FIXTURE
- Saturday 23rd March Home to AFC Telford League kick-off 3.00pm: For lowest prices and quickest entry purchase your tickets online here: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets but if this is not possible you can buy a ticket on the day from our ticket office which will be open from 13.30 to 15.15.
It’s Non-League Day this Saturday so if you haven’t been to Top Field before come down and see what it’s all about and show the team your support. It really does make all the difference.
This will be the first game of Brett Donnelly’s reign as manager and we need all Hitchin Town supporters to come to Top Field in big numbers to get behind him and the team. The supporters can make a difference and Brett will appreciate any help we can give him.
- There is no midweek fixture.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY BRETT DONNELLY
Well firstly I just want to say what a huge honour it is to be the manager of this club. It is well documented how closely my family has become entangled in its history and I am delighted to be writing another chapter.
I am well aware I’ve jumped from a club in a very good position to one perilously close to relegation. But what am I supposed to do when Hitchin Town come calling? It’s a job I couldn’t turn down. This is a huge, established club at this level and none of us want it to drop down to the league below so my first job is to secure step 3 status. It is something I intend to do as quickly as possible. However I am aware of the task ahead. 12 game losing streaks aren’t common so who actually knows how to turn that around? I have got to work it out very quickly.
Thankfully, after meeting the squad last night, I’m confident in what we have. Add a couple to the mix and we will pull away. A slight change of tactics, a different voice and installing some belief and we will be fine. These boys were 4th not long ago so all is not lost. They are just going to have to get used to my ways very quickly.
I have already added 3 to the squad and they will be there tomorrow. Also I have brought my assistant Eddie McLoughlin to the club who comes in to work alongside Michael Jones who will be staying around. New blood was a must just to freshen up a battle scarred group. But on that point, I was amazed at how positive the lads were. Massively pleased to see that.
Can we get more bodies in? Not sure we have time or will be able to convince lads to join a dog fight—it will not be easy, I won’t have the club held to ransom. We are all in this together now. I need all the fans to be onside tomorrow and to get right behind the lads. Be as vocal as possible please. You all know I will be so drown me out!!!
I can’t wait to see everyone at the game but whatever happens tomorrow you have my word that the players will leave everything out there for the club. Those that don’t won’t last with me too long.
Game 1 of the 7 game season.. let us start with 3 points.
BRETT DONNELLY
BRETT DONNELLY INTERVIEW
Freddie Cardy caught up with Brett earlier this week following a whirlwind first few hours in his role as First Team Manager. You can watch the full interview now on our YouTube channel:
INTERIM MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES
Leamington
Our match against Leamington last week did not stop our losing run which has now reached 12 consecutive games. Despite a full week of preparation and a game plan that we implemented for 90 minutes we were unable to get anything out of the game.
The first half almost played out to plan with us looking to soak up the pressure and trying to make Leamington force the issue. This resulted in us not having many attacks as we were looking for a defence first approach and we almost made it to half time level but 6 minutes before the break Leamington managed to score.
We changed our approach in the second half and were much more on the front foot without really creating anything clear cut but as the half went on, I felt more and more confident that we would get a big chance. This chance did come in the form of a shot from 6 yards out but unfortunately Finley could not convert this into a goal. If we had scored this chance I do feel we would have managed to get a hard earned point but I do also think we could have used the momentum to gain all 3.
This is where we have been the last few months, there has been some really poor performances but the performances where we have given our all we have just not had the small margins go our way as they were earlier on in the season.
I am really disappointed that in the 93rd & 95th minute we conceded two goals and although you do not get anything extra for losing by one goal it just added more insult to injury as we did not deserve this for the general effort we had put into the game but the score was 3-0 and we have to move onto another difficult game against play off- chasing AFC Telford.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued support since I have been in interim charge and although it was only for one game, it was an absolute honour to be trusted with this position for such a great club. I am just sorry that we could not get any points for the incredible support I have received from all at Hitchin and the footballing community in general.
