WEEKLY BULLETIN – 16TH AUGUST

FIXTURES

• Saturday 17th August League Away to AFC Telford kick-off 3.00pm. Coach leaves at 9.45am.
• Tuesday 20th August Herts Charity Cup Home to Hertford kick-off 7.45pm. You are advised to buy tickets online but you can buy tickets from the club office by credit card only on the night.

HERTFORD ADMISSION PRICES
We have reduced prices for the Herts Charity Cup game with Hertford. Adults will pay £10, concessions £6, teenagers £3, under 13’s £1 and over 80’s are free. Season ticket holders must buy a ticket as this is a cup game and gate receipts are shared. Brett has said he will play his strongest team.

Prices on the night at the ticket window are £12/£8/£4/£2.

FA CUP
The draw for the first qualifying round of the FA Cup will be made on Monday by 1.00pm. Follow our social media for details of who Hitchin are drawn against.

AFC TELFORD
Last season we drew 0-0 at Telford. Our team was Charlie Horlock, captain, Bradley Bell, Layne Eadie, Toby Syme, Kye Tearle, Stanley Georgiou, Kavan Cotter, (John Freeman), Stephen Gleeson, (Dan Emovon), Daniel Idiakhoa, Isaac Galliford, Finley Wilkinson. Substitutes not used- Arnold Matshazi, Jack Freeman and Diogo Freitas Gouveia. It is interesting to note only two players remain at Top Field in Toby Syme and Stephen Gleeson.

MANAGER’S NOTES BY BRETT DONNELLY
That was a tough start to the season! Like the end of last season, it seemed it was all stacked against us again starting this season. 1-0 down after 13 minutes on Saturday then we lose our captain Bushy after 14 minutes. But we managed to drag ourselves back into it with a goal for Rio after great work by Coree but that was as good as it got. We looked lethargic and energy less. Shaky at the back and not productive out wide. It was so disappointing as we wanted to give the fans something to get behind early on this season, especially after last season. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. I wasn’t happy and to be fair neither were the boys. They knew better is needed.

Thankfully, we had a game straight away at Stamford. We knew it would be tough. They are a good side. Big, strong, and direct. But I was so pleased with how we dealt with them. We stood up to the task. It was then so disappointing to give away a penalty right before half time. At half time we spoke about going out and getting the next goal and being positive. We started really well and pushed them back. We had a couple of half chances before the keeper pulled off a great save from Coree’s header. Stamford then went up the other end and capitalised on another individual error. 2-0 down and a bit of a mountain to climb. But not once did I see the lads give up. They kept going to the end and deserved something for their efforts. Footballs cruel at times. My problem is we are short on bodies to turn to on the bench at the minute.

The week gone we had 8 out to start the season. We had 3 fit players on the bench, and then 2 fully fit on the bench Tuesday. Josh Keane got a bang Saturday when he came on so wasn’t 100% right, Fernando is going to need a scan on his knee injury as its not clearing up. Bushy is out for the foreseeable, Rio pulled up in the warm up Tuesday, George Morrall is still carrying a knock to his knee. Albie Halls groin isn’t quite right yet but hoping for him to be available Saturday. Henry Snee is out until October now it’s been diagnosed. We were hoping he would be available sooner but sadly not. He’s also going to have to go out and get games when he’s back available. Stephen Gleeson’s still has two games to serve but Brooksy is back this week on the positive side. It is what it is but it would be nice to have the options we signed to call upon. But that’s football. It may be a case we have to go and get reinforcements. Ideally I don’t want to as we have 22 signed on already. 22 I feel will be more than good enough at this level to pull us up the table. We just need to get them all fit and fighting for places. We had the same issues at Stotfold last season with injuries and players not being good enough for the level. It takes time to rebuild and at this level its unforgiving. We need to start getting points on the board.

Probably the worst place to go when you need points is away to Telford. It’s probably even worse after they have been beaten 5-1 at home on the Tuesday. This is what we have to deal with. I am fully expecting the Alamo, kitchen sink and any other phrase that can be thrown at us Saturday at 3pm. We know its going to be tough. I just hope we show the attitude and application we showed Tuesday. If we lose by doing that I can swallow it. It then gives us another week to get players back and to work on shape, formation and scoring goals with them. We all knew how tough the first week was going to be. And so it was.

Stick with us. We will get it right. I know how hard it’s been being a Hitchin fan this last year. I can hear the “here we go again” groans. But now more than ever we need your support. These boys want to do well for the club, believe me. Give them time and if you want to vent, vent to me. 44 to go we will get better.

Donners

COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE
Hitchin Town Community Football Club

The new Activity camp at Preston Junior school proved to be a huge success as the second and final week of the camp saw first team player Lewis ‘Fresh’ Franklin immersing himself in the activities and appeared to be enjoying it as much as the children.

The courses were available to all children aged between 4-12 years old and were a huge success and will be operated again in the October half term.

Please note children can sign up for the camps even if they do not attend Preston Junior School.

The Arena will be entering its fourth week of football holiday camps with first team player, Stephen Gleeson coaching being joined by Lewis Franklin after his excursion to Preston Junior School.

There are still places available at the Arena next week and the following 2 weeks Tuesday to Thursday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Please see the flyer below for more details of our future camps at The Arena

Now that we are halfway through the summer holiday’s we are preparing for the new school academic year and the resumption of our coaching courses at the Arena in September.

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.

ATTENDANCE UPDATE
It was good to see that the attendance for our first league game of the season against Bromsgrove was 547 an increase of 109 on the 438 that attended the first league game last season against Alvechurch. Thank you again for your support and there were also plenty of Hitchin supporters at Stamford on Tuesday.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Tuesday 13th August academy coach Josh Mollison found himself playing against former academy player Chris Khoo for Biggleswade United against Shefford Town & Campton. Josh came out on top in the match with Biggleswade United winning 3-1.

Former Academy player Frankie Webster also played in this game for Biggleswade United.

It’s great to see former academy players making their way in senior football.

This week we have had some of the Hitchin Youth players in for training who wish to be a part of the FA Youth Cup squad. It’s great to see the link between all sections of the club.

The players who have joined in with our training sessions have been really good and it’s a credit to the Hitchin Youth coaches for the great work they do.

BY ROY IZZARD