WEEKLY BULLETIN – 25TH FEB

FIXTURES

• Saturday 26th February Home to Biggleswade Town League kick-off 3.00pm.
• Monday 28th February Home to Tamworth League kick-off 7.45pm.
• Please buy your tickets through our website as we really need your support.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

BIGGLESWADE TOWN

It was very disappointing to travel to Stratford on Saturday to be told the game was postponed. However we have had two good training sessions on Monday and Thursday to prepare for what will be a big few days.

I really do urge our supporters to come out in force to get behind the team in what will be one of the biggest weekends of our season. I would also ask our supporters to be patient if an early goal does not come. We intend to go into this game on the front foot and play without fear. I felt that in the Redditch game we were too anxious and I want us to improve on that performance.

I know our ex manager and coach Robbie O’Keefe will have got Biggleswade well organised and it is bound to be a tough contest with so much at stake. I can again assure everyone the players are well aware of the importance of this game. It will be so good to have the full squad to chose from for the first time for a very long period. It will give me the right kind of selection headaches.

TAMWORTH

It is always difficult to play against a team that have just appointed a new manager and Tamworth have just recruited the ex Rushden & Diamonds manager Andy Peaks. We will scout their game on Saturday to see how the team will have changed compared to previous games against them. Again the supporters can make the difference and with these two games it is in our own hands to move off the bottom of the table.

MARK BURKE

PLAYER NEWS

• We will have a full squad to chose from on Saturday with no injuries or suspensions.
• We would like to welcome Mikey Conlon to Top Field. He signed from Kettering Town after last week’s bulletin was published. He is a 20 year old striker from Kettering.
• Jordan Kinoshi has joined Barton Rovers on loan. He has been very unfortunate with injury problems since joining Hitchin and needs more game time so this move should benefit him. It is a similar deal to the one we reached with Delsin Ackom.

FOOTBALL V HOMOPHOBIA (FvH) BY KATE DELLER
We are hoping there will be an array of Rainbow Canaries and laces on show at Saturday’s match V Biggleswade Town to show support for the Football v Homophobia International Initiative. If you follow social media you may have come across #FvH2022 already. February is the month when there is a big push of support behind this great initiative which was launched by the “Justin Campaign” 10 years after the devastating suicide of Justin Fashanu.

By showing solidarity with this cause even at our level of football, we are showing that we can and will challenge any homophobia. We hope that more people within our footballing community will feel that they can be open about their own sexual orientation without fear of discrimination. Football is for everyone and Hitchin Town are an inclusive club. We know that Top Field will welcome everyone and be free of prejudice.

If you don’t own one of our Rainbow Canaries or rainbow laces they will be on sale in the Club Shop on Saturday. The players will be supporting by wearing their own rainbow laces.

#FvH2022

STRATFORD POSTPONEMENT
We were very disappointed that the game at Stratford was postponed. The circumstances were as follows. We received a text from the Stratford secretary at 11.04am It said ‘’Just spoken to our groundsman and he said pitch is ok and game is on’’. So we left at 11.30am. It did rain most of the way to Stratford but we never really felt there would be a problem. But when we were about 20 minutes from the ground the Stratford secretary phoned to say the referee wanted to call the game off because of a waterlogged pitch. He managed to ask the referee to wait for our coach to arrive before a final decision was made.

We arrived and the players and management went to look at the pitch. It was wet but anything but unplayable. The groundsman was certain it was ok and was still improving. Both sets of players were equally certain the ground was playable and could not believe the attitude of the referee. Despite representatives of both teams talking to the referee he would not change his mind. So we turned round and headed back to Top Field.

It was so frustrating. A complete waste of time and money and we will now have to travel midweek for the rearranged game. Safety should always be paramount but I still cannot accept the Stratford pitch was not suitable to host a Southern League game.

COW COMMONERS VISIT
We recently had our annual inspection from the trustees of the Cow Commoners who are our landlords. I am pleased to say it had a positive outcome. This is what trustee Alan Doggett had to say—

‘’The club should be commended for the work put in to improve the ground and especially the new stand. Since our last inspection the general appearance upkeep and tidiness has all been improved, well done to everyone. We are aware that whilst some of the work has been paid for the support you get from supporters in doing a lot of the maintenance and tidying up is all by unpaid volunteers.’’

This again shows how our relationship with The Cow Commoners continues to prosper.

CLUB SHOP
Please come and visit the new club shop on Saturday and Monday to see the wide variety of HTFC merchandise on sale. There is also a good selection of programmes available. If you cannot get to either game please visit the online club shop.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Friday 18th February we held an open training session for interested players who want to join our Academy for the 2022-23 season. Despite the storm the session was a success as it was extremely well attended with 30+ players braving the windy conditions. We look forward to the next open session in April and we are hoping for much better weather!!!

If you are interested in joining the Academy or want further information, then please complete this link –

https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates

Both games were called off this week. We are hoping both games go ahead next week as all our players are eager to play.

HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
It was the return of the Chris Renshaw Cup this weekend. HTWFC XI found themselves in Round Two when Evergreen Eagles FC could not field a team. The Canaries made their way to Hertford in the first round. This is what Jamie the manager had to say:

‘With most games being called off due to the weather we were still game on over in Hertford. Bury were looking to seek revenge after the Canaries exited them out of the County Cup, earlier in the season.