I would also like to congratulate both Brett Donnelly on being appointed first team manager and Eddie Mac on joining the club.
Brett obviously has a strong affiliation with Hitchin and he very much has Hitchin close to his heart. I know he will give his absolute all to making this club as successful as it can be in the long term and he will always put the club first which will continue the great work Mark Burke has done over the past 11 years.
I am very much looking forward to working with Eddie Mac, this is someone I have known for many years and I know he will add excellent value to the club as he has done wherever he has coached.
Now we all need to get behind the staff and players and make sure this team finishes as strong as possible in the remaining 7 games and secures its step 3 status.
MICHAEL JONES
EASTER MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPLAIN
Easter is now around the corner and Spring feels like it might just be a possibility! It is a busy time in the church as Christians celebrate the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross on Good Friday, in order that each of us can have eternal life. It is a time of real hope, and a time of new beginnings, as the slate is wiped clean and we all have the chance to enter into that renewed season of hope.
Christians believe that Jesus is the light of the world, and though often, the darkness of the world threatens, it cannot overcome the light that is Jesus.
It is also a time of new beginnings at the club as Mark Burke has stepped down after almost 11 years as manager, having previously made 732 appearances as a player, and captained the team. It was under Mark’s fantastic management that the club won the Southern League Cup in 2018. I’m sure you would all join me in wishing Mark all the very best moving forward.
The new beginning comes in the form of Brett Donnelly as manager who has also previously played for Hitchin and was assistant to Mark before he went further afield and had a successful time as manager of Stotfold. It’s great news that he feels able to take on the role of managing at Top Field and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
So wherever you are on the Easter journey, if you are stuck in a painful situation and feel the darkness of Good Friday surrounding you, or you have a renewed sense of joy and peace, the prayers and good wishes of all at St Mark’s are extended to each of you this Eastertime.
MAXINE HOWARTH
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Friday 5th April we have our next open training session for both our Male and Female players.
This session will be hosted on the first team pitch – Top Field, Fishponds Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1NU between 11:30am and 2pm.
Please email – michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk to register your interest or for further information.
HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Finally after two months our First team actually had a fixture, however it was against the Canaries in the BHWFL. With both teams currently facing relegation it was time to focus on putting points on the board, but for who. The game got underway and both teams enjoyed equal possession however the Canaries were quite energetic up front which caused the First team a few scares. With both teams trying to dominate the middle it was half time and both teams were still level pegging. The second half got underway and the First team had started to settle down and focus and started pressing on the Canaries goal. However a short corner from the Canaries saw a cross perfectly delivered and slotted in past the First’s keeper. With now the urgency of clawing a point back for the First team they had started to grow in confidence setting camp up in the Canaries half. The Canaries however reminded the First team that they were still quick on the counter. A free kick was awarded on the edge of the penalty box for the First team. A shot found its way into the bottom corner on the 90th minute saw both teams share the points. It can be argued that no one team deserved the points more then the other however both teams did deserve something out of the game.
Our next fixture is on Sunday 24th March 2024, 14:00.
HTWFC Firsts v Watton Ladies FC
St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth, SG6 3JZ
Stotfold Juniors v HTWFC Canaries
Hitchin Road, Stotfold, SG5 4JU
We are recruiting a manager 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
MERCHANDISE UPDATE
Please visit the club shop on Saturday. There is a great selection of merchandise and you can also buy the match programme and team sheet as well as sweets and chocolate. Various price reductions have been implemented on the clothing items. There is also a large selection of old programmes and football books. If you cannot get to a game please visit the online club shop.
BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
https://www.justgiving.com/page/roy-izzard-testimonial-supporting-bhf
Above is the link to the justgiving page to donate to the BHF. This is your final chance to help a very important charity and after my testimonial I want to give a decent donation to the BHF. So please dig deep if you are able to.
ROY IZZARD