WEEKLY BULLETIN: 10TH APRIL
Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday 11 April vs MK Irish (H) – Southern League
We welcome MK Irish to Top Field in the Southern League Division One Central. This game is a 3pm kick-off.
We last met in January with Hitchin Town winning 6-0 courtesy of goals from Charlie Briggs, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia (2), Taylor Rhiney, Lewis Franklin and Liam Brooks.
MK Irish currently sit 12th in the league table with 55 points from the 39 games they have played, whilst Hitchin Town remain in second with 83 points earned in our 38 games.
Tickets
Where possible we advise purchasing online. As well as being cheaper, it will ensure your quick and easy entry into the ground through the turnstiles.
Please purchase your tickets online here:
https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets
The online box office remains open until 30 minutes after kick off.
If you do need to buy your tickets in person, our Matchday ticket office will be open from 13.30-15.15 , and can be accessed from the rear car park (behind the Canary Club). Payment at the ticket office is by card only. Once you have purchased a ticket at the Matchday Ticket Office you will then present your ticket at the turnstiles for entry. More details here:
https://hitchintownfc.club/admission-prices/
Turnstiles open at 14.00
Parking
Unfortunately supporter parking is not available in the club car park (unless you are a registered blue badge holder and have made prior arrangements).
Food and Drink
The Canary Club bar is open from 11.00 with some of the lowest prices in Hitchin! Drinks can be taken into the ground in a reusable plastic cup. (£1 deposit required). You can exit to the bar during the match and will be re-admitted via the side gate by showing your hand-stamp.
Please enter the ground as early as possible before kick off to avoid congestion at the turnstiles. We have the following options inside the ground and you can still exit to the Canary Club Bar too:
Mad Squirrel Brewery are serving a great range of craft beers, ciders and lager. The Mad Squirrel 1865 Bar is located adjacent to the main stand.
Canary Kitchen will be open from when the turnstiles open serving a great range of food and soft drinks including our signature HTFC Pies.
Club Shop
Get your matchday programme, teamsheet, chocolate bars, sweets and HTFC merchandise from the club shop.
For full details on the facilities at Top Field see our Matchday Info page here:
https://hitchintownfc.club/matchday-info/
We look forward to welcoming everyone to Top Field and hope that everyone has a great afternoon.
Tuesday 14 April vs Bishops Stortford (at Top Field) – Herts Senior Cup Final
On Tuesday 14th April we host the Herts Senior Cup Final at Top Field against Bishops Stortford kick-off 7.45pm.
Prices of tickets are:
Online in advance: Adults £10, Concessions (60-79) £6, Teenagers (13-19) £3, Children Under 13 (Accompanying an adult) £1, Seniors Over 80 Free (but must obtain a ticket)..
Match Day Ticket Window (card payment only, no cash): Adults £12, Concessions (60-79) £8, Teenagers (13-19) £4, Children Under 13 (Accompanying an adult) £2, Seniors Over 80 Free (but must obtain a ticket for ground entry).
The Herts FA have agreed to adopt our pricing categories and policy, but we emphasise that it is not Hitchin Town’s home game. It is the Hertfordshire FA’s game – it is their Senior Cup Final, for which the venue just happens to be Top Field, and Hitchin Town just happened to have qualified for the final. We are selling tickets for the game for the Herts FA, but all rules, regulations and pricing for tickets is down to the Herts FA, not Hitchin Town. Tickets are on sale on our website.
Manager’s Notes
Good Friday Win over London Lions
Friday we hosted London Lions at Top Field looking to get back to winning ways. We made a few changes from the defeat last time out with Blue Joy, Will McNeill, and Diogo Freitas-Gouveia coming into the starting 11. We started the game on the front foot and this meant we dominated possession despite London Lions working hard and pressing us well in the middle of the pitch. We created a few chances with the best one coming from Lewis Franklin which the keeper was able to save and the rebound was cleared. We lacked a cutting edge and the energy levels needed to really hurt London Lions and start to cause them problems. In brief moments we showed that we were either able to open them up or force them into a mistake to turn over possession of the ball. We then did take the lead after being really loose in possession. We were able to counter press to force London Lions into a mistake which allowed Lewis Franklin to break through into the box before he was fouled. Taylor Rhiney converted the resulting penalty to give us the lead in a game of very few chances. The rest of the half didn’t produce that much action and we came in with the 1-0 lead.
Half Time the message was clear, we needed to up the energy levels and the tempo of the game to make sure we could take the result away from London Lions. We worked on a few patterns we felt could open up some goal scoring opportunities but we were pleased with the controlled performance so far.
Second half and we got off to a great start and after some early pressure a Callum Nicolson free kick found the run of Charlie Briggs who calmly put the ball in the back of the net. We then found the energy levels needed and we were now starting to open the away team up more and more. We then got a third after some good play resulted in a corner and another Callum Nicolson delivery was headed in by Charlie Briggs for his second. We then should have added more goals as the game went on but some poor decision/quality in the key moments meant we had to settle for the 3 goals.
