so the return felt like a good fit for both sides. After spending the past few years with Aldershot, Barnet and Dagenham, he came back with a lot of experience and a clearer sense of the game.
He’s made 41 appearances since returning, and you can see why he’s been trusted with the captaincy. Reynolds plays with a calmness that the team seems to feed off. He reads situations early, talks players through games, and generally keeps things organised when matches get a bit frantic.
Key Player
Matt Rush, still only 24, has put together a solid non-league career, but he’s hit a completely different level since arriving at Boreham Wood from Maidstone United in January last season. He made an immediate impact, scoring 16 goals in 28 games during the second half of the campaign, and he’s carried that form straight into this season.
So far, Rush has 15 goals in all competitions, with 12 of those coming in the league. That puts him second in the golden boot race, just four behind York City’s Ollie Palmer. It’s been a standout spell for him, and right now he’s playing the best football of his career.