It will be the end of an era on Saturday when Charlie Horlock will play his last game for Hitchin Town. It will be his 273rd appearance and Charlie will definitely feel very emotional as he has a deep affinity for Hitchin Town FC. I interviewed Charlie this week as he explained why he feels the time has come to explore new options. Charlie was very anxious to point out it has nothing to do with how the season has ended and in no way is he jumping ships to escape. There has been no fall out with the club or new manager Brett Donnelly. Indeed Charlie asked me to relate that he feels Brett is the right choice to take over as manager regardless of whether we are relegated and he backs him to be a success at Hitchin.

Charlie felt he needed to consider his options because of some big changes in his life. Until recently Charlie was working at the Arena and helping with the academy and it was a job he loved. But living in Wycombe he really wanted to work nearer home. It can take him up to one hour and forty minutes to get to Hitchin or Baldock which was taking its toll. He now works as a PE teacher in Wycombe. He is also soon to be married and as he approaches his 29th birthday he felt he would like to play nearer to his Wycombe home.

Charlie had great respect for Mark Burke who he said had a major impact on his life and got him the job at Baldock. Charlie could have signed a two year contract but only signed for one year as he had been thinking of moving more locally in the future. But when Mark left Charlie was absolutely focussed on staying at Hitchin to the end of the season. In turn Mark thought highly of Charlie and this was his personal tribute:

Charlie has been an excellent goalkeeper for Hitchin Town FC, the ultimate professional and an absolute pleasure to work with.

Affectionately known as ‘Baby Face’ when he first arrived at Top Field in 2014 from Wycombe Wanderers he was instrumental in helping us win the Herts Senior Cup for the first time in 20 years and in achieving a ‘play-off’ position in the League in 2016.

This form earned him a move up the pyramid to the National League South Division with Eastbourne Borough before I was able to re-sign Charlie in 2019 and he has been my number 1 ever since.

Charlie commands respect from all of the players and staff because he has a great attitude, applies himself and has tremendous ability– all of the ingredients required to be a top player but more importantly a top person who has contributed so much to Hitchin Town FC and he will be missed.

I wish him the very best of luck for the future both in football and life.

Charlie told me he has always been happy at Hitchin and he really loves the club. He says there are so many good people at Hitchin both on and off the field, He actually said it was a privilege to play for Hitchin and he had a great rapport with the supporters. Over the years there has always been a good group of players to be around and while he is reluctant to single out individual players he said he has been blessed to learn from so many of them.

Charlie’s own goalkeeping hero was Dean Kiely the Charlton Athletic custodian (Charlie is a Charlton fan). Dean said he prided himself on his consistency, reliability and dependability; and Charlie has always strived to achieve these three attributes and I think we can all agree he succeeded in this objective.

When I asked Charlie to pick out some favourite games for Hitchin he chose two. Not surprisingly The game at Halesowen featured from this season when Charlie not only scored his first and only goal but he also saved a penalty. Charlie is shy and modest so was taken aback by the publicity this performance engendered but he eventually decided to milk it up! His other memorable game was against Poole when the supporters marched through the town to save Top Field in 2016. Charlie remembers it was a perfect atmosphere and he realised just how special the club was and it meant more than just football.

Charlie was also keen to point out over his career how tight knit the squads have been and as captain he has worked hard to ensure this continued. He also wanted to assure supporters the players really do care and there is no lack of effort on their part. They have been distraught at the collapse this season and will give everything on Saturday to turn it round.

Charlie really cannot explain just what has gone wrong this season. He still believes we had one of our best ever squads going in to the season and feels it is a combination of factors that have seen us struggle so badly. Confidence has disappeared and we have lacked composure. Charlie said the players were really despondent after the defeat at Stamford but he assures supporters no stone will be left unturned on Saturday. The players are overwhelmed by the great support they have received from our loyal supporters and together we can win on Saturday.

I personally hope for a very big turn out on Saturday not only because of the importance of the game but because there is the opportunity to thank Charlie Horlock for his great contribution to Hitchin Town FC. I have been very close to Charlie over his career at Hitchin and he has always been so open with his interviews. I can definitely say he is one of the nice guys and what a great ambassador he has been for the club since playing his first game in 2014. We all wish him the very best for the future and he has told me he will always be a Hitchin fan and our result will always be the first he looks for.

Thanks for the memories Charlie.

By Roy Izzard