WEEKLY BULLETIN – 15TH NOVEMBER
FIXTURES
- Saturday 16th November League Home to Harborough Town kick-off 3.00pm. Here is the match preview—
- Its back to Top Field this Saturday for a Southern League match against Harborough Town. This will be the first time the two clubs have met.
- Interim Manager Michael Jones has now overseen three unbeaten games since taking charge and will look to build on last weekends 1-1 draw against Biggleswade Town.
Tickets
For lowest prices and quickest entry into the ground 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 still wish to buy your tickets in person, the matchday ticket office is open from 13.30-15.15 on Saturday and can be accessed from the rear car park (behind the Canary Club). Once you have purchased a ticket at the Matchday Ticket Office you will then need to present your ticket for entry at the Turnstiles on Fishponds Road. More details here:
Turnstiles open at 14.00.
Remember our flexi tickets are also available. This allows you to buy a pack of 5 adult or concession tickets at a discounted rate. You can then login to your Kaizen account and decide which league games you want to use these tickets for. You can use as many as you like per game. Buy yours here:
https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/merchandise/hit2425flexi/flexi-ticket-202425-5-matches
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.
Mad Squirrel Brewery will also be in attendance and located next to the Main Stand serving a great range of beers from 14.00 onwards.
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 another big crowd and hope everyone has a great evening at Top Field.
There is no midweek fixture.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES
Biggleswade Town
While we played Biggleswade Town away the incredible Hitchin support on the day made it feel like a home game where our supporters outnumbered the home crowd. As expected Biggleswade were very direct, physical and came at us with everything in the opening 20 minutes of the game. I thought we weathered the storm particularly well and defended all their set plays, especially their long throw. We grew into the game and created a few chances but just when we had our best spell of the match and the momentum, a lapse in concentration at the back allowed the hosts to take the lead.
At half time we spoke about raising the tempo of the game as the current tempo suited Biggleswade.
We came out in the second half with much more tempo and energy to our game, but the hosts pulled out all the dark arts to disrupt the momentum we were trying to create. The group kept going despite this and I think it shows the character of everyone to keep going until the end. Ciaran Jones scored an excellent equaliser where he rose above everyone else to head home after a great Kye Tearle corner. We had two chances after this where on another day we might have taken the win but we also had to thank Lewis Franklin who made a last-ditch tackle with the last kick of the game.
I am sure all the supporters who were at the game were as disappointed as the group about not winning, but I am hoping everyone can see the 100% effort this group has given in the last three games to try and get the wins. This is all we can ask for from the group each week and they did this on Saturday where they gave everything but just came up short for maximum points.
Harborough Town
This will be another challenge for the group but one they are all up for. Harborough have had an excellent FA Cup run this season where they are due to face league one Reading FC in a few week’s time. We know the squad they bring down on Saturday will be doing all they can to not only take home 3 points from Top Field but secure their place in the team for the FA Cup fixture.
We expect a similar game to last Saturday where they will come at us with everything early on. We fully expect them to be direct and physical and know they are another team which possesses a long throw. Despite their recent league form we know as a group that anything but our best will not be good enough to earn some points against a very good side.
This group is continuing to give us the belief that we can compete at this level and we do have the character to come back when we are up against it. Now like I’ve said before, we might not pick up points every week but this team will give you everything they can to make sure they have given their best efforts to take some points from each match.
Player News
Daniel Sears this week has left the club. Dan came to me the week after the Banbury game to explain his head was not totally in it and he did not feel comfortable with the level. He is a player I have known since he was 16, so I know him very well and once he said this I knew his time with the club would be up, as we could not have someone in the group who is not all in with what we are trying to achieve. We have a great group where everyone is working hard together and we do not want to jeopardise this. We made the decision this week to part ways and he has decided to go back to Stotfold which is a level where he is comfortable at. We wish him all the best moving forwards.
Joshua Strizovic’s loan spell with the club has come to an end as he has completed his month with us and will return to Daggeham & Redbridge. We thank Josh for all his efforts and wish him all the best with his future development.
We have signed goalkeeper Sebastian Stacey on loan from league two side Milton Keynes Dons. As mentioned in last week’s bulletin we have struggled to replace Charlie Horlock so far. We are now hoping Seb can come to the club and fill this void but I know we will need to provide him the platform to develop and everyone will need to get behind him with the love and support for him to flourish at our club.
Liam Brooks has been back in training this week but is still a few weeks away from being available for selection.
Sam Carman should be back in training next week after picking up a knock last week.
Kyle Forster is still struggling with his availability and is unlikely to return to playing.
Toby Syme has recovered from his injury received in the first half against Biggleswade Town and is up for selection this weekend.
Bradley Dixon – Smith will be back in the squad for Saturday after missing out on last week’s squad.
George Morrall was at our game on Saturday to support the group despite his season ending early through injury.
Bradley Bell will play for Biggleswade United this weekend to gain much needed match fitness, under the watch of former coach Josh Bickerstaff, who is Assistant Manager there.
COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MICK DOCKING
On Saturday we are delighted to welcome as guests of the Club, a small group of residents and staff from Milford Lodge Car Home in Hitchin.
The Lodge is part of B & M Care and prides itself in offering exceptional care to their elderly residents, in a home from home environment.
A chance meeting with Eliana the Engagement Lead, at one of their regular local visits lead to the thought that perhaps we could add a Top Field experience to the list of the Care Home’s Activities? So we were pleased as punch that a group of their “young at heart” gentlemen residents agreed to join us. I wouldn’t be so rude as to ask their ages, but Top Field is free admission when you reach 80 so, potentially we will have some new season ticket holders?
