WEEKLY BULLETIN: 22ND MAY
Hitchin Town FC Website
Over the last couple of weeks we have had some issues with the website, apologies for any inconvenience. This has been caused by the fans forum – the forum is based on extremely old technology. To rectify this we have made some changes in the background at additional cost that separate the website and the fans forum. This should make hitchintownfc.club much more stable. Work is ongoing to upgrade the forum software to ensure any issues are resolved. There are no changes to web addresses and you can continue to access the forum in the same way.
Season Ticket Update
We are pleased to announce that we have already sold 96 season tickets since they went on sale last week.
Details of our ticket pricing structure for 2026/27 can be found here:
https://hitchintownfc.club/2026-27-ticketing/
Pre-Season Update
We are delighted to share four more 2026/27 pre-season friendlies…
Sat 04 Jul – Eynesbury Rovers FC Away
Tues 14 July – Dagenham & Redbridge Home
Sat 25 Jul – Stotfold Football Club Away
Sat 01 Aug – Royston Town Football Club Away
We also have one additional home fixtures which will be announced soon.
Manager’s Notes
Player News
As everyone knows this time of year is the busiest for player recruitment/retention and although the season is just under 3 weeks old, it’s been an extremely busy one!
We are now in a position where we will be able to share the retained list for the new season. This will let you know all the players who have committed to stay with the club as we look to attack the challenges of Step 3 football.
We are now in a position to be able to announce the first few new additions to the club and this will be something that will be shared via our social media channels.
Pre-Season
We have almost confirmed our 6 game pre season schedule with the new announcement of our fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge. This will pose an excellent test for our squad playing against a Step 2 professional team who will have aspirations of being near the top come the end of the season.
We have one more game to announce which is against a professional team in the football league.
Academy Update
Our next open training session is on Friday 29th May at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU on the all weather pitch between 1pm – 3pm.
If you would like to be part of the academy or for further information please use this link
Or email Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk
Supporters Trust
Wow, what a season that was and what a wonderful finale; Top Field full, a promotion-sealing win and the majority of the 3.027 in attendance going home with a smile on their face.
While we will all keep those happy memories in mind for many years, the planning for the new season back at Step 3 is already well underway and Michael Jones is speaking to players who he wishes to keep and those he hopes to recruit. The quality of the squad he can assemble will of course come down to several factors, but the most important one in relation to this article is money!
Long time supporters will be used to seeing the annual appeal from the Hitchin Town Supporters Trust, but hopefully with the rising attendances and bumper playoff crowds there will be new people seeing the appeal – maybe that is you dear reader!
What is the Supporters Trust? Quite simply it is a way for supporters to make a regular financial contribution which goes exclusively towards the weekly playing budget. Now moving into its 22nd year, the additional weekly contribution made by the Trust has enabled Michael Jones and his managerial predecessors to recruit players they may otherwise have been unable to afford and to build the best possible squad and this contribution has always been most gratefully received by those managers. As Michael put in his piece in the weekly club bulletin on 8th May thanking various groups within the club:
“Supporters Trust members for always looking to improve the team and help out whenever you can. Your contributions do make a huge difference to make seasons like this possible. Thank you”.
It may be that you have been a long time supporter of the club and attend week in week out or maybe you aren’t able to get to many games for whatever reason, or maybe you have only recently started to take an interest and are seeing what a brilliant club we have in the heart of the town. Whether you follow the club from near or far the Trust committee would be delighted if you felt you would like to sign up and contribute.
Contributions can be made weekly, monthly, annually or on an ad-hoc basis, ideally by standing order or cheque. Contributions of any size are all very gratefully received so don’t think it’s not worth joining as you can’t afford to contribute much – lots of people may be thinking the same, but if all those people gave what they think is a small contribution, those contributions all add up.
The Supporters Trust page on the website can be found by clicking here.
If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please mail Secretary Rupert Russell – rupert.russell@hitchintownfc.club. It would be great to hear from you.
Rupert Russell
Community Update
Coaching Courses at the Arena
May Half Term Holiday Courses
The Arena, Baldock – Football Holiday Camps
We are holding our football holiday camps at the Arena, Baldock over the May Half Term holidays starting on Tuesday 26th May to Thursday 28th May for 3 days
Preston Primary School – Multi-Activity Holiday Camps
There will also be a multi-activity holiday camps at Preston Primary School over the May Half Term holidays starting on Tuesday 26th May to Thursday 28th May for 3 days
Coaching in Schools
We continue to work in our local schools delivering coaching sessions 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 (Excluding Thursday)
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
Walking Football Tonight in Baldock
We’re building something special — and YOU can be part of it.
Our new Hitchin Town Walking Football sessions continue TONIGHT (Fri 22nd) 7–8pm at The Arena, Baldock… and we need more players to join the sessions.
Walking football is exploding in popularity – it’s fun, friendly, great for fitness, brilliant for mental wellbeing, and perfect for anyone who wants to get active again without the risk of full‑speed football.
All ages, shapes, sizes and abilities welcome. If you’re 45+, you’re in. If you think you’re “too old”, you’re absolutely not.
Hitchin Town’s walking football team took part in the monthly Maulden tournament last Saturday. They lost all four of their matches…
Maulden Whites L0-2
Dunstable L2-4 (scorers: Tim Boston, Barry Swain)
Maulden Orange L0-1
Kings Langley L1-4 (scorer: Sam Smith)
They led the final match at half time before lack of match fitness, lack of squad depth and injuries all kicked in – however other teams complimented us for playing some great football – not bad for our first ever matches and against teams who have lots of walking football experience!
So, come down tonight, pull on the shirt, meet the squad, and be part of a growing walking‑football community.
Get fit. Stay fit. Make friends. Play football again. See you at The Arena.
If you can’t make tonight you can follow the walking football page on Facebook and join the WhatsApp group using the QR codes on the banner.💛💚
I received the following email from Martin Wright—
Hitchin Town WFC I believe only had 1 training session under their belts before playing us on Saturday. Despite being bottom there was positive feedback, in particular from a WFA qualified referee who mentioned that they have a lot of potential to grow as a club.
Years of badgering Hitchin Town, in particular Mick Docking has paid off. We as a club are looking to forge close links with Hitchin Town WFC helping them along the way. There was talk of a 2027 Walking Football charity event at Hitchin Town FC next year. We have numerous club contacts (including well know Luton Town F.C figures) to make it a worthwhile event. We also suggested sharing a coach next year for our annual seaside trip. On 20th June we visit Ramsgate Town F.C for a charity Walking Football event to include Whitstable (who we visited last year), Margate (we visited in 2022 and 2024) and Bay City Strollers from Sandwich.
Walking Football is a growing sport. I was trying to tap up our local lad, Darren Salton to join us. Robin Wainwright could make a comeback too!
Regards
Martin Wright
Chairman of Maulden Walking Football Club – est. 2021
Barry Swain
Thanks from Garden House Hospice
We have received the following letter from Garden House Hospice:
