WEEKLY BULLETIN – 24TH JAN
FIXTURES
- Saturday 25 January – Home to Alvechurch – League – kick-off 3pm.
- Tuesday 28 January – Away to Stratford – League – kick-off 7:45pm.
PLAYER NEWS
- Josh Bickerstaff is still injured and will miss the Alvechurch game.
- Jhai Dhillon faces a fitness test ahead of the Alvechurch game.
- Diogo Freitas Gouveia has recovered from injury and will be in the squad for the Alvechurch game.
- There are no other injuries or suspensions.
SAM BACKHOUSE
Our physio Sam is continuing her recovery at home but it will be up to two months before she can return to active duty. She is still offering advice to players and is following our games on twitter. The players have sent her flowers and chocolates.
In the short-term club stalwart Nick Sopowski is standing in for Sam. Nick is one of our unsung heroes who does so much for the club behind the scenes without ever seeking thanks for what he does.
HERTS SENIOR CUP
We still do not know our next opponents in the Herts Senior Cup as the game between Potters Bar and Hemel Hempstead was postponed on Tuesday. It will now take place on Tuesday 4th February.
CHARITY PARTNERS WITH KATE DELLER
Just to remind you all that there is a donate page on our online shop, please feel free to donate to any of our charities. The money is divided between Garden House Hospice Care, Herts Disability Sports Foundation and Stevenage Haven supporting North Herts Sanctuary. Each Charity will be attending a game each in the coming weeks and we hope that you will help us to welcome and support them. Click here to make a donation.
VOLUNTEER ARMY NEXT WEDNESDAY WITH KATE DELLER
Next Wednesday 29 January our new Voluntary Army are meeting at 9.30am at the Canary Club to carry out external wood staining. Please keep an eye out on our website and Facebook for any late postponement if the weather is bad.
SOUL MAN TICKETS WITH KATE DELLER
Don’t forget your tickets for The Soul Man gig at The Canary Club Friday 21 February 2020. Click here to purchase.
CHEESE & CIDER FESTIVAL 2020 WITH KATE DELLER
Plans are underway for the 2020 Hitchin Town FC Cider and Cheese Festival. If you would like to get involved on a voluntary basis or are interested in sponsoring this event in any way, please contact Kate by email: kate.deller@hitchintownfc.club or telephone 07966 366664 or Mick Docking mick.docking@hitchintownfc.club.
CANARY CLUB DATES FOR THE DIARY
- The Soul Man – Friday 21 February 2020.
- Quiz and Curry Night – Thursday 27 February 2020 (£6 per person maximum 6 in a team) Entries please contact Kate Deller.
- The Canary Club Karaoke Night – Friday 28 February 2020.
- Race Night – Thursday 19 March 2020.
- Cider & Cheese Festival – Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July.
HITCHIN TOWN UNDER 19’S
Having lost 3-1 to Brentwood two weeks ago our academy team won 4-1 against the same opponents this week. There is no fixture next week.
HITCHIN TOWN LADIES FC WITH CALLUM ELLIS
Last Sunday both games were postponed for Hitchin Town Ladies FC. This Sunday 26th January 2020 at Ickleford Recreation Ground there is a real local derby !
Hitchin Town Ladies FC Firsts v Hitchin Belles FC kick-off 2.00pm. Please come along and support the Ladies.
EJA NEWS WITH NICK CARR
The weather again affected our EJA teams last weekend, with only two games played.
Our U14s won their local derby game on Sunday, 3-0 at home to Biggleswade Town EJA with Zion Kelly grabbing a brace and Stefan Georgiou with the other goal.
In the only other game played, our U17s went down 3-0 to Berkhamstead Raiders U18 to miss out on the quarter-final of the U18 Hertfordshire FA County Cup. Credit to our U17s though for getting this far in a competition dominated by U18 teams.
This weekend sees all four teams back in action and it is our U18s turn to try their luck in the U18 Hertfordshire FA County Cup. They travel to Bushey & Oxhey U18 Youth in a game to decide who goes through to a quarter-final tie with Cheshunt Youth.
Our U17s are in cup action again when they travel to Barkingside Youth U17 in the semi-final of the London FA Sunday Cup.
Our U14s complete a trio of away games when they travel to Cambridge City Youth in the EJA Yellow Division.
Our U15s have a home tie as they host Bishops Stortford U15 in the EJA Brown Division with a 10:30 am kickoff at The Arena, Baldock.
MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE
RUSHALL OLYMPIC
On Saturday the game at Rushall was lost in the first ten minutes. We conceded two very poor goals despite the players being warned that they needed to cope with the physical presence and speed that Rushall were always going to come at us with. It was not until fifteen minutes had passed before we settled down. We eventually got in to the game and scored a well worked goal. But even then we conceded a soft penalty just before half time and this took away the momentum that we had gradually been gaining.
We played a lot better in the second half and could do nothing about the wonder strike for Rushall’s fourth goal. I must give credit to the players for not capitulating and fighting until the very end. We again fell victim to our penalty curse but did get another goal back as we pushed Rushall all the way.
However in this division you cannot give a promotion chasing side a two goal start and expect to get away with it and we paid the expected price.
PETERBOROUGH SPORTS
On Tuesday night the players did take on board our message that you have to start every match from the very first kick and not fifteen minutes in. So credit to them and I have to say they were fantastic for the whole ninety minutes. Every single player gave their all and showed real determination that is needed to win matches.
Looking at the Peterborough Sports players before the game we sensed from their body language an air of complacency and I think we capitalised on this together with taking the game to them and not allowing them in to the game. We hit the woodwork twice and delivered some great crosses that should have led to further goals. I think everyone at the match would agree that had we been 4-0 ahead at half time it would have been what we deserved.
The worry at half time was would one goal be enough as we did not feel Peterborough would be as complacent in the second half. However we continued our domination and I was delighted when Steve Cawley completed his hat trick to give us a comprehensive victory in what was our best performance of the season so far.
ALVECHURCH
I have been at the club long enough to know that often a very good performance is followed by an ”after the Lord Mayor’s” performance. So at training on Thursday the players were reminded that despite the excellent performance at Peterborough there can be no complacency on Saturday. We will need to work equally hard and maintain the same standards. We must forget where Alvechurch are in the table and expect them to be fighting hard for the points.
I hope we can attract a decent attendance as the players are determined to reward the loyalty of our loyal supporters.
STRATFORD
It would appear that Stratford’s results have not reflected their performances recently. They have made some new signings and as ever we have to be fully committed and show consistency. The performance at Peterborough must be replicated on a regular basis.
BY ROY IZZARD