WEEKLY BULLETIN – 13TH SEPTEMBER
FIXTURES
- Hitchin are without a fixture on Saturday and there is no midweek game either. The next game will be at Halesowen on Saturday 21st September and the next home game will be on Tuesday 8th October when we host St Albans in the Herts Charity Cup.
- On Saturday the players will have a training session.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY BRETT DONNELLY
Gutted to be writing these notes without gaining any points still. Home defeats are hard to take and 2 in 3 days is even harder especially when our performances deserved so much more. We could easily be sitting here with 2 or even 4 points. But when your lucks out its out.
Saturday we dug in and showed some real grit without the amount of quality or chances at goal I would like, but Alvechurch are basically a fulltime side with the league’s best striker in their team. It’s always going to be tough but we competed with them and after they scored we pretty much controlled the game without having the moment of quality in front of goal. Missing the target is hard to take as we need to make the keeper work but it showed we were prepared to roll our sleeves up and not chuck in the towel as we had done before. That’s something I just won’t accept. I spoke to their assistant gaffer after and he couldn’t believe we hadn’t picked up anything so far. Richie has been around the level long enough and an opinion I value, so it helps that others see what I am seeing. Performances are getting better week on week. We just need to get something from them soon!
Tuesday we gave, for me, the best 70 minutes of football since I came in. It was exactly what I want from my side, energy, desire high tempo football with bodies in the box. Sadly the first 20 minutes was so bad it cost us. You can’t give teams 2 goal starts and expect an easy ride back in the game. Fair play to Stortford they defended well second half as we chucked the kitchen sink at them. I made an error in starting Glee’s straight after Saturday I needed to give him a breather as he makes his way back, but he wasn’t at fault for the goals. Poor from everyone as they all went and done the exact opposite of what was asked. But once we decided to go with the game plan we looked like a side more than comfortable at the level. We had some great chances. Brooksy had to square to Coree or score, Jonesy back post should have probably done better and let’s be honest it’s a clear penalty…. I haven’t blamed officials this season really but Tuesday night to he’s cost us a point. Why Coree would go round the keeper only to fall over is ridiculous. Photo and video evidence back it up but that doesn’t matter, as long as only 2 are standing in the technical area and the ball isn’t kicked away to stop a quick restart the officials are doing their job. Overall though I was happy, even in defeat, with the side. We are getting better and we are also looking to strengthen. Should have some news by next Thursday.
With the run of 7 straight defeats, I fully expect to get some stick from fans. It’s not good enough and I get the disgruntlement. Believe me when I say I hate not winning games of football for this club. I’ve been around the place pretty much since birth and it means the world to me. I want nothing more than to be successful here. I will work harder than anyone else to make that happen. Those that know me and my family know that we are fighters. We don’t cave in and hide away from criticism or run from a fight. So when I get phone calls this week from family and friends saying ignore the online social media comments I can honestly tell them that it won’t affect me. I’m not on Facebook, I don’t really do Instagram, but I love twitter. I will engage with people on there who engage with me. I have to stop myself from nibbling on some comments, but I now realise that those with the loudest voices on those platforms are the sort of people I wouldn’t give the time of day anyway. I’ve said from the start I am far from everyone’s cup of tea. I always will be. I won’t bend to please people, I’ll give my opinion and if it’s not liked by some, so what. It’s my opinion. I’ll let you have yours, but just make sure you can back it up if you want a debate, because ill back myself up. I saw Dean Brennan’s interview this week and the stir it caused. Why can’t he say what he’s said? He gets dogs abuse from some and felt the time to give back. Now I am quite lucky in that most in the ground are supportive. There’s always the odd comment from some but like I’ve always said, I’ll always be in the bar after a game and will talk to anyone with any grievances on how they think the team is doing or who they think isn’t good enough, me included. Tuesday night, around 100-150 gave us an ovation as we walked off. It meant everything to me as those who watch us can see what we are trying, and the improvements being made weekly. Tuesday my lads gave everything but came up just short. Another day we get 3 points. Those supporters are the ones I want to make happy. The ground staff and volunteers who are supporters, we want to give you a team to proud of. Sadly, as I have said the reprieve did kill us. We started our plans for the level 6 weeks after everyone else. Hopefully we can make the ground up. I won’t give up and I certainly won’t be jacking it in because @dave903377 on twitter thinks he knows better. You hide behind the anonymity of it without actually being at the game. Its laughable. But that’s the world we live in. To the real fans out there, those that aren’t happy with how it’s going but turn up week in week out even when they aren’t happy with me or the team, those that know it’s not always sunshine and rainbows I thank you for the messages of support, the phone calls and the chats, when we get it right it’ll be for you guys. I appreciate all of you.
