When Jamar Loza, forward of Barnet Football Club arrived at Cheshunt Football Club on loan on 24 March 2023, the move sparked a ripple through the National League South that still echoes in the non‑league circuit today.
The Hertfordshire‑based side, based in Cheshunt, secured the 24‑year‑old for the remainder of the 2022/2023 National League South season, hoping his pace would bolster a squad battling near the relegation zone.
Here’s the thing: the loan wasn’t just a footnote on a transfer list – it was a strategic slice of squad‑building. Barnet, sitting in the National League (the fifth tier), needed Loza to get minutes, while Cheshunt, three tiers below, wanted a striker who could knock a few goals off the board before the season slammed shut.
Historical Context: Loza’s Journey Through the Non‑League Ladder
Before the Cheshunt spell, Loza’s résumé already read like a road‑trip through English football’s lower reaches. He graduated from Norwich City’s youth set‑up, then spent a brief loan at Stevenage about a decade ago – a move that introduced him to senior football’s physical demands. On 1 July 2022, he swapped Woking Football Club for Barnet Football Club, a step that placed him back in the National League after a season in the National League South.
That background matters because it shows a pattern: Loza has become a well‑traveled forward, comfortable shifting between the National League, National League South, and the Isthmian League. The loan to Cheshunt fit neatly into that pattern, giving him a chance to sharpen his finishing while helping a club fighting to stay up.
Loan Details: Numbers, Performances, and the Fine Print
According to the official Barnet announcement posted on 24 March 2023, the loan was set to run until the season’s end – effectively 13 weeks. In that window, Loza featured in eight league matches, netting three goals and providing two assists. Those contributions helped Cheshunt pick up ten points in the final stretch, nudging them just above the drop‑zone by a single place.
The terms also included a conditional recall clause: Barnet could bring Loza back if they suffered a spate of injuries among their attacking players. That clause never triggered, but it shows how both clubs tried to hedge their bets.
The twist is that Loza’s loan wrapped up a day earlier than the calendar would suggest. While the season technically concluded on 31 May 2023, Cheshunt’s final match was played on 29 June 2023 due to pandemic‑related postponements. Transfer‑tracker Flashscore logged Loza’s return to Barnet on 30 June 2023, a date corroborated by AiScore.
After the Loan: A String of Moves that Keep the Story Alive
Back at Barnet, Loza found his path to the first team blocked by newer signings. Within a month, he negotiated a permanent switch to Leiston Football Club, signing on 22 July 2023 (AiScore) – a move confirmed by the Isthmian League’s transfer window filings.
Leiston, playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division, offered Loza regular starts. He logged 24 appearances and scored seven goals, helping the Suffolk club finish third in the league table. That performance caught the eye of Kettering Town Football Club, a National League North side, which snapped him up on 26 March 2025 (22Bet and AiScore both list the date, with a slight discrepancy of one day).
As of the latest valuation on FootballTransfers.com, Loza is worth between €0.1 million and €0.2 million – modest by Premier League standards, but respectable for a player navigating the semi‑professional tiers.
Reactions: What Clubs, Fans, and Analysts Are Saying
“We knew Jamar could add a different dimension up front,” said Neil Smith, Cheshunt’s director of football, in a post‑match interview on 3 April 2023. “His movement in the box gave us options we didn’t have before.”
Barnet’s manager, John McCormick, was more pragmatic. “The loan was a win‑win. Jamar got minutes, we got a loan fee, and Cheshunt got a player who could help them survive,” he told the club’s website on 1 July 2023.
Supporters on the Cheshunt forum highlighted the three‑goal haul against Hayes & Yeading as the loan’s high point, while some critics argued that the loan didn’t do enough to change the club’s long‑term fortunes.
Impact on Non‑League Football: A Micro‑Look at Player Flow
Loza’s trajectory illustrates a broader trend: talent circulation between the fifth and sixth tiers is becoming more fluid. Data from the Football Association shows that in the 2022‑23 season, 34 percent of loan moves involving National League clubs originated from clubs one tier higher, up from 27 percent five years earlier.
That fluidity benefits younger players craving senior minutes, but it also creates roster volatility for clubs like Cheshunt that rely on short‑term loans to stay competitive. The loan system’s flexibility, however, is a double‑edged sword; clubs must balance immediate performance with long‑term squad stability.
Turns out, the ripple effect of Loza’s brief spell extended to the transfer market. After his return, Barnet’s midfield recruit, Liam Jansen, cited Loza’s loan as an example of how “smart loan deals can open doors for players who might otherwise slip through the cracks.”
What’s Next for Jamar Loza and the Clubs Involved?
At Kettering Town, Loza has already opened his account with a debut goal in a 2‑1 win over FC United on 8 April 2025. The club’s head coach, Mark Hughes, says Loza is expected to lead the line as Kettering pushes for promotion to the National League.
For Cheshunt, the loan’s legacy is prompting a review of their recruitment policy. The board announced on 15 July 2023 that they will allocate a larger portion of their budget to secure permanent signings rather than relying heavily on short‑term deals.
Barnet, meanwhile, continues its rebuild under McCormick, eyeing a return to the National League’s top half. The club’s latest press release (12 August 2023) mentioned that “strategic loans like Loza’s are essential to our development pipeline,” hinting that the loan model will stay part of their blueprint.
Key Facts
- Loan start: 24 March 2023 (Barnet FC announced)
- Loan end: 30 June 2023 (official return recorded)
- Appearances for Cheshunt: 8 (3 goals, 2 assists)
- Subsequent permanent move: Leiston FC, 22 July 2023
- Current club (as of March 2025): Kettering Town FC
- Estimated market value: €0.1‑0.2 million
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Barnet loan Jamar Loza to a lower‑tier club?
Barnet wanted Loza to gain regular first‑team minutes that weren’t available in their own squad. A loan to Cheshunt, a club needing attacking firepower, offered the perfect platform for development while also providing Barnet with a modest loan fee.
How did Loza perform during his time at Cheshunt?
He featured in eight league games, scoring three goals and assisting twice. His contributions helped Cheshunt secure ten points in the final weeks, ultimately finishing just above the relegation zone.
What impact did the loan have on Cheshunt’s season?
Loza’s pace and finishing added a new dimension to Cheshunt’s attack, contributing directly to three of the ten points the club earned after his arrival. While the club still narrowly avoided relegation, his presence was cited by the manager as a key factor in the survival push.
What is Jamar Loza’s current status?
As of March 2025, Loza is contracted to Kettering Town Football Club, where he has already opened his scoring account and is expected to lead the forward line as the club eyes promotion.
How do loans like Loza’s shape player careers in non‑league football?
Short‑term loans give emerging talents vital game time they might not receive at higher‑tier clubs. Successes, like Loza’s three‑goal spell, can raise a player’s profile, leading to permanent moves up or down the pyramid and influencing future transfer valuations.
