Weekly Bulletin

WEEKLY BULLETIN – 16TH FEBRUARY

11

FIXTURE

  • Saturday 17th February Away to Coalville league kick-off 3.00pm. Coach leaves at 10.30am.
  • There is no midweek fixture.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

Coalville

We travel to Coalville tomorrow with a squad that is slowly getting bigger as players return from injuries and with the additions, we have made in the shape of Luton Town loanees Ollie Lynch and Jack Bateson and the recruitment of Alex Kpakpe.

This will not only create competition for places which is healthy but will also allow us to manage players playing time as we reach the final run in to the end of the season.

Ian King and Brian Borrows have just joined Coalville as the new Management team from Barwell and you tend to find that it is always difficult playing against teams that have just installed a new Manager.

However, we need to be positive going into the match as we look to break this very poor run of results and begin a successful run of our own and finish the season off strongly.

Stratford Town

The match against Stratford last week highlighted our fragility as we played well in the first half taking a one nil lead into the break. I do believe that if the shot Dan Idiakoha had, at the end of the first half that struck the post, had gone in, we would have won the match, but it wasn’t the case, and we only had the one goal advantage at half-time.

We then suffered the set back of two quick fire goals against us early into the second half.

The goals visibly knocked the confidence out of the players but to their credit they regained their composure and got themselves back into the game with an equaliser.

Unfortunately, within a minute we had conceded again, and then poor defending saw us go further behind to a good Stratford Town team. Once again credit to the players for not giving up and grabbing a consolation goal at the end to make a more respectable scoreline.

We are working hard to find a solution to combatting our fragility as mentally we need to be more resilient when we suffer a set-back and finally we just need a little bit of luck to change our fortunes.

Player News

  • I can confirm that Finley Wilkinson is remaining at the Club after Southend United FC withdrew their offer of a transfer during the week.
  • Finley was obviously disappointed with this decision but is determined to continue his development with Hitchin and will give 100% effort for the cause.
  • Tommy Blennerhassett played for Arlesey Town on Tuesday night to get 90 minutes under his belt as he looks to get fully match fit.
  • Lewis Barker returned to light training this week and it is hoped he will return to full training by the end of the month, whilst Dan Emovon also resumed light training this week.

Ex Canary Player News
With 3 weeks to go until we celebrate Roy Izzard’s Testimonial match, I would like to appeal to all ex Hitchin players, staff, officials, volunteers and Hitchin Town Supporters Football Club players to contact Fraser Melvin on info@htcfc.co.uk and let him know if you are able to attend and if you have any pictures of any events that relate to Roy or the Football Club.

COALVILLE V HITCHIN
Coalville have not played for two weeks due to postponements. Their last game was a 2-1 defeat at home to Leiston. The reverse fixture saw us beat Colville 4-3 with a hat-trick from Flnley Wilkinson and the other goal from Jack Snelus.

Barwell will have a new manager in charge tomorrow as former Barwell manager Ian King takes over from Adam Stevens who had been in charge since 2018.

In our four previous visits to Coalville there have been three defeats and one victory.

ROY IZZARD TESTIMONIAL GAME
I have decided to raise money for the British Heart Foundation from my testimonial game against Luton. With Luton captain Tom Lockyer having suffered a cardiac arrest in the league game at Bournemouth and myself having suffered a min-stroke a couple of years ago it seemed appropriate to help a heart charity and the British Heart Foundation is at the forefront of research in to heart problems. I will give further details shortly.

ACADEMY UPDATE
There is no news this week as no games were played.

HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Our inter club match got postponed due to the weather.

So next up on Sunday 18th February 2024, 14:00:
HTWFC Firsts v Stotfold Juniors Ladies
St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City

Real Bedford v HTWFC Canaries
Kempston Rovers FC, Hillgrounds, Road, Kempston, MK42 8SZ

We are recruiting for our First Team. Please get in touch with Callum via our website. Keep up to date with all our news, fixtures, results and so much more on https://www.hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk

BY ROY IZZARD