WEEKLY BULLETIN – 18 SEPTEMBER
Fixtures
vs Leiston (H) – Saturday 19 September (3pm KO)
Our 2026-27 Emirates FA Cup journey continues on Saturday and it’s a tough test as we welcome fellow Southern League Premier Central side Leiston to Top Field. Leiston last visited Top Field in October 2024. The league fixture ended with the points shared in a 1-1 draw. Hitchin’s goal courtesy of Coree Wilson. We have never met before in the FA Cup.
Tickets
PLEASE REMEMBER – AS IT IS A CUP FIXTURE CUP RULES DICTATE THAT SEASON TICKETS ARE NOT VALID. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PURCHASE A TICKET.
Where possible we advise purchasing online. As well as being cheaper, it will ensure your quick and easy entry into the ground through the turnstiles.
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 need to buy your tickets in person, our Matchday ticket office will be open from 13.30-15.15 , and can be accessed from the rear car park (behind the Canary Club). Payment at the ticket office is by card only. Once you have purchased a ticket at the Matchday Ticket Office you will then present your ticket at the turnstiles for entry. More details here:
https://hitchintownfc.club/admission-prices/
Turnstiles open at 14.00
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.
Please enter the ground as early as possible before kick off to avoid congestion at the turnstiles. We have the following options inside the ground and you can still exit to the Canary Club Bar too:
Mad Squirrel Brewery are serving a great range of craft beers, ciders and lager. The Mad Squirrel 1865 Bar is located adjacent to the main stand.
Canary Kitchen will be open from when the turnstiles open serving a great range of food and soft drinks including our signature HTFC Pies. Their menu has been updated for the season bringing some price reductions to the most popular items and introducing chicken burgers.
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 everyone to Top Field and hope that everyone has a great afternoon.
Should the game be drawn the replay will be on Tuesday 22nd September at Leiston. If there is a positive result on Saturday we will travel instead to Bury for a league game. This will also depend on Bury not needing a replay after Saturday’s FA Cup game at Gorleston.
Managers Notes
Stourbridge Last Weekend
Saturday we managed to get a draw at home to a solid Stourbridge team. I felt in the first half we edged a well contested game that had limited chances but I felt we created a few good chances during this half and always felt we had good control of the game, allowing Tyler to have a more comfortable half.
We came into half time looking to kick on from where we were in the first half and we felt confident we could get a first league clean sheet and a win. We just needed to replicate the first half and add a bit more attacking intent to our play.
We started the second half extremely sloppily and we struggled to get any momentum or rhythm to our game and the poor start allowed Stourbridge to build confidence, momentum and pressure and this allowed them to win numerous corners in the opening stages. It was a really poor goal to give away as the two corners before the goal went in the same area and we looked surprised by this when they scored. This was such an avoidable goal.
Goals change games and we could not seem to get started this half and Stourbridge now had control of the game and we were struggling to get any foothold in the game. The game was now heading towards a 1-0 defeat but late on we were able to get into a good position and win a penalty, which Taylor Rhiney was able to score despite a lot of pressure.
At half time you might have looked at the game as an opportunity missed but at full time it was pure relief that we managed to find a goal and gain a point.
It’s another much needed point towards our end of season total.
The support was excellent again, particularly in a painful second half where the crowd kept trying to get us going to help us find the energy/spark we needed to find a goal late on. Thank you!
FA Cup Tie vs Leiston
Saturday we host Leiston in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round. Leiston have become a strong top half team in our league in recent seasons.
Both teams will be looking to take the focus away from league action and will be dreaming of a cup run.
Both teams will also be confident of progressing to the next round of the competition and this should make for a very competitive game.
Please make sure you come down to Top Field and get behind the group. Your support does make all the difference, especially in these early stages where we are adjusting to our new surroundings.
Trip to Bury Town
Tuesday we are scheduled to travel to high flying Bury Town. Bury have had an excellent start and find themselves in 3rd place in the table having won 6 and lost 1 of their 7 games.
Bury play a high tempo, intense, attacking game and they have a system that the players all know well and they know how to cause opposition teams plenty of problems.