Ron, Eric, Chris and Dick will be with us and here is some feedback from them: –
Ron ‘When I was at junior school I played centre forward. I enjoyed football as a boy but I didn’t play again after school. I joined the Navy & travelled all over the world’
Eric ‘I am a lifelong Arsenal fan. I keep up to date with football these days by listening to my radio & watching matches on the TV’
We hope to reach out to other Care Homes locally and make these visits a regular event. After all we need to appeal to the generation of football supporters!
Eliana (Engagement Lead) & Devina commented:
“During the euros we decorated the home inside & out with St Georges flags and were so hopeful England would win! We were excited about watching together some matches shown on the big screen in our cinema room and had themed snacks & drinks relating to the countries that were playing (Romanian wine, Ukrainian Vodka, London Pride Beer etc). It really made it a lot of fun.
We are now looking forward to spending an afternoon at Hitchin’s Top Field stadium. We have already been made feel special guests by Mick who has not only donated the home free tickets but is ensuring we will have the best day to come”
Thanks Eliana & Devina – everyone at Hitchin Town FC hopes that you enjoy your visit and this is the first of many.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
This week in the Academy goalkeeper Tyrese Kamara was invited to take part in some filming with current Premiership player James Maddison, this was an unreal experience for Tyrese where he got to pit himself against the very best. Tyrese was also given some free kit, boots and gloves for helping out with the filming.
First year Blue Joy was invited to Norwich FC training ground to take part in a game for Pro:Direct after impressing in our youth team. Blue gave a good account of himself and enjoyed the experience of not only playing at a top training facility but also testing himself against some good players.
JUNIOR CANARIES UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
We are still getting plenty of youngsters to sign up to become Junior Canaries which is pleasing to see.
Issue 2 has been a great success and we thank you all for your feedback.
We are looking forward to getting Issue 3 out to all our Junior Canaries at the beginning of next month.
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.
HERTS SENIOR CUP UPDATE
If we manage to beat Hemel Hempstead we will be at home to Leverstock Green or Stevenage in the quarter-finals.
The rest of the draw was as follows—
- Bishops Stortford/ St Albans v Potters Bar/ Watford
- Wormley/ Kings Langley v Enfield/ Boreham Wood
- Cheshunt/ Baldock v Ware/Royston
In the semi-finals we would be away to the winner of the Wormley, Kings Langley, Enfield or Boreham Wood quarter-final.
HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS
RESULTS
HTWFC 3 – 0 Wheathampstead Wanderers FC
Bedford Central 1 – 3 HTWFC Canaries
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
UPDATE RE DAVID LEVETT
You will remember I recently highlighted the story of David Levett who sadly passed away after watching our friendly with Arsenal under 18’s. It was a touching story and I asked his son Roger to outline what has happened since the article appeared.
It’s been quite a few weeks. Since David Levett’s sad passing in August, we’ve been blown away with the personal and generous response from our colleagues and friends at Arsenal since offering Top Field towards the end of the season for a charity memorial match for David – with proceeds going to the Garden House Hospice in Letchworth.
You may recall, the origin for our story was rooted in a simple act of kindness shown by the Arsenal U18s coach and Manager – who gave David a pin-badge and keyring when he spotted him settling in to watch our pre-season friendly with the Arsenal U18s on August 3rd this year.
Having learnt of David’s passing, and our subsequent offer of Top Field for charitable purposes, soon thereafter, Roger and his family unexpected received a personal letter from Arsenal FC Manager-Mikel Arteta thanking David for his support of AFC over his long life, accompanied with a box full of donated items – including a signed first team shirt, signed memorabilia and numerous other items!
Furthermore, the Arsenal Coach who handed David the keyring and pin badge went to the extent of organising a signed shirt from all U18 Arsenal players who played at David’s final match on 3rd August. So very unexpected, as was the personalised programme and obituary for a recent match but very much appreciated from a Premiership Club.
As Roger, David’s son commented;
“We have been so very touched by the acts of kindness and generosity from both Hitchin Town FC in offering Top Field for the memorial match in April, and to Arsenal FC for their personal and public show of gratitude for a lifetime of support. Dad would’ve been completely made up to know both clubs have made such an effort, so a huge and sincere thank you.”
The memorial match in aid of the Garden House Hospice promises to be a fun, interactive experience – with the match kicking-off at 1.30pm on Sunday April 6th at Top Field, followed by a charity auction where donated items from Arsenal, and other donations will be auctioned with all proceeds going to the GH Hospice.
We politely encourage as many people to contribute, donate and join us on the day if possible. Many of us have been touched by the amazing work hospices offer people towards the end of their lives-whether friends, family or colleagues.
If you would like to donate to the Garden House Hospice, please follow the below link, and please do kindly like and share as far and wide as possible. The hospice is truly incredible, run by a fantastic team of people, and your support is as appreciated as it is needed to help families such as David’s and others.
Roger Levett is fundraising for Garden House Hospice
If you would like donate any items for the auction, or to be involved in any way please contact either Roy Izzard at roy.izzard@outlook.com or Roger Levett directly on roger_levett@yahoo.co.uk.
Thank you.
NATIVITY PANTOMIME
Our chaplain Maxine Howarth has asked us to highlight the forthcoming Nativity pantomime being staged by her church.
(Possibly) The Greatest Story ever told. (Oh yes it is!)
Nativity pantomime at St Marks Church Hitchin on
12th and 13th of December at 7pm & 14th of December at 3pm.
Tickets £5 adults, £3 under 16, Under 4’s free
Mulled wine, mince pies and soft drinks will be for sale in the interval.
priestmh71@gmail.com or call 07930522868 to purchase tickets
BY ROY IZZARD