WEEKLY BULLETIN 14TH FEBRUARY

NEXT FIXTURE

Saturday 15th February – Away at Lowestoft Town (kick-off 3.00pm) in the league. Coach leaves at 10.30am from Top Field.

There is no midweek fixture this week.

MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES

Last weekend’s home win over Banbury United

Banbury arrived at Top Field unbeaten in seven games, where they had won four of these as well as gaining four clean sheets in the process. Banbury had also only lost three of the 13 league games they had played since we last played them. We knew because of this, this fixture was going to be tough.

We came into this fixture off the back of two away defeats, the second of which was a very poor performance. This was the first time since I have been leading the group that I felt the pressure for us to perform because we needed to correct last week’s performance.

We made five changes to the starting team from the previous week.

Both teams started brightly and were trying to enforce their style on the game and control the match. I felt we had the better of the first half where we looked strong defensively and very bright with the ball. We were just missing the finishing touch. Bradley Smith then scored a goal from range, which took a deflection on route to the back of the net. Brian up the other end had to make a good save to keep Banbury out and we ended the first half with a strong 1-0 lead.

At half-time we spoke about the strengths of our play and praised the group for their efforts. We also warned them about Banbury’s strengths and we knew they would be more than capable of coming back from this position just like we had done to to them in the reverse fixture.

At the start of the second half Banbury came out on top and were trying everything to get back in the game. We had to show our defensive solidity to keep them out. Against the run of play we were awarded a penalty but unfortunately Liam Brooks was unable to convert. This gave Banbury more determination and they managed to find another gear and they had a really good chance to equalise but they missed the target. We defended as a collective and looked dangerous on the counter but deep into added time Brian made a match winning save to keep Banbury out with the final meaningful effort of the match.

I know this game is only worth three points but I want to emphasise what a win this was. We have now done the double over a very strong Banbury team– a team which has only lost three times since we last played them and were on an impressive unbeaten run while not conceding many goals. We had pressure on us because of our previous performance but credit to the group as they showed just how good they can be on Saturday and I am so proud of each and everyone of them.

Thank you once again for the terrific support. I think our home form of late has demonstrated that the positivity, noise and support in general really does make a difference.

The challenge for this group now will be to be more consistent and take our excellent home form of late into our away fixtures.

This weekend’s game at Lowestoft Town

We travel to Lowestoft on Saturday with both of us level on points in the relegation zone. This is a massive game for both teams to keep in touch with the pack of clubs just out of the relegation zone.

Now, on paper we would be considered favourites for this fixture as Lowestoft are on a difficult run of results of late, but as we all know football is not played on paper. This is the same Lowestoft team that came to Top Field and walked away with a 5-2 victory.

Our away form has also not been good enough and this will give Lowestoft confidence going into this fixture.

If we want to remain a Step 3 club we need to make sure we improve our away form and there is no better way to start than a positive result on Saturday.

Player News

• Lewis Barker has a long-term injury
• Dan Stokoe and Luke Stokoe have both fully trained this week and will be up for squad selection on Saturday.

DESIGN HITCHIN TOWN FC’S 2025/26 WARM UP SHIRT

Hitchin Town Football Club is inviting local children to design the club’s pre-match warm-up shirt for the 2025/26 season. Open to under-16s in Hitchin and the surrounding areas, this is your chance to get creative.

Designs can use our template, available to download here: https://hitchintownfc.club/designtheshirt/, or any other hand drawn/digital format, and feature the club’s home (yellow/green) and away (purple/pink) colours. Submit your design by Sunday 9th March 2025 by email to media@hitchintownfc.club or hand it in at the club shop during home matches on 22nd February or 8th March.

Four designs will then be shortlisted, with supporters voting for the winner. All those shortlisted will win 4x tickets to our final home match of the season. The lucky winner will then be presented with their newly designed shirt once produced ahead of next season. All entrants automatically join our Junior Canaries supporters club, packed with competitions and prizes, so get designing and be part of the club’s history!

