WEEKLY BULLETIN – 22ND NOVEMBER
FIXTURE
Saturday 23rd November Home to Stratford Town kick-off 3.00pm. Please read the full preview—
Its back to Top Field this Saturday for a Southern League match against Stratford Town. In the first of our two meetings last season Hitchin Town enjoyed a narrow 1-0 victory when we travelled to Knights Lane (Toby Syme securing the goal). Stratford Town then secured the 3 points when they came out victorious 4-3 in a seven goal thriller at Top Field back in February (Hitchin goals coming from Layne Eadie and Josh Popoola x2).
Interim Manager Michael Jones looks to build on the effort and quality of football we all enjoyed last Saturday at Top Field.
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:
Turnstiles open at 14.00.
Remember our flexi tickets are also available. This allows you to buy a pack of 5 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 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.
Mad Squirrel Brewery will not be in attendance this Saturday as they already have scheduled commitments at other events. They will be back at Top Field soon.
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 evening at Top Field.
There is no midweek fixture.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES
Brett Donnelly
I would like to start by wishing Brett Donnelly all the best with his new management role with AFC Welwyn. I am pleased Brett has decided to return to management and I am sure he will be a success with AFC Welwyn.
Staff Update
Physio Ryan Jefferies has decided to leave the club this week. Ryan has decided to join Brett at AFC Welwyn. Ryan came to the club in the summer after spending the previous few seasons working with Brett at Stotfold and he has been given the opportunity to work with Brett again. I would like to thank Ryan for his hard work and dedication during his time with the club and I wish him all the best at his new club.
Harborough Town
825 Supporters attended this game and I still have not come to terms with the incredible support this club has. I think it shows the strength of our supporters to come out in huge numbers to cheer on a team where our last two home games ended in big defeats.
We had an excellent start to this game where Luke Stokoe scored on his first start for the club after an excellent cross from Rio Deall. We once again had to defend set play after set play and I lost count of the amount of long throw-ins we faced. We played a team of giants but the confidence of our team with the support of everyone they all felt 10 feet tall when defending them.
We managed to add a second through a Dan Stokoe penalty just before half time.
The feeling at half time was totally different to the previous two league games, we were not behind and we had a different pressure and our character as a collective was going to be tested in a different way. We told the group to go out and win the game and not just try and hold on to what we had.
Second half and Harborough came out with everything and tested us with some really good set plays in the opening 20 minutes. We had a few scary moments but we came through this test. The substitutions once again added energy and quality to the game and for the second week in a row a Kye Tearle corner was converted by birthday boy Ciaran Jones.
It was a very good all round performance where we showed we can score goals, keep a clean sheet, hold onto a lead and show excellent heart to compete with a team of giants.
It was great to be able to celebrate such a good performance with all of the supporters at a home game finally.
I wish Harborough all the best in their upcoming FA Cup tie.
Stratford Town
Another solid southern league team, who only missed out on the playoffs last season on goal difference. Stratford have had another good start to this league campaign where they sit 9th in the table and just 3 points outside of the playoffs. They also have the second best away record in the league.
We know we are going to be challenged by very good teams, who will each be able to pose us with different problems to solve and we have to keep working hard as a collective to find solutions for these problems.
Stratford’s manager Gavin Hurren left the club this week to pursue an opportunity to manage another club. Anyone looking at this game as a great time to play Stratford needs to think again. I think we all need to understand the difficult task we face on Saturday and we will need to be at our very best to get anything from such a difficult fixture.
I want everyone to enjoy last Saturday but remember we all need to stay grounded as a club. We have had a very good few weeks but we all know each week the challenge gets tougher and tougher. I do not know what the results will be going forward, all I know is this group will give everything they can for the club and we are all in this together moving forwards, whether you are a supporter, on the board, a volunteer or in the team, we all need to continue to get behind this club we all love.
Player News
Rio Deall picked up a knock this week in training and we have decided not to risk him this Saturday and we will be looking to our strong bench to give someone else an opportunity. Just like we did last Saturday with Luke Stokoe.
Sebastian Stacey had a very good start on Saturday. We now know he has the ability to play at this level and the potential to develop into an excellent player but we need everyone to continue to get behind him with the love and support for him to flourish at our club.
Liam Brooks joined in with the rest of the squad for training this week as he continues to recover from his injury.
Sam Carman is recovering well from his injury and he will continue his individual training program as he looks to regain full fitness.