It was a great win in front of a crowd of nearly 900.
Easter Monday Away Win at Stotfold
Monday we travelled to local rivals Stotfold who were having a very inconsistent end to the season but we knew they would be more than up for this game. We made a few changes from Fridays win where Brett Longden, Josh Jackman, Fernando Bell-Toxtle came into the starting 11, as well as Kye Tearle who was making his first appearance since the 21st February.
We thought Stotfold would come and attack us due to it being a derby game in front of a bumper crowd and not having anything to play for with nothing to lose and everything to gain but we could tell early on their game plan was to sit back, disrupt and not lose the game. This meant we had to readjust to how we thought the game would go.
We had all the possession and all the control of the game and in the first 20 minutes we found moments to open up the Stotfold 11 but we could not capitalise on these. Stotfold did have one moment which they should have done better when a free kick fell to their front man who put his shot straight at Tyler McGregor in goal. This was their only notable chance of the game. We needed to stay calm, controlled, patient and keep the belief that we could break down a stubborn team but this task was made even harder after Stotfold sat even deeper as the two front men dropped into the midfield to make it two banks of 5 to break down. This meant our two best chances of the half came from set plays, which both fell to Charlie Briggs but he was unable to find the goals he had on Friday.
The first half ended 0-0 with nothing to report. It was a terrible watch for the 1100 but I was delighted with how the first half had gone. We had adapted well to how Stotfold approached the game to how we thought they would. We controlled the game by being very patient and trying to work openings while making sure we wore the 11 down that had to chase the ball for 45 minutes. When we lost possession of the ball we were able to gain this back straight away which meant we could keep Stotfold penned in their own half. The message at half time was to keep believing, stay patient, controlled and calm and when we did get around the edge of the box to make sure we got into shooting positions, rather than crossing due to the height of Stotfold backline. We knew we just needed that one moment of quality to win the game as it was either going to be 1-0 to us or 0-0.
The second half we continued in the same fashion and we kept on delivering what had been asked and we kept pushing for the key moment to open the game up. We looked most threatening from Kye Tearle who had a few shots throughout the game that made the keeper work, with the best one forcing the keeper into a save to tip over the bar. The next best chance fell to Fernando Bell-Toxtle in the box who snatched at his shot when he had more time than he thought to bring the ball down. It was now getting to the stage where Kye Tearle was starting to feel the demands of the game on a rock hard pitch and the fact he had only had one training session since his last appearance. We were now had a tough decision, take Kye off and save him for another day or try and get every last bit out of him as he had looked the most threating and most likely to score with his long range shooting. We decided to leave Kye on because of this but 15 minutes later he asked to come off. We were now ready to make the change but on asking Kye he asked for 2 more minutes which we were more than happy with and it was a great decision because in this 2 minutes Kye managed to find the space on the edge of the box and unleash a powerful shot to give us the goal we were looking for. Kye then had to come off straight away due to the cramp he suffered but he had done much more than what we had expected as we were only expecting 60minutes maximum out of him and to do 80 and score exceeded everything.
We then thought Stotfold might come and press us in the last few moments of the match but they stuck to their game plan which meant we were able to pass the ball along the backline with ease. When they did change tactic to press us we adapted well and were able to open them up straight away with a Taylor Rhiney lob that just landed on top of the net. We were able to see out the 1-0 win to send the huge Canary away following home delighted with a derby day win.
I could not have been prouder of the players, they followed our game plan superbly and did not deviate or lose belief at any point and they fully deserved their win.
A great bank holiday weekend for us, two wins and two clean sheets.
Thank you for your unbelievable support over the weekend with two very big attendances and two excellent atmospheres.
Meeting with MK Irish on Saturday
We host MK Irish on Saturday. This is a team that has adapted extremely well to Step 4 and has taken some very big points this season. They arrive at Top Field Saturday coming off the back of and excellent win against play off side Biggleswade Town. MK Irish are a very attacking team and have plenty of pace and skill in wide areas to cause problems.
We will be looking to build on the bank holiday weekend and make sure we can get the required points to secure 2nd place, while also trying to get some form and momentum to lead us into the play offs.
Please continue to get behind the group as we enter our second last home league game of the season.
Cup Final
Tuesday we have the Herts Senior Cup Final against Step 3 Bishops Stortford. Bishops Stortford have nothing else to play for this season so I am sure they will be putting out the strongest team they have available to try and win the cup.
We will do what we have done in every previous round of the competition and we will rest and rotate the squad while being loyal to the players that have contributed to getting us to the final.
No matter what side we put out we are confident in the players selected to go and cause a cup upset and get the club some silverware.
Player News
- Josh Bowler is out for the rest of the season.
- Toby Syme has recovered from his illness that kept him out of the Stotfold game.
- Liam Brooks is still recovering from an ongoing injury.
- Diogo Freitas – Gouveia picked up an injury against London Lions.
- Callum Nicolson will be assessed after picking up an injury against Stotfold.
