WEEKLY BULLETIN 23RD MAY
SEASON TICKETS FOR 2025-26 (FURTHER UPDATE) By Chris Newbold
Season tickets have now been on sale since last Monday, and in the first three days the total amount of tickets already purchased and ordered for next season has exceeded the total amount for the season from ten years ago!
Information about the season tickets is listed below, but one piece of information that some might not be aware of is that you have two possible options for the way that you can have your ticket delivered to you. You can either select to have it sent to an Apple Passbook (for Apple phones) or Google Wallet (for Android Phones), or you can order a plastic card if you prefer.
If you are buying Season Ticket for someone else and you want to select a download to phone option, there is now a forwarding option available where the ticket can be sent from your phone (where it will be delivered) to the person who is going to be the attendee, via email, and they can then download the ticket to their wallet.
Obviously this might help some but be difficult for others, in which case the plastic card option is available.
The Club has decided that prices will remain unchanged from last season, so prices will be as follows:
Adults: £168.00
Concessions (Aged 60-79): £125.00
Teenagers: £40.00
Children Under 13 accompanying an adult: £20.00
Senior (Aged 80+): FREE
Season tickets will be valid for all League games during 2025-2026 and for all pre-season friendlies, from the point when the ticket is purchased. They will not be valid for FA Cup, FA Trophy or County Cup games, or any testimonial games that might be arranged.
You can either order a season ticket to be downloaded to your phone via Apple Passbook, or Google Wallet, or you can order a Plastic Season ticket card. These will not be available until mid June at the earliest but once ready, they will be dispatched to you.
Season tickets represent fantastic value and they are the best way in which we can look after our loyal fans. Over the course of the season, the purchase of a Season Ticket represents an almost 40% saving on Adult and Concession Match Day tickets, and over 50% for Teenagers and Children Under 13.
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ AND NOTE:
If you are ordering any tickets for anyone other than yourself:
You must use the “Edit Details” box to enter the name, date of birth and phone number (if different) of the person who will be the Cardholder and attendee at games. This ensures that the correct name will be on the season ticket before production and that we have correct cardholder details. Season tickets ordered that are not in the name of the attendee will not be valid and will not be processed until the required information is produced.
Here’s hoping you will be back to support us in an exciting season ahead.
It is great news that we have already sold 40 season tickets. I checked though some old treasurer’s records I had and found that in the 2011-12 season we sold 27 season tickets and in 2012-13 just 17! This shows how the level of interest is increasing all the time and I am convinced our attendances will remain as high in Division One as they were in the Premier division.
GROUND UPDATE
I caught up with head groundsman Steve Barker this week to check on the state of the Top Field playing surface. We have used our regular contractors R S Groundcare to carry out the pitch renovation and they have carried out the same procedures as last season which resulted in Top Field being one of the best playing surfaces in the Southern League. Steve who is incredibly starting his 34th season on the ground staff told me that he considers that Top Field has never looked better and there was more grass on the pitch at the end of the season than ever before.
The current dry spell of weather is not helping. The mobile sprinklers need to be moved twice a day and the ground staff are taking it in turns to do this while static sprinklers are also being used.
As well as the work on the pitch vital maintenance is being carried out on the machinery that is worked so hard through the season. This means the ground staff barely get a break as there is always work to be done.
MANAGERS NOTES By Michael Jones
2025-26 Update
Another busy week which has flown by, meeting potential new signings and agreeing with players for the upcoming season. We have now secured a few vital positions which we were missing last season and we are in the process of adding extra strength to other areas to help us have a positive season.
I am hoping next week we will be able to announce some of the fresh faces to the squad.
We are back in for pre-season training at the end June and we are looking forward to welcoming back the retained players from the previous season and the new faces into the club.
We will also be able to announce our pre season friendlies next week, which will be added to the news that our season tickets are now on sale. It’s great to see so many people already renewing their season tickets for the upcoming season and I am sure this will keep increasing during the off season, due to our incredible loyal supporters.
HITCHIN TOWN’S NEW HYBRID FOOTBALL ACADEMY By Michael Jones
Hitchin Town Football Club are pleased to announce that we have started an exciting new venture for the football club. We will now be starting a hybrid football academy which will be linked to the men’s first team.
We will be offering a Full Time Hybrid football academy for players released from the professional game, or alternatively elite grassroots players who are looking to progress up the football pyramid and experience senior football in a professional environment.
The opportunities for players include:
- Signing for Hitchin Town FC and being given the opportunity to train/play with the Hitchin Town first team during the 2025-26 season.
- Their own personalised development plan to include analysis and nutrition
- Free training kit for the 2025-26 season
- Pro:Direct Academy benefits include discounts on Pro:Direct Soccer, showcase events in front of scouts, brand opportunities and tickets for Premiership matches.
How the programme works
All players will train in the morning for at least 2 hours per day and this will consist of minutes on the pitch, gym work, nutrition, analysis, position specific training and 1-1 development work.
Players will also be involved in evening fixtures against other senior/professional teams as well as the opportunity to train with the men’s first team.
Education
All players will be required to study a Personal Trainer course which on successful completion will mean they will become a qualified personal trainer.
For further information or to register your interest please email – Michael.jones@wearescl.co.uk
ACADEMY UPDATE By Michael Jones
We are still recruiting for the 2025-26 season.
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
PRE-MATCH WARM UP SHIRT
You may recall our design a shirt competition at the end of last season and the fantastic winning design produced by Dakota Johnson (Aged 9).
You can now order your new pre-match warm up shirt as they go on pre-sale tomorrow (Saturday 24th May) at 9am. Our initial order window is open until Sunday 1st June. All orders by this date will then be sent to Hope and Glory for production. We expect to then receive them in 4-6 weeks. After the initial 1st June order window you will still be able to continue to place orders online and they will then be sent for production every two weeks.
The shirt will also be available to purchase in person from the club shop at some point in July.
Order yours here: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/brand/merchandise
READ EASY NORTH HERTS
Reading isn’t something everyone picks up at school – in fact an estimated 2.4 million adults in England aren’t able to read. But it’s never too late to learn.
We’re proud to promote Read Easy who offer free, one-to-one reading coaching for adults in Stevenage & North Hertfordshire.
Whether you’ve always found reading tough, or missed out on learning at school, they can help you build confidence and independence – at your pace, with no judgement.
If you know someone you know would benefit, get in touch at sgnhnetworker@readeasy.org.uk or call 07493 723781.
COMMUNITY UPDATE By Mark Burke
May Half-Term Holiday Camps
The dates are out for the May Half-Term Holiday Camps.
Children aged from 5-14 years can attend the Football Camp at the Arena whilst the Multi Activity Camp at Preston Primary school are for children aged between 4-12 years. (All children are welcome and do not need to be a pupil of Preston Primary.
The holiday camps at the Arena and at Preston Primary School are available to be booked on via the website www.northhertsarena.co.uk
Dates: Tuesday to Thursday 27-29th May 2025 (3 Days)
Cost: £60 p/w or £25 per day
Roy Izzard