For more information: https://hitchintownfc.club/designtheshirt/

PROGRAMME DONATIONS BY CHRIS NEWBOLD

Well our programme section in the club shop is rapidly becoming a victim of its own success. So I’m shouting out again to see if anyone has, or knows anyone who has, any of the following programmes that they might not want anymore and be able to donate:

League Programmes: In particular anything before 2000, and anything after 2020. Any club at all – and in particular we have no Luton programmes at all, so we’ll happily take any Luton programmes from any era.

Non-League Programmes: Again anything before 2000 and anything after 2020. Any club at all except Bedford Town – just that we have a significant donation of Bedford Town programmes still in hand.

So far as Hitchin programmes go, anything from before 1980 is helpful but we really don’t need much after that – we are well stocked for almost all seasons from 1980 until the present time.

As always, we will be most grateful for any donations you can give.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

William McNeill was involved for Pro:Direct 11 this week in a fixture away to Derby. Will played the whole game and helped PD11 earn a 2-2 draw with two assists.

We now have a week off due to the half term break.

We have another open training session on Friday 28^th February at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU on the all weather pitch between 5pm – 6:30pm if you would like to book on please email Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk

If you would like to be part of the academy or would like to find out more information on what we offer please register your details using this link – https://extranet.wearescl.co.uk/ToolkitNew/webenrolment.aspx?page=~/webcontrols/courseapply.ascx&OfferingId=85258

JUNIOR CANARIES UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

If you wish to sign up as a Junior Canary, 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.

ATTENDANCES

Thanks once again for such a good turn out for last Saturday’s game against Banbury. The attendance of 672 was the third best in the division with only Stratford 794 and Kettering 978 ahead of us and they are second and fourth in the league table. Our average league attendance is now 561 the 10th best in the division. Your support really does help the players and our four successive home league wins have undoubtedly been helped by the supporters getting behind the team so well.

Our home form will be crucial in our relegation battle so please keep coming in big numbers and continue your tremendous backing of the team.

LUTON TOWN AT TOP FIELD

Luton Town Under 21’s will play Players App at Top Field on Tuesday 25^th February (kick-off 1.00pm). Admission prices are adults £5, concessions £3, teenagers £2, under 13’s £1.

Players App are run by former Premier League player Steven Caulker, who tries to get boys released from academies back into clubs.

FORMER CANARIES UPDATE

• On Tuesday St Albans beat Slough 1-0 with ex Canaries Michael Johnson in goal for St Albans and Charlie Horlock in goal for Slough.

• Will Wright is now captain of Swindon and scored a penalty in their 3-3 draw against Port Vale last Saturday.

• Solomon Sambou has joined Potters Bar where he will play alongside Steve Cawley.

• Dan Sears is playing at Stotfold.

• Seb Stacey was a substitute for MK Dons against Barrow

HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS

Results

HTWFC 1 – 4 Bedwell Rangers
Flitwick Eagles 2 – 5 HTWFC Canaries

Fixtures

HTWFC Canaries v Ruislip Rangers Ladies.
St Christophers, Letchworth Garden City, 14:00

COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE

Congratulations Lewis ‘Fresh’ Franklin!

I would like to congratulate first team player Lewis ‘Fresh’ Franklin who is one of our Community Coaches for passing his Level 4 in Sports Community Coaching and receiving his certificate as seen below. Fresh joined our college programme and then progressed into our Apprenticeship scheme when he completed his studies at the Arena.

Now employed full-time he coaches mainly at Preston Primary school just outside Hitchin where we provide wrap around care, breakfast clubs, lunch time clubs and PE lessons. He also coaches at our holiday camps and lead a group last week at Preston Primary.

The Arena Football Courses

The new dates for our coaching clinics at the Arena are out and can be booked on via the website www.northhertsarena.co.uk

On 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).

Monday 24th February 2025 – 31st March 2025 (6 weeks) Cost: £24

On Wednesday evenings from 5.30-6.30pm we host a specific goalkeeping course called Safe Hands for children of all ages and abilities delivered by former 1st team goalkeeper Josh Mollison.

Wednesday 26th February 2025 – 2nd April 2025 (6 weeks) Cost: £36

February Half Term Holiday Camps

The dates for our February half-term holiday camps are now out as we continue to host them at the Arena and at Preston JMI.

Tuesday to Wednesday 18th – 20th February 2025 (3 Days) Cost: £60 p/w or £25 per day

BY ROY IZZARD