WEEKLY BULLETIN – 15TH DECEMBER
FIXTURE
- Saturday 16th January away to St Ives League kick-off 3.00pm. There is no coach for this game.
- There is no midweek fixture.
FIXTURES UPDATE
Just a reminder that the Boxing Day game at Royston now has a 1.00pm kick- off while the home game with Berkhamsted has been brought forward to Saturday 30th December from Monday 1st January. The kick-off is still 3.00pm.
MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE
LEISTON
Disappointingly we lost our third consecutive home League match when we lost 4-1 to Leiston on Monday night.
Leiston who have had a slow start to the season in the League after their fantastic season last year which saw them reach the Play-off’s, showed what a good team they are and thoroughly deserved their victory.
We defended poorly for their opening 2 goals, but we did manage to get ourselves back into the game when Kye Tearle’s cross caused problems for their keeper and we halved the deficit to one goal at the interval.
In the second half we did get into some good positions to get shots on target, but they all seemed to lack power and the keeper made very comfortable saves. At the other end we lead a bit of a charmed life and were lucky not to concede further goals until we finally did in additional time after the dismissal of Stephen Gleeson.
We are already a little threadbare in the squad and the injury to Dan Idiakoha sustained during the match compounds the situation.
Looking back, I think apart from our growing injury list our performance against Leiston was also affected by fitness levels of players that have just returned from long term injuries themselves and having to play the full 90 minutes of play.
These players will only get better as they reach full match fitness, and we will benefit from this as the season continues.
EX CANARIES
It was great to catch up with some of my old mates and ex canaries at the game on Monday night as Trevor ‘Nosey’ Parker visited Top Field from his home in the USA. Tony Luff, Ian Lindsay, Mickey Nunn and Gary Sisman all turned up to meet Nosey and reminisce over old times, although I didn’t get to see him myself and I am hopeful he will be attending again when we entertain Mickleover.
ST IVES
We have a very tricky fixture tomorrow as we travel to face St Ives, who despite losing their last 2 fixtures (both being away from home at Telford & Stourbridge), are in very good form winning 6 consecutive matches before that.
St Ives are always big, strong, and well organised, posing lots of questions of their opponents and I do not see it being any different tomorrow. We will have to compete with them all over the park and look to be clinical when the opportunities arise.
We have had lots of support away from home this season and I am hopeful a big contingent from Hitchin will be in attendance to cheer the boys on and return to Top Field with something.
MARK BURKE
PLAYER NEWS
- Both Finley Wilkinson and Bradley Bell resumed light training last night and will face fitness tests before the match tomorrow with Dan Idiakhoa.
- Kavan Cotter looks like being out of action for a further week as he recovers from his ankle injury.
- Ciaren Jones and Diogo both suffered set-backs in their rehabilitation and looks like they will not be available until sometime in the New Year along with Lewis Barker .
INJURIES HAMPER OUR PROGRESS
It was extremely disappointing to lose our third consecutive home game on Monday but unfortunately injuries are having a significant influence. On Monday we were missing Diogo Freitas-Gouveia, Ciaren Jones, Bradley Bell, Lewis Barker, Kav Cotter and Finley Wilkinson through injury and it meant we only had one senior outfield player on the bench. To add to the problems Jack Snelus is returning from a long spell out, John Freeman is only just reaching full fitness and Layne Eadie was also a doubt after coming off at St Albans. He did play as did Dan Idiakhoa who has been nursing a foot problem but he had to come off after 15 minutes.
To make matters worse Stephen Gleeson was harshly sent off after two yellow cards and will miss the Mickleover game through suspension. So manager Mark Burke has a squad that is down to the bare bones and any team would struggle when without the services of at least six players who would expect to be regular first team starters.
So let us hope 2024 is kinder to us with regard to injuries as we have proved we can compete at the top level with our full strength team.