- Lewis Franklin was rested against Stotfold.
- George Morrall will be assessed before Saturdays game after struggling with an ongoing injury
Academy Update
The players have been on Easter break and during the break the 1st year players have completed their work experience. This was helping out at the successful kids camp which is run from The Arena by Hitchin Town Community FC.
If you would like to be part of the academy or for further information please use this link
Or email Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk
Gregg Cup
On Saturday 18th April we are once again hosting the Gregg Cup Final at Top Field. We are delighted to once again be supporting the Herts Senior County League with this historic competition. This year sees AFC Turnford playing Letchworth Garden City Eagles U23s with a 3pm KO.
If you aren’t heading to Northwood to watch the Hitchin Town men in action then why not head down to Top Field – admission is £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.
Community Update
Coaching Courses at the Arena
Easter Holiday Courses
The Arena, Baldock – Football Holiday Camps
We held our Easter football holiday camps at the Arena, Baldock over the last 2 weeks with good numbers of children attending.
The first week saw 33 different children attend the course and 35 attend the week just past.
Week: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
1 29 26 22
2 26 29 29
Preston Primary School – Multi-Activity Holiday Camps
We also staged multi-activity holiday camps at Preston Primary School over the last 2 weeks.
The first week saw 28 different children attend the course and 17 this past week.
Week: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
1 21 18 25
2 11 8 13
Junior Ability Counts
Our Junior Ability Counts sessions at the Arena, Baldock on Monday’s begin again on Monday and will run for 5 weeks from 13th April (excluding 4th May Bank Holiday) from 5-6pm.
The sessions are open to 5-16 year olds with physical and or SEN but be able to walk.
Safe Hands Goalkeeping Course
We will also start Our Safe Hands Goalkeeping sessions at the Arena, Baldock for 6 weeks to run from Wednesday 15th April from 5.30-6.30pm with former Hitchin Town 1st Team goalkeeper Josh Mollison. The sessions are open to 6-14 year olds
Coaching in Schools
We will be back in our local schools next week delivering coaching sessions in our local schools with sessions taking place at:
Preston Junior: Wraparound Care, Lunch Time Clubs and PPA
Oughton Primary: Lunch Time & After School Clubs and PE Lessons
Icknield Infants: After School Clubs and Morning Clubs
St Mary’s: Morning and After School Clubs, PE Lessons & PPA Cover
Woolgrove: Lunch Time Clubs
Brandles: PE Lessons
Samuel Lucas: After School Clubs everyday Monday – Friday (Excluding Thursday)
If there are any schools requiring support for their PE, PPA, After School and Breakfast Clubs please contact Josh Mollison on info@htcfc.co.uk
Mark Burke
Farewell Albert
Tommorow, we welcome Mason ‘Albert’ Spence back to Top Field as he makes one of his last appearances for MK Irish as he announced last weekend that he was retiring at the end of the season.
A former MK Dons player he arrived at Hitchin from Hayes & Yeading in February 2016 and made his debut by coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 victory away to St Neots.
Mason was part of the playing squad that lost in the play-off semi-final to Hungerford and the triumphant Herts Senior County Cup team that beat Boreham Wood that season.
He began the following season with a goal on the opening day that sparked a Hitchin revival after being 3-0 down to Cinderford Town with 20 minutes left to play. The Canaries stormed back to win 4-3 with an extra time winner scored by Will Wright from the penalty spot.
Alberts last match for Hitchin was on 17th April 2017 when he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 home draw against Biggleswade Town. In all Mason made 43 appearances and scored 3 goals in his career at Top Field.
The nickname Albert comes from his distinct similarity to Albert Steptoe as he ran Lewis ‘Camel’ Rolfe close 2 years running for the Ugliest Player of the Year Award just losing out on both occasions.
Although relatively he was not with us for long he did make his mark with his larger, than life character and we wish him the best of luck in his retirement and whatever the future holds.
We will be giving him a guard of honour in recognition of his contribution to football over the years.
Mark Burke
The Boy’s Done Good
Two former Hitchin strikers had a successful time over the Easter weekend with Jake Hutchinson scoring three goals over the two matches played to secure the Isthmian League Premiership title with Folkestone Invicta.
Whilst down at Barnet Callum Stead scored in the 5-2 victory over Fleetwood and was named in the EFL team of the week.
Mark Burke
Hitchin Town FC Walking Football Team
Former Club Programme Editor and current Talk Sport Commentator Barry Swain is looking for players to join him create a new section within the Football Club.
Walking Football for 45+ years is proving increasingly popular and Barry has organised a free taster session at the Arena in Baldock on Friday 24th April between 7-8pm.
Please see the flyer for more information.
Hitchin Town Women FC Update
There were no games played over the Easter weekend.
Fixtures – This Weekend
Everett Ladies v Hitchin Town Women FC
Hitchin Town Women FC – Remaining Fixtures
Bury Rangers v Hitchin Town Women FC on Wednesday 15th April – 19:30
Callum Ellis