Anyway sorry for blabbering on but somethings I have to get off my chest.
As always stick with us.
Thanks
Donners
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
Player Update
Academy player William Mcneil was chosen to represent the Pro:Direct 11 team to play against Wycombe B on Tuesday. Will has impressed during pre-season and has been rewarded for his effort with this opportunity. The Pro:Direct 11 squad is chosen from all the Pro:Direct sites in the country which has over 1000 players and Will was lucky enough to be included in the 18 man squad.
Will also plays senior football for AFC Welwyn at Step 6 where we are keeping a close eye on his development and we are hoping if he continues to keep developing how he is he will be added to the list of players who have progressed from the Academy and gone onto represent the first team.
Training
We have trained well this week preparing for the start of the season which will be on Wednesday 18th September. We are looking forward to starting our weekly competitive fixtures.
Joining the Academy
We still have a few spaces remaining within the Academy for players who have just left school year 11.
If you wish to be a part of the academy or for further information please use this link – https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates
Year 10
Anyone who is currently in Year 10 but would be interested in joining the Academy for next year please email – michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk to book in a presentation.
JUNIOR CANARIES BY MICHAEL JONES
We are delighted to start our new supporter engagement initiative in the form of the Junior Canaries.
The aim of the junior canaries will be to provide children with a new monthly newsletter. This newsletter will provide lots of quizzes, competitions and prizes, as well as finding out more about the players in the Hitchin Town FC first team as well as learning more about the club we all love.
We hope this will encourage our Junior Canaries to become supporters of Hitchin Town FC for life and improve our ever growing impact in the community.
If you wish to sign up for the newsletter, please email juniorcanaries@hitchintownfc.club with the following details:
Name, Date of birth, Address, School, Club Team (if applicable), Team you support, Parent/Guardian Name, Email, Contact Number.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the Junior Canaries.
HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS
Results:
- HTWFC 0 – 1 EB Lions
- Olney 1 – 3 HTWFC Canaries
Sunday 15th September 2024 – 14:00
HTWFC Canaries v Goffs Oak Girls FC
St Christophers School, Letchworth Garden City.
We are still recruiting for our teams. We train Wednesday evenings at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, between 19:30-20:30. Get in touch today ! hello@hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk
COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE
More Schools are back
In addition to our existing sessions at the schools below we will also be delivering sessions on site at Woolgrove school and Brandles Academy returned to the Arena on Friday for their session with Stephen Gleeson :
Oughton Primary & Nursery School (Hitchin)
- The Priory School (Hitchin)
- Preston JMI (Preston Village)
- The Grange Academy (Letchworth)
The Arena
It is still not too late to sign up to our coaching clinics at the Arena.
Monday evenings from 5-6pm we host a Junior Ability Counts session for children aged between 7 and 16 years old with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The course runs for 7 weeks.
Wednesday evenings from 5.30-6.30pm we host a Primary Coaching Clinic for children aged between 5 and 12 years old those that are just starting to play football and, also a specific goalkeeping course called Safe Hands for children of all ages and abilities.
BY ROY IZZARD