This will be our toughest test of the season to date but one we are looking forward to. We will be giving everything we have to take some points off of an excellent team.
Player News
- Temi Akinbusoye is suffering with a strain which will keep him out of Saturday.
- Rio Deall is recovering from the injury he received against Kettering Town.
- Taylor Rhiney is cup tied for Saturday.
Academy Update
Our development team has been drawn at Home on Wednesday and our Elite team has been given a bye in the first round of our league cup competition.
We look forward to starting competitive action.
For further information email Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk
Michael Jones
FA Cup Prize Money
The winning team on Saturday will receive £3,375 while the losing team will receive £1,125.
Where Are They Now?
Having been party to an excellent and lively debate on the Forum entitled: “Time for a change?”, I started thinking about realistic expectations, and what changes it would involve to progress higher up the Non-League pyramid, notwithstanding survival at the level we are at. I then started thinking about the clubs at the same level as us over the years who have progressed to a higher level, and then about those who have undergone various levels of demise.
I decided that the only way I could put any sort of realistic perspective on this was to look at: a) Our opponents in our League 30 years ago, b) 20 years ago, c) 10 years ago.
I understand how much we want progress, and we’re beginning to understand better what it will take, but if you look at the bigger picture – well, to me it says how well we have done to survive at the level we are at over the past 30 years. That said, for me there is zero room for complacency or comfort zone…..otherwise fate can change so quickly.
What it did tell me was that of our 60 different opponents over the three seasons I looked at:
– 22% of them are playing at a higher level now
– 32% of them (including ourselves) are playing at the same level now, BUT:
– 46% of them are now playing at a lower level or have folded.
If you’d like to look at the teams in question, there is a complete chart here showing the teams in question and where they are now playing: WHERE ARE THEY NOW 15-09-26
It does rather put into perspective the challenges faced by all Non-League clubs.
Chris Newbold
Community Update
October Holiday Courses
The Arena, Baldock – Football Holiday Camps
We will be running a Football Camp at the Arena in the October half term from Tuesday 27th October for 3 days to Thursday 29th October 2026.
The camp will run from 9.30am to 3.30pm with an option of a late pick up at 4.30pm
Preston Primary School – Multi-Activity Holiday Camps
We will also be running a Multi-Activity Camp at Preston Primary School in the October half term from Tuesday 27th October for 3 days to Thursday 29th October 2026.
The camp will run from 9.30am to 3.30pm. (See Flyer)
Coaching Courses at the Arena
Junior Ability Counts
The Junior Ability Counts sessions at the Arena, Baldock start from 5pm until 6pm on a Monday and from 5.30pm – 6.30pm on a Wednesday. The sessions are open to children from 5 – 16 years old with physical and or SEN but be able to walk.
The courses started on Monday 7th September and Wednesday 9th September and have a further 4 weeks to run until 19th and 21st October respectively.
Safe Hands Goalkeeping Course
The very popular Safe Hands Goalkeeping sessions at the Arena, Baldock start at 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
The course began on Wednesday 9th September and will run for a further 4 weeks until 21st October
Coaching in Schools
We start the new school term delivering coaching sessions in our local schools with sessions taking place at:
- Preston Junior – Wraparound Care
- Oughton Primary – Lunch Time & After School Clubs and PE Lessons
- Icknield Infants – After School Clubs
- Woolgrove – Lunch Time Clubs
- St Mary’s – PE Lesson
- Brandles – PE Lessons
- Samuel Lucas – After School Clubs everyday Monday – Friday
If there are any schools requiring support for their PE, PPA, After Schoo
If there are any schools requiring support for their PE, PPA, After School and Breakfast Clubs please contact Mark Burke at info@htcfc.co.uk
Alan West Update
I went to see former Canary Player / Manager Alan West last night to see how he was, having been in hospital for the past 6 weeks. It has been a frustrating time for him whilst the Consultants try to establish a clear plan to his recovery.
Despite the frustration he was in good spirits, and we had a lot of laughs talking about the old days. I presented Alan with a Get Well Soon card that had messages from former players which he was chuffed with.
Mark Burke