WEEKLY BULLETIN: 20TH FEBRUARY
Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday 21st February vs Leverstock Green (A) – Southern League
On Saturday 21st February we travel to Leverstock Green for a league game kick-off 3.00pm. We have received the following message from the Leverstock Green secretary—
‘’We have arranged a pitch inspection for 9:30 am tomorrow. The pitch was fine on Tuesday and we played, but there has been another deluge of rain since. Hopefully it will dry out by tomorrow.
If the game is on, we will have two turnstiles open, both of which will take cash or card.’’
Leverstock Green are 18th in the league table with 5 wins from their 28 games and in their last six games have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2. Their average attendance is 87 with only London Lions having a lower average with 66. We played Leverstock Green at Top Field in November 2025 when we won 2-1 with goals from Lewis Franklin and Josh Jackman in front of a crowd of 606. We last played at Leverstock Green in January 2020 when we won 2-0 in the Herts Senior Cup.
Wednesday 25th February vs London Lions (A) – Herts Senior Cup
On Wednesday 25th February we travel to London Lions to try again to play our Herts Senior Cup semi-final kick-off 7.45pm.We have been informed it is cash payments only at the turnstiles and no dogs are allowed.
Manager’s Notes
Josh Jackman
Everyone at the club would like to send a huge congratulations to Josh Jackman and his partner Kate, who are getting married today. We are pleased to confirm this is one fixture Josh definitely won’t be missing! We wish them both a lifetime of love and happiness.
Last Saturday against Ware
Saturday we hosted Ware FC looking to bounce back from the disappointment of our last game at home to Biggleswade FC. We were looking for a reaction from this performance and result as we felt we were way below our standards last time out.
We had an early appeal for a penalty when Callum Nicolson was fouled in the box and out of the three possible options, penalty, corner or caution the official awarded a goal kick. We then had a couple of chances from corners but Ware with a combination of the defenders blocking shots and the keeper making saves this meant we weren’t able to take the lead. Ware then took the lead after a free kick was well saved by Tyler McGregor but this was followed by some pinball in the box and Ware were able to get the luck of the bounce and take the lead. This then was followed by a Ware counter attack from a corner where they should have doubled their lead. In the next 10 minutes we had two unbelievable chances to equalise, the first was a header from Callum Kane which just went past the post and the second was a header from Taylor Rhiney which went over the bar. We continued to play the game in the Ware half and our next flurry of chances came when Callum Kane’s effort was cleared off the line and the follow up effort was hit off the bar by Liam Brooks and this was followed by another chance from Taylor Rhiney but he was not able to get enough contact on the ball to direct it into the back of the net. We were on top and our next opportunity came when a cross found Lewis Franklin in the box and just as he was about to put the ball in the back of the net he was dragged down but again we did not get the deserved penalty. We then did get the equaliser after a well worked corner was headed in by Ciaren Jones. We then continued to press on to take the lead. Ware did have one rare moment in our half and a shot hit Ciaren Jones from close range and the penalty appeals were waved away from the referee. We then had a spell of consistent pressure and this pressure took its toll on the Ware players and after some very good play Lewis Franklin was able to calmly finish into the bottom corner. This gave us a deserved lead going into half time.
Half Time we spoke about the goal and the lead up to the free kick and we also corrected the area where Ware had their only other opportunity of the half. We then could not praise the players enough, we had plenty of energy, tempo and movement to our game. Our passing game was good and despite missing some easy chances we had created plenty and totally dominated the half. This was a massive improvement on our last game. We needed to make sure we had more of the same in the second half and to not let our standards drop.
Second half we started fast and some good play down the right allowed Callum Nicolson to get a shot which was comfortably saved. Ware then did have a dangerous cross which flashed across the box but no one could get on the end of it This was a result of us not tracking our runners. We then had a few corners and this pressure took its toll and Ciaren Jones was able to head in his second and give us our third goal. Ware had failed to trouble Tyler McGregor in goal and both their shots in the second half were way off target. We then started to let complacency creep into our game and this allowed Ware to gain possession in our half on a few occasions which could have caused problems. We then forced their keeper into a great save after some great play allowed Lewis Franklin to smash a shot at goal. We then had a break in play after an altercation between the two benches and it resulted in Stephen Gleeson being harshly sent off for something said to the opposition manager. This did not distract us and from the restart Lewis Franklin was again taken out in the box but again we did not get the penalty. We didn’t have the same dominance as we did in the first half but we were always in control of the game. We still continued to create chances and Callum Kane forced the Ware keeper into another good save. We then added a fourth and final goal late on when another Callum Nicolson delivery found Ciaren Jones for his third headed goal.