Kyle Forster is still struggling with his availability and is unlikely to return to playing.
Bradley Bell completed 90 minutes for Biggleswade United on Saturday in a 4-1 win, where he scored a goal and got an assist. I would like to thank everyone at Biggleswade United for providing Brad with much needed minutes. Brad will be in our squad Saturday.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
We have started our recruitment for the 25/26 season.
If you would like to be part of the academy could you 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.
COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE
Schools Report
Oughton Primary reached the quarter finals of the Wix Trophy where they narrowly lost to Willliam Ransom school by 1 goal to nil.
Stephen Gleeson took charge of Oughton, and he said they had played very well in both halves of 15 minutes but just lost out to a single goal scored on the stroke of half-time.
The team tried their best to get an equalising, goal but William Ransom held out for the win and progression into the next round where we wish them the best of luck.
William Ransom were managed by former Pro Direct Academy student Max Howard who is enjoying his full-time apprenticeship at the school having joined after completing his course at the Arena.
Stephen Gleeson said it was great to see Max again and he was really pleased to see him developing a career in sport and education after his time with the college programme offered by Hitchin Town FC in partnership with the Pro Direct Academy.
For more information on the college programme please contact Michael Jones via e-mail at info@htcfc.co.uk
Hitchin Town Youth FC
It was great to see players from Hitchin Town Youth FC have a kick around before becoming mascots for the match against Harborough Town last week.
It is something we try to encourage as we continue to grow the Club building our relationship with the Youth set up and striving to develop a strong link throughout the whole community.
We see this as the life blood of Hitchin Town FC not just for potential players but mainly for the new generation of supporters.
LEGEND BACK AT TOP FIELD
It was good to see legendary ex-Canary Paul Giggle at Top Field last Saturday for the Harborough game. I spoke to him after the game which he really enjoyed and he thought we played well. He told me we usually win when he is able to visit so I think I should send him a season ticket!
Ex manager Darren Salton was also at Top Field and it is a regular feature at our home games that previous players and officials love to return to our iconic stadium.
HERTS SENIOR CUP UPDATE
There were three further second round games played this week. The results were as follows—
- Ware 2-1 Royston
- Bishops Stortford 1-2 St Albans
- Enfield 1-5 Boreham Wood.
We play Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday 3rd December.
MERCHANDISE UPDATE BY PAUL SPRAGUE
Club Shop Gift Cards
Just in time for Christmas presents we are pleased to now be able to offer Gift Cards for the Top Field Club Shop. The reloadable plastic cards work in the same way as those sold by many retailers. They can be loaded with the amount you choose and then given as a gift to your friends and family. They are then able to use the value loaded onto the card to make any purchases from the Top Field Club Shop (please note they can’t be used for purchases from the Online Store).
HALF SEASON TICKETS BY CHRIS NEWBOLD
These are on sale now and valid for the last ten League games of the season, starting with our game against Stamford on Saturday 21st December. Prices are as follows:
Adults £80, Concessions (60-79) £60, Teenagers £20, Accompanied Child Under 13 £10.
These give great value compared with normal match day ticket prices. Consider the savings:
Matchday Price Online Price Season Ticket Price (per game)
- Adult £15 £13 £8
- Concession £11 £9 £6
- Teenager £5 £4 £2.50
- Child U13 £3 £2 £1
Why not invest and be a regular supporter of the Canaries as they bid to climb the table to safety?
If you are unable to commit to ten matches, we also have our five match Flexi Ticket bundle available. These are only available for adults (£58) or Concessions (£40). Working out at £11.60 per game for Adults and £8 for Concessions, these still represent terrific value.
All tickets can be bought from our website by visiting: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/
HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS
Sunday 24th November 2024, 14:00
Beds & Herts Womens Football League Division Two
HTWFC v Evergreen Eagles Ladies
St Christophers School, SG6 3JZ
Beds & Herts Womens Football League Division Three
HTWFC Canaries v Cranfield United
Top Field, Hitchin Town FC, SG5 1NU
ATTENDANCE LEAGUE TABLE FOR CENTRAL DIVISION
After a magnificent attendance of 825 last Saturday our average home League attendance is now 543 which puts us in 9th position in the attendance league table. The management really are grateful that the supporters have stood by the club through thick and thin and continue to turn out in such high numbers. It was so good to see so many smiling faces after Saturday’s win.
BY ROY IZZARD