WEEKLY BULLETIN – 17TH NOVEMBER
FIXTURE
- Saturday 18th November Away to AFC Telford League Kick-off 3.00pm. Coach leaves at 10.00am.
- There is no midweek game.
FIXTURE CHANGE
Our home league game with Berkhamsted has been brought forward from Monday 1st January 2024 to Saturday 30th December kick-off 3.00pm.
NEW VICE-CHAIRMAN
We are pleased to announce the appointment this week of Paul Sprague as Vice Chairman.
Paul has been a regular visitor to Top Field for the last six years and over that time has taken on increasing levels of responsibility as he has moved from supporter to volunteer before being appointed to the Management Committee in 2021.
He currently holds several key areas of responsibility which will all continue under his new role. These include; media, communications, merchandise & club shop, ground improvements (working closely with Kate Deller) as well as input into decision making and direction of the club as part of the Management Committee.
Andy Melvin had the following to say on Paul’s appointment:
As part of the team delivering the Crowd Funder in 2020 it was clear that Paul was keen to make a difference to Hitchin Town Football Club. I was pleased when he formalised this in 2021 by accepting an offer of appointment to the Management Committee. Since then he has shown his commitment to the role and the club supporting a number of key projects across the club helping to drive improvements. I am delighted that Paul has now accepted the role of Vice Chairman to formalise the level of input and responsibility he already holds at the club.
Paul made the following comments following his appointment:
Helping to ensure Hitchin Town Football club grows and thrives over the past 3 years has been hugely rewarding. It has been fantastic to see how the whole club has pulled together to improve operations throughout the club. The 1000s of hours put in by our volunteers to transform the stadium and provide one of the best playing surfaces in the league is astounding. The improvements we have been able to make around the professional presentation of all aspects of the club and our approach to matchday operations in particular is great. This draws compliments from visiting teams and supporters each and every week. The support from sponsors old and new has continued to grow despite the challenging economic climate. It is also important to recognise the strength of our relationship with our landlord, the Cow Commoners Trust and their continued support. To top it off we have now had a great first third of the season this year when it comes to the football. Exciting football where the players and management are clearly giving their all has been drawing in fantastic crowds.
All in all the last few years have been fantastic for Hitchin Town FC and I am pleased to have accepted the role of Vice Chairman and am pleased to represent such a friendly, well run and well supported club. I am excited for all of the Hitchin Town FC community to see how we plan to continue to develop and grow the club over the next few years ensuring we continue to provide good quality football, a great environment and a fantastic welcoming family atmosphere.
Mark Burke
I would like to welcome Paul to his new role at the club. I have been really impressed with his work for the club since his first involvement and he has undoubtedly strengthened the Management Committee. It is great to have a new and younger person on board and Paul has the energy, commitment and professionalism that will help to drive the club forward. I am enjoying working with Paul and am optimistic for the future of the club and I hope all supporters will make Paul feel welcome in his new role.
Roy
MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE
STAMFORD
I was a little disappointed in our performance on Saturday when we lost at home 2-1 to Stamford and it was compounded by the fact that we had already lost to them at home earlier in the season. I felt we hadn’t really learnt our lessons from that match and were a couple of yards short all around the park.
Credit to Stamford who have been the better team in both matches and fully deserved their victories, but I know we didn’t perform anywhere near our best and missed a great opportunity to cement our place in the play-off mix.
We left ourselves a lot to do going into the break being 2 nil down and we did start the second half well getting that early goal, but we fizzled out a little and Stamford probably had the better chances to increase their lead the longer the game went on.
We analysed the match on Monday and picked up on situations where we can improve, and we will be looking to implement this tomorrow at Telford.
Just a final thank you to all of the fans that turned out and made a great atmosphere despite the defeat and I hope you will return and cheer us on against Leamington in a couple of weeks when we return to Top Field.
AFC TELFORD
We make our longest journey of the season on Saturday when we travel to AFC Telford United in what I believe will be our first ever match against each other.
It sees 3rd in the League table play 4th and it is a very similar scenario to when we visited Halesowen a couple of weeks ago, a large crowd, great facility, good playing surface, in form opposition and a lot to play for at the right end of the table.
I have known their Manager Kevin Wilkin for a long time through his friendship with former Canary Ken Gillard who was his assistant at Nuneaton when they went through the Leagues to reach the National League.
Apart from Nuneaton Kev has been very successful just about everywhere he has managed but probably most notably at Brackley Town and he has started to get Telford up and running with a very experienced squad.
It will be tough, but we will be looking to emulate our performance at Halesowen and return to Hertfordshire with something.
PLAYER NEWS
- Unfortunately, Ciaren Jones has a suspected chipped bone of the foot and will be out of action for a few weeks whilst he recovers in a medical boot.
- On better news Jack Snelus returned to full-time training last night and returns to the squad for tomorrow, whilst Diogo Freitas-Gouveia is continuing to make progress with his injury.
- Temi Akinbusoye has been loaned to Kings Langley to get vital match minutes under his belt.
HALF SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Half Season Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10am. They are valid for the last 10 League games starting with Mickleover on 23rd December are as follows– Costs Adult £95, Concession £65, Teenager £20, Child U13 £10. Child tickets can only be bought in conjunction with an Adult or Concession ticket.
AFC TELFORD
We travel to Telford on Saturday to face an in form side. They are top of the current form table having won five and drawn one of their last six games and only conceding three goals. Of their eight home league games they have won five and drawn one and have kept five clean sheets.
They are also the best supported team in the league with an average attendance of 1,115. We are the seventh best supported with an average of 528.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
PLAYER UPDATE
On Saturday 11th November Henry Silver and Chris Khoo both played for Step 5 Eynesbury Rovers in the FA Vase. We would like to thank Eynesbury Rovers for giving both boys the opportunity to further their development.
GAME UPDATE
On Tuesday 14th November we hosted Samuel Whitbred 3rd team in a friendly. This game was for players who had been getting less minutes over the last few weeks. Hitchin started on the front foot, moving the ball at speed and causing the opposition problems and with the pace Hitchin had up front it was not long before James Emmerson raced through to make it 1-0 and it was not long until the next goal where pace proved to be the winner and James made it 2-0. Samuel Whitbred started to get into the game and create some chances of their own but as they were starting to gain territory in the Hitchin half a mix up at the back allowed Chase James to run through and score. Half time and it was 3-0.
The second half was a scrappy game with Samuel Whitbred creating the better chances but not really causing any problems for Lucas Knapp in goal. Jayden Banks completed the scoring after a ball over the top allowed him to go 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper and make it 4-0.
Want to join the Academy
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HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
The weather finally held off and it was game day! Our Firsts who had had a month out of football saw their League Cup fixture against Bedwell Ladies FC finally being played. We thank HTFC for hosting at Top Field. The Canaries were at home to Watton Ladies FC in the league. This how both teams got on.
The BHWFL Cup Round One:
Bedwell Ladies FC 0 – 1 HTWFC Firsts
BHWFL Division Two:
HTWFC Canaries 3 – 1 Watton Ladies FC
We move onto the Herts County Trophy and both teams are in action in Round Two. It will be a 14:00 kick off and if the game is even it goes straight to penalties.
The Firsts host Hitchin Belles FC at St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ
The Canaries are away to Letchworth Garden City at Pixmore Playing Fields, Legends Lane, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 2ER
We have a website! Keep up to date with all the news, players and opportunities to get involved at www.hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk
BY ROY IZZARD