All NewsWeekly Bulletin

WEEKLY BULLETIN 21ST FEBRUARY

2125

NEXT FIXTURE

Saturday 22nd February – At home to St Ives Town (kick-off 3.00pm) in the league.

Whilst our away form may not be as we like there can’t be many complaints about the home form. Your amazing support really does make such a difference. Michael Jones looks to continue the strong home form and make it five home wins in a row as we welcome St Ives Town to Top Field.

In the reverse fixture in November at Westwood Road St Ives Town secured all three points in a 3-1 win. Hitchin’s only goal coming from Henry Snee.

On St Ives Town’s last visit to Top Field in August 2023 Hitchin clinched the victory in a closely contested game which ended 3-2. In this match the Hitchin Town goals came from Isaac Galliford, Diogo Freitas-Gouveia and Finley Wilkinson

TICKETS

For lowest prices and quickest entry into the ground 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 still wish to buy your tickets in person, the matchday ticket office is open from 13.30-15.15 on Saturday and can be accessed from the rear car park (behind the Canary Club). Once you have purchased a ticket at the Matchday Ticket Office you will then need to present your ticket for entry at the Turnstiles on Fishponds Road. More details here:https://hitchintownfc.club/admission-prices/

Turnstiles open at 14.00

Remember our flexi tickets are also available. This allows you to buy a pack of 5x adult or concession tickets at a discounted rate. You can then login to your Kaizen account and decide which league games you want to use these tickets for. You can use as many as you like per game. Buy yours here:

https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/merchandise/hit2425flexi/flexi-ticket-202425-5-matches

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 & DRINK

The Canary Club bar is open from 11.00am 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.

Mad Squirrel Brewery will be in attendance serving a great range of craft beers. They will be 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.

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 another big crowd and hope everyone has a great afternoon at Top Field.

REMEMBERING ROGER FIGG

 

An iconic  and important figure from our team of the 1950s and 1960s passed away recently. I asked Neil Jensen to produce a tribute to Roger Figg and here it is—

Roger Figg – One of the boys of ‘61

Sadly, Hitchin Town’s finest ever team is gradually disappearing from view. The latest member of the club’s 1960-61 FA Amateur Cup side to pass away is Roger Figg, who was one of the most skilful and accomplished players of his time.

Roger went on to win nine England amateur caps, but it was at Hitchin Town where he built up a reputation that was soon winning admirers at other clubs.

Roger and his brother Brian came from Park Street in St. Albans. He was born in 1939 and joined Hitchin Colts and was only 17 when he made his first team debut in April 1956 against Tooting & Mitcham, playing on the right wing with Brian at inside right. Hitchin’s team that day also included Peter Hammond and Dennis Gibbs, as well as Mike Dixon, the father of former England striker and future Hitchin manager Kerry Dixon.

Roger left to join St. Albans, but his spell at Clarence Park was brief and he returned to Top Field. Hitchin now had a stronger team and in 1960-61, Roger was a key figure in Laurie Scott’s side that promised to win more prizes than it did. The FA Amateur Cup campaign saw the Canaries reach the last four and unluckily lose to Walthamstow Avenue at White City.

He departed once more in November 1961 to join Barnet and was soon back with his new club on Boxing Day 1961. He made 155 appearances for Hitchin and scored 44 goals. At Barnet, he scored 230 goals including 49 in 79 games in 1963-64. He made his England debut in May 1964 against France, scoring two goals and in his nine games netted six times. Roger could have turned professional but declined offers from a handful of clubs.

Neil Jensen


MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES

Last weekend’s trip to Lowestoft

Well, what a difference a week can make in football. The highs of beating a strong Banbury team with a solid performance and one I was so proud of after the dismal showing at Stourbridge to an abysmal performance against Lowestoft.

I am still trying to find the answers for why the exact same starting XI that played so well the week before could be so different a week later.

We started the game strongly and on the front foot and created some good chances early on against a team that were low on confidence and had the worst defence in the league. We did not capitalise on this and then our lack of work rate allowed Lowestoft to have some breakaways and gain confidence as the half went on.

A half-time we tried to motivate the group and try to find answers to why we were such a different team from last week. We made two subs to try and inject some energy into the team.

We started the second half with a lot more energy and Harry Titchmarsh managed to win a penalty which substitute Luke Stokoe converted. We also had two really good chances to extend the lead from Rio Deall but the keeper made an excellent save on one and Rio hit the bar with the other when he should have scored.

This gave Lowestoft confidence, energy and belief and our confidence seemed to drain with every minute and Lowestoft now looked the most likely to score. A penalty allowed them back in the game and a long range effort gave them the win.

I feel the group let us all down on Saturday as how can the same players play so differently from the following week. If we had even produced even half of what we offered against Banbury we would have had more than enough to win the game.

