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WEEKLY BULLETIN – 26TH AUGUST

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FIXTURES

  • Saturday 27th August away to Bromsgrove Sporting League kick-off 3.00pm. Coach leaves at 10.30am.
  • Monday 29th August home to Needham Market League kick-off 3.00pm. Tickets must be purchased online.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

BASFORD

Whilst I would have liked to have secured our first home win and three points I was still satisfied that we took a point and remained unbeaten. I think this is important to help us maintain our confidence and there is a good feeling within the group of players.

As to the match itself I felt we shaded the game just as Rushall had shaded the previous week’s game. Overall I am happy with our start to the season and we are averaging two points per game and we are six points clear of the relegation zone!!

BROMSGROVE

We face a tough trip to Bromsgrove on Saturday who have Dan Sweeney and Mikey Taylor as their front two. They will provide a real test for our defence but we travel with confidence after our start to the season. I make no apologies for saying that we will aim to be hard to beat once again.

NEEDHAM MARKET

So far this season we have laid a couple of ghosts with winning our first away league game for many years and finally beating AFC Rushden & Diamonds for the first time. Needham Market is another ghost I would like to lay as I reached one of the lowest points of my managerial career when we were heavily beaten at home by them in October last year. That turned out to be a watershed moment and since that game we have continued to improve.

I hope you all enjoy the bank holiday and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Top Field on Monday.

MARK BURKE

PLAYER NEWS

  • Jack Morrell will miss the games with Bromsgrove and Needham Market as he is awaiting the results of a scan on his knee.
  • Lewis Barker will be in the squad for the two games after missing the Basford game last week.

FA CUP UPDATE

HITCHIN TOWN V HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS – TICKETING ARRANGEMENTS
As you will be aware by now, we have been drawn at home to Heybridge Swifts in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on Saturday 3rd September, kick off 3.00pm .

Please remember that season tickets are not valid for this game – it is all pay. Season ticket holders will have to go online to buy tickets for this game in advance, as per our Club Policy, there is no pay on the gate on the day. You can buy tickets from the following link from 10am this Friday, 26th August: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/event/hit2223hfac01/hitchin-town-v-heybridge-swifts-fa-cup

Seniors over 80 who we give free admission to will also have to obtain their free tickets online in advance. Please give them every assistance to obtain a ticket should they need it.

HERTS SENIOR CUP
We have been drawn at home to Welwyn Garden City in the first round of the Herts Senior Cup. The game will be played at Top Field on Monday 19th September kick-off 7.45pm.

Prices will be £8 for adults, £5 for concessions, £2 for teenagers and £1 for under 13’s.

Should we be successful we will be at home to Baldock or Potters Bar in the second round.

GAMES AT TOP FIELD
We hosted Luton Under 23’s on Tuesday and they beat Fox Academy 6-0. On Wednesday we hosted Stevenage Under 17’s who beat Arsenal 2-1. There was a good attendance of 150 for this game and Jack Wilshere was with the Arsenal coaching staff. Ex canary Ken Gillard was also at Top Field and he is also part of Arsenal’s coaching team.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
We have had more success this week with players training with the first team squad and players being invited in to play for the Pro:Direct regional squad against other academy teams.

We have also had plenty of players progress into senior football this season and this has helped us create a tracker squad moving forward. This means we will now be able to offer our players additional training with regular friendlies against senior teams. This will help bridge the gap between the youth section and the first team and further help develop players and continue the success we have had in recent years in producing players for the first team squad.

MERCHANDISE
Please visit the club shop on Monday to see the numerous items of merchandise we have on sale. You can also buy the match day programme and team sheet. If you cannot get to the game then please visit our online club shop.

BY ROY IZZARD