The game got going and it was the Canaries on the front foot spreading the play across the field in some truly treacherous conditions. Chance ! Colyer plays the ball through to Allen who fires past the far post and the wind is starting to cause both teams some issues. Chance! H.Edwards directs a free kick into the Bury half and it’s bounced out for Colyer who hits the rebound just over the bar. Goal! C.Edwards is set by McIntyre who sends the ball looping over the goal keeper and into the back of the net.

Bury were quick to respond however. Carter and Rufaioglu kept them quiet down the left side. Goal! Allen ! Colyer weaved in and out who slots the ball through the defence and Allen rounds the keeper and slots it into an empty net. Bury started attacking the Canaries and started bringing themselves back into the game and obtained a penalty for a handball. Goal! Game on ! Bury fired past Nemeth. Goal! Allen! C.Edwards slots a ball through another gap in the Bury defence and Allen launches it over the keeper and into the back of the net. A number of chances fall for the Canaries but we were unable to capitalise. Goal! Bury winger beats Carter to the ball and squares it into the box for a player to fire into the net. Half time 3-2.

Goal! Two minutes into the second half and it’s Allen. Assist Queen Colyer gets her second assist and Allen grabs her third of the day. A quick play from Carter to Colyer who sees an opening for Allen and she fires into an empty net. The wind started to really pick up and Mercer was commanding the middle of the field with Armstrong putting her years of experience on show breaking down the Bury attacks. A couple of saves from Nemeth and some last ditch clearances from Rufaioglu saw the Canaries flutter their wings penning Bury back.

Schofield was forced off after joining at the second half due to injury and it was time to see the game out in the closing stages. Credit to Bury they tried to battle on through the Canaries defence but it was far too strong. The final whistle went and it was the Canaries that progress into Round Two of the Chris Renshaw. A strong performance against a challenging opposition within stormy conditions saw the Canaries tuck another win under their belt!! A constructive game with many challenges. This team is progresses each week.

Player’s Player, Carter. Manager’s Player Barratt & McIntyre.’

FIXTURE:

SUNDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2022
14.00 – HERTS VIPERS DEVELOPMENT V HTWFC XI
BEDS & HERTS WOMENS FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISIONAL ONE

Keep up to date with all the live scores & fixtures, Twitter @HitchinTownWFC or on Facebook, Hitchin Town Womens FC

We are still continuing to recruit for players for the 2021/2022 season. We train Wednesday evenings at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU. Training starts at 20:30 and finishes at 22:00, all abilities welcome! We are also looking for Club Sponsors ! Please get in touch for further information.

HITCHIN TOWN YOUTH FC SUPPPORT HITCHIN AED SCHEME

HITCHIN TOWN YOUTH FC IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HITCHIN AED SCHEME ESTABLISH NEW PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILATOR (PAD) SITES WITHIN THE TOWN.
Wed 23 Feb 2022, Hitchin, UK – Three new automated external defibrillators (AED) have been added to our community providing increased protection for all against sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

The much-celebrated Hitchin AED Scheme, founded in 2003 by Maggie Hackney, has already helped support or fully fund 14 sites across Hitchin, and now with the support of Hitchin Town Youth FC, Walsworth Community Association and Activate Fitness they have established three more public access defibrillator (PAD) sites.

These new PAD sites are located at Walsworth Community Centre (Woolgrove Road, SG4 OAU), St John’s Community Centre (St Johns Road, SG4 9JP), and Highbury Infants School (Standhill Road, SG4 9AG). These three sites were chosen for a number of different reasons.

The Community Centres at Walsworth and St John’s are both within close proximity of two busy footballing sites. They are used by numerous Hitchin Town Youth teams, as well as players from other clubs including FC Comets, Wymondley Park FC and Hitchin Belles.

In addition to football, these sites are also used by a variety of different fitness groups. Activate Fitness has always had an AED at all of their sessions but wanted to give all groups using these venues the reassurance of an accessible PAD site close by.

The AEDs at all three venues are now operational and provide immediate 24/7 access and support to any members of the public in need.

Adam Nethersole, Committee member at Hitchin Town Youth FC said: “On behalf of the club, our Committee and our Coaches I am delighted we have supported Hitchin AED Scheme in establishing new PAD sites across the town.”

“We all witnessed the horrific scenes last year when Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 and this brought home the crucial requirement to have an accessible AED close-by. Two of the selected sites are within close proximity to popular footballing venues and will help us better ensure the safety of our players and spectators, as well as those from other clubs. Over the coming seasons we hope – with the help of other clubs in the town – to provide more PAD sites.”

Maggie Hackney, Founder of Hitchin AED Scheme said: “It is now widely recognised that sports venues should have an accessible AED close-by, and this move, thanks to the kind support of Hitchin Town Youth FC, Walsworth Community Association and Activate Fitness we have done just that. I would encourage other clubs and associations in the town to follow their lead and ensure their AED’s are accessible to the wider community, protecting as many people as possible.”

If any other sports or leisure clubs within Hitchin would like to join the Hitchin AED Scheme or seek advice on how to make their AED devices accessible 24/7 via an externally-fitted cabinet, please get in touch with the scheme directly via: maggiehackney@hotmail.com or 07815 196910.

BY ROY IZZARD