Although this game was not season-defining it has put more pressure on the remaining 11 games, where we need plenty of wins to make sure we retain our step 3 status.

Saturday after the game as everyone can probably tell I was angry, disappointed and generally felt let down. In the heat of the moment I felt negative towards our chances but on reflection we need to remember how well this group has done in the last few weeks to get ourselves into a position where we had caught up with the other teams just outside the relegation zone. We know this group can do it as they’ve shown before but now we all need to believe they can do it.

I do believe we can get enough points out of the 33 remaining and the players also believe they can and we need all the supporters to believe they can to give us the best chance of achieving this.

This weekend’s game at home to St Ives Town

This game is one of 11 difficult fixtures we must negotiate on our route to survival. St Ives are unbeaten in their last four games and currently sit eight points in front of us. They have been in this position before and they always seem to turn it on at the right times to make sure they avoid relegation each season. They also beat us in the reverse fixture 3-1 where we didn’t play as badly as the scoreline suggests. St Ives were very clinical in front of goal and scored their goals at perfect times.

We will have a lot of pressure on us this weekend. There is no hiding the fact that we need a win, anything less at the moment will not be good enough.

Our home form has been good and we will need this between now and the end of the season. We need your support, positivity and as much noise as possible to give the group the strength and encouragement to come away from the game with maximum points.

Player News

  • Lewis Barker has been back in non-contact training this week as he recovers from his long-term shoulder injury.

  • Jonathan Lawson’s loan has expired and he has returned to Watford FC. I would like to thank Jon for all his hard work and effort in the past month and I wish him all the best with his future development.

  • Henry Snee has decided to finish the season with Biggleswade United. Henry rejoined the club in the summer but an injury in pre-season has ruined his season and he has been unable to have a run of games. Despite this Henry has had an impact with some important goals against Banbury, Sudbury, Telford and Redditch. Hopefully Henry can get a run of games now at a much less demanding level.


ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

We have another open training session on Friday 28th February at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU on the all weather pitch between 5pm – 6:30pm if you would like to book on please email Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk

If you would like to be part of the academy or would like to find out more information on what we offer please register your details using this link – https://extranet.wearescl.co.uk/ToolkitNew/webenrolment.aspx?page=~/webcontrols/courseapply.ascx&OfferingId=85258


JUNIOR CANARIES UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

If you wish to sign up as a Junior Canary, please email juniorcanaries@hitchintownfc.club with the following details:

  • Name, Date of birth, Address, School, Club Team (if applicable), Team you support, Parent/Guardian Name, Email, Contact Number.

We look forward to welcoming you all to the Junior Canaries.


LUTON TOWN AT TOP FIELD

Luton Town Under 21’s will play Player App FC at Top Field on Tuesday 25th February (kick-off 1.00pm). Admission prices are adults £5, concessions £3, teenagers £2, under 13’s £1.

Players App are run by former Premier League player Steven Caulker, who tries to get boys released from academies back into clubs.


FORMER CANARIES UPDATE

  • Many congratulations to Ashley Hay who scored his first goal in league football last Saturday. He came off the bench for Cheltenham Town and scored a 76th minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Barrow. I am sure this will be the first of many.

  • Kieran Barnes scored his first hat-trick for St Neots last Saturday in a 5-0 win at Bugbrooke.


HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS

Result

HTWFC Canaries 0 – 2 Ruislip Rangers 

Fixtures

Sunday 23rd February 2025

Wheathampstead Wanderers v HTWFC
Memorial Hall, AL4 8AY

Leighton Woodside v HTWFC Canaries
Leighton Woodside FC, LU7 3PF

We are still recruiting for our teams. We train Wednesday evenings at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, between 19:30-20:30. Get in touch today ! hello@hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk

COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE

February Half-term Holiday Camps

This week saw us host two holiday camps for children aged from 5-14 years during the February School Half Term, our regular football camp at the Arena in Baldock and multi-activity camp at our partner school Preston Primary.

We had over 70 children attend the courses that saw first-team player/assistant manager Stephen Gleeson head up the football course at the Arena and first team player Lewis Franklin in charge of the multi-activity camp at Preston.

We had a special guest in the shape of my old centre back partner and former Stevenage and Barnet captain Richard Nugent attend the Arena. He brought with him his football app Blinka for the children to sample and it got a very positive reaction. We will be introducing it to all our future camps.

 

The Arena Football Courses

The new dates for our coaching clinics at the Arena are out and can be booked on via the website www.northhertsarena.co.uk

On 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).

Monday 24th February 2025 – 31st March 2025 (6 weeks) Cost: £24

On Wednesday evenings from 5.30-6.30pm we host a specific goalkeeping course called Safe Hands for children of all ages and abilities delivered by former 1st team goalkeeper Josh Mollison.

Wednesday 26th February 2025 – 2nd April 2025 (6 weeks) Cost: £36

 

BY ROY IZZARD