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPLAIN MAXINE HOWARTH
As we enter this season of Christmas, the church begins to think about hope – more specifically, the hope that arrived when Jesus was born 2,000 years ago. If ever there was a story about hope in the football world, it would have to be about our near friends/rivals Luton Town. Following a period of ‘mismanagement’ the club found themselves heavily fined and having 30 points deducted in 2008, which resulted in them being relegated from the football league and starting the next season with just 6 professional players on the books. The Luton Town Supporters Club managed to gain control of the club which has resulted in success both on and off the field.
They have been promoted four times, and this year are playing in the Premier League for the first time in their history, whilst remaining true to their moral ethos – for example, not accepting sponsorship from gambling companies. No-one could have expected their story to develop in this way. In the Premier League they have continued their tale giving a great account of themselves – only losing by one goal against even such mighty teams as Manchester City and Arsenal, A great story of hope!
As we celebrate the season of Christmas ahead, I’d like to encourage you to think about what you put your hope in. For Christians, it’s the Christ child, for others it will be their career, and so on. May this be a time for reflection, hope and peace. Have a wonderful Christmas and see you at Top Field in the New Year.
********* New collaboration **********************
In the New Year, St Mark’s and the football club are going to work together to collect food for those across the town who are struggling financially. There will be a space at the entrance to the Canary Club where donated items can be dropped off – these will then be collected and distributed amongst the agencies that supply food for people in need. Tinned goods, packets, toiletries, bottles of squash and other long life products would all be really welcome.
MEET THE MANAGER BY DAVID TUDBALL
MONDAY 22 JANUARY 2024
7.30pm – CANARY CLUB
The Hitchin Town Supporters Trust have arranged this event with Mark. All supporters are welcome to attend.
Mark will give his thoughts on the season so far, and then there will be the opportunity to ask him questions.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Monday 11th December Academy player Harry Dollimore was named on the bench for the first team in their home game against Leiston.
One of the most significant things with Harry being on the bench on Monday is that he has been associated with the club since being a youngster. Harry used to attend our half term kids camps during the holidays as well as representing Hitchin youth during his grassroots development. He has since gone on to spend 2 years in our Academy and is now into his final year with us. When he joined the Academy he was the only 1st year to play consistently in our top group, while also playing Step 6 for Letchworth FC and in his second year he was part of the successful FA Youth Cup squad who were eventually knocked out by Chesterfield. Due to his top performances in the FA Youth Cup this earnt Harry a move to Step 5 Baldock Town where he has continued to develop and so far this season he has appeared 18 times for them in the league.
Head Coach Stephen Gleeson had this to say “It’s incredible for Harry and the club to have had a player that has had such an association to the club since his primary school days to be involved in the first team squad. Hitchin have a strong ethos of giving young players a platform to develop but I can’t imagine many have been associated with the club as long as Harry, it goes to show the great work Hitchin Town do in the community with the support of the youth set up and all the various volunteers outside of the first team commitments, to give young aspiring footballers the opportunity to be a part of Hitchin Town football club from a young age. I have personally watched Harry play senior football a few times this season, most recently on Saturday 9th November where I thought he played extremely well for Baldock in their league game. His development was rewarded with the opportunity to be on the bench on Monday”
Want to join the Academy
To register your interest for either the Girls or Boys and for further information please use this link – https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates
HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Fixtures this coming weekend:
BHWFL Division Two
Hitchin Town Women FC Firsts : are home to Hitchin Town Women FC Canarires at St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City
Game is a 14:00 kick off.
Go check it out our new website, https://www.hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk ! Keep up to date with all the news, players and opportunities to get involved.
HALF SEASON TICKETS
Half Season Tickets are available now and make a great Christmas present offering reduced entry to our final 10 home league games of the season (commencing with the Mickleover game on December 23rd)
https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/brand/season… 💛💚
MERCHANDISE REMINDER
ONLINE SALES AND ORDERING
For those of you who may wish to purchase our range of merchandise online, please note that in order for us to be able to pack the orders and dispatch them from the Post Office by their deadline date for them to ensure delivery for Christmas, it is important that you order anything you need by Friday 15th December. Anything ordered after this date we will do our level best to pack and dispatch as soon as we possibly can, but there will be no guarantee that it will arrive in time for Christmas.
So please don’t delay and order as soon as you can.
BY ROY IZZARD