It was a great reaction from the group and it was really good to bounce back with an impressive 4-1 win and find the areas we were lacking so much in our previous game.
The trip to Leverstock Green this Saturday
We will travel to Leverstock Green on Saturday. Leverstock Green currently find themselves on a four game unbeaten run as they continue to climb up the table. Leverstock Green are a very organised, hardworking, physical team and have continued to compete every week with most of their games being decided by the odd goal.
We know how difficult this game will be from our previous meeting where Leverstock Green took an early lead and then had a big chance to extend the lead and when we drew level they had two more big chances to win the game before we won with the last kick of the game.
We need to make sure we build on Saturday’s positive display to make sure we get something out of this game.
Please continue to get behind the group and give them the support they need for this final big push.
See you all Saturday.
London Lions next Wednesday
Wednesday we travel to London Lions in our rearranged Herts Senior Cup match.
We know just how difficult a team London Lions are from the last time we played them.
As always Wednesday gives us a chance to rotate the squad and give much needed minutes to some players while being able to rest others.
Player News
- Fernando Bell-Toxtle will be back in the squad this weekend
- Charlie Briggs returns to the squad this weekend after missing the Ware game through injury.
- Stephen Gleeson is suspended for the next two games.
- Josh Jackman will miss the next two games due to getting married.
Academy Update
Our open session was well attended on Monday with a mixture of potential new players and some current players attending.
- Elliott Phillips has been in training with the first team.
- Alfie Eddon has also been invited in to train with the first team.
If you would like to attend please complete the form below or email Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk
Michael Jones
Bike Donation
Kate Deller will be at the club from 9.00am to 2.00pm to collect any donation of bikes as part of our work to support Herts Disability Sport. Children’s bikes are particularly sought after but any bike will be gratefully received.
Attendances
We have increased our average league attendance to 719. Here is the up to date attendance league table:
Community Update
Coaching Courses at the Arena
Junior Ability Counts
The Junior Ability Counts sessions at the Arena, Baldock start from 5pm until 6pm and are open to children from 5 – 16 years old with physical and or SEN but be able to walk.
A new course will be starting again on Monday 23rd February for 5 weeks.
Safe Hands Goalkeeping Course
The very popular Safe Hands Goalkeeping sessions at the Arena, Baldock with former Hitchin Town 1st Team goalkeeper Josh Mollison start at 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
A new course running for 5 weeks from Wednesday 25th February.
February Half Term Holiday Courses
The Arena, Baldock – Football Holiday Camps
We held our football holiday camp at the Arena, Baldock last week running for 3 days from Tuesday 17th until Thursday 19th February.
We had 42 different children attending over the course of the week from 9.30am – 3.30pm with 3 taking up the option of a late pick up at 4.30pm where they kept warm playing FC26 on the Playstation:
- Tuesday: 27
- Wednesday: 27
- Thursday: 35
Preston Primary School – Multi-Activity Holiday Camps
We also held our multi-activity holiday camp at Preston Primary School last week from Tuesday 17th February and Thursday 19th February.
We had 24 different children attending over the course of the week from 9.30am – 3.30pm.
- Tuesday: 16
- Wednesday: 12
- Thursday: 16
Coaching in Schools
We start the new half-term delivering coaching sessions in our local schools with sessions taking place at:
- Preston Junior: Wraparound Care, Lunch Time Clubs and PPA
- Oughton Primary: Lunch Time & After School Clubs and PE Lessons
- Icknield Infants: After School Clubs and Morning Clubs
- St Mary’s: Morning and After School Clubs, PE Lessons & PPA Cover
- Woolgrove: Lunch Time Clubs
- Brandles: PE Lessons
- Samuel Lucas: After School Clubs everyday Monday – Friday
If there are any schools requiring support for their PE, PPA, After School and Breakfast Clubs please contact Josh Mollison on info@htcfc.co.uk
Mark Burke
Hitchin Town Women FC
Results
Hitchin Town Women FC 3 – 0 Bury Rangers
HTWFC Canaries P – P Bletchley Scott
Fixtures
Sunday 22nd February 2026 – 14:00
Hitchin Town Women FC v Wootton Blue Cross
St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ
HTWFC Canaries v Buntingford Town
St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ
Callum Ellis