WEEKLY BULLETIN 27TH DECEMBER
FIXTURES
- Saturday 28th December 2024 League Home to AFC Telford kick-off 3.00pm.
- Wednesday 1st January 2025 League Home to Barwell kick-off 3.00pm.
PREVIEW
It’s a quick turnaround and back to Top Field again this Saturday for a Southern League match against Telford United. In the reverse fixture in August it was an amazing win for Telford clinching it 5-4 in a 9 goal thriller. Jack Dreyer, Coree Wilson, Liam Brooks all making it onto the scoresheet. Telford United last visited Top Field in March, the points were shared with a 1-1 draw, Hitchin’s goalscorer was Finley Wilkinson in that encounter.
Manager Michael Jones continues to search for that uptick in results with points seeming hard to come by despite great quality of football from the team.
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:
https://hitchintownfc.club/admission-prices/
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 be in attendance serving a great range of craft beers. They will be located adjacent to the main stand.
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 afternoon at Top Field.
BULLETIN
As this is the last bulletin of 2024 I would like to thank all those who have helped me to bring you as much news and information as possible about Hitchin Town FC every week of the year. Every week there have been manager’s notes and Mark Burke, Brett Donnelly and Michael Jones should be commended for being so honest and forthright even though results have been so disappointing. Each of the three provided a view from inside the dressing room which gives great background to decisions that are made. I admire all three managers for never failing to provide an article however low they may have been feeling.
Paul Sprague has not only provided articles for the bulletin but along with Chris Jones has ensured the finished bulletin looks so professional on the website compared to my original lay out. Well known club insiders Chris Newbold, Mick Docking, Kate Dellar and David Tudball have regularly provided articles while Michael Jones provided academy and junior canaries updates and Callum Ellis provided all the HTWFC updates. Mark Burke provided community updates and our chaplain Maxine Howarth provided words of wisdom.
Most of all thank you to our loyal supporters for reading the bulletin each week. Seeing how many people read it makes me more than happy to continue producing it each week and I hope it gives you all a better insight to Hitchin Town FC.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES
Stamford AFC
Saturday Stamford continued their recent good record against us with a 2-0 win. A slow start to the first 20 minutes allowed Stamford to gain a goal from a set play and this allowed Stamford to sit back and defend for the rest of the game. We worked hard for the next 70 minutes but ran out of ideas in the final third to break down a very solid defence. As we pushed more and more for the equaliser, Stamford hit us on the break to score a second with the final kick of the game. I felt this game shows we can compete with the better teams in the league but again it has highlighted our lack of converting attacking play into goals. This is something we continue to work on but as everyone associated with football understands, this is the hardest part of the game and if everyone could do it then games would be high scoring every week.
Bedford Town FC
Since I have been leading this group, this has been the result that has hit me the hardest and I am so disappointed we have come away from this game with zero points. I felt the first half for the first 40 minutes we were hard working, organised, attacking and did not allow Bedford to get out of their own half with their first effort on goal coming in the 40th minute. We scored a goal but we probably should have had at least two more goals on reflection of the chances and total domination of this half of football.
At half time the messages were clear, we would need to play how we did in the first half but be even better because for the first 15/20 minutes Bedford would come at us with everything they had.
Second half we started the first five minutes on top and had two really good chances to add a second but failed to convert these. A set play out of nothing gave Bedford an equaliser and then from then on the game became more even with Bedford probably just edging it and now looking the more likely to score. Bedford took the lead not long after and this goal would turn out to be the winner. People will say we deserved to win this game and if the game was 45 minutes then I would fully agree but unfortunately we play 90+ minutes each week and today we were punished for not capitalising while we were on top and then in the second half not finishing the game while we had the chance, lowering our performance levels from the first half and allowing two soft goals against us. This is the big difference between us and the top teams at the moment, they either stick in the game and punish us when they get the chance or take the lead and do not give us a sniff for the rest of the game!
I can only apologise to all our supporters who turned up in great numbers as always and continued to get behind the group, even at the final whistle after a defeat. I am hoping this group can give you the points you deserve for your excellent commitment during this difficult period.
I know everyone can see the effort the team is giving each week and I know everyone can see we can compete with the top clubs in the division, this is why it makes it even harder each week to come away with zero points.
We now need to dust ourselves down for a quick turnaround for Saturday’s home game.
AFC Telford
Telford find themselves 5 points off the top of the table after losing in the play off final last season to Leamington. Telford come into this game with 5 wins in their last 8 games, 2 draws and 1 defeat to top of the table Kettering. Telford had an excellent win on Boxing Day where they beat second in the table Halesowen 2-0 so will come into this game with plenty of confidence.
Telford will be heavy favourites and will fully expect to turn up to Top Field on Saturday and leave with maximum points. Our task is tough, as it is in every fixture but our job on Saturday needs to be to play the same as we did in the first half against Bedford but take our chances and then make sure we do not allow our standards to drop in the second half. If we can do this for 90+ minutes then there should be no reason why we can’t cause a massive upset!!
Please continue to get behind this team, as they are giving us everything at the moment but just falling short in terms of points for our performance/effort levels in recent weeks. I firmly believe we are on the right path and we need to continue to believe that our fortunes will turn.
Player News
Solomon Sambou had a family bereavement over the festive period and had to travel back to Gambia. As a club we are sending all our thoughts and prayers to Solomon and his family at this time.
Enock Ekongo has been suffering from the flu and was not available for our Boxing Day fixture. We are hoping he will be back for our home fixture on New Year’s Day.
Liam Brooks was not 100% fit Boxing Day but will be involved over the festive period.
MERCHANDISE NEWS BY PAUL SPRAGUE
We still have plenty in the club shop for you to come and spend your Christmas money on. With shirts and hoodies still being well stocked. Hats and scarves have also been flying out over the last few weeks.
As we approach 2025 you can still get your A3 Hitchin Town FC Wall Calendar with lots of photos of the mens, womens and youth teams throughout.
Also remember you can get a Club Shop gift card, so if you are looking for a belated Christmas Gift these are a great choice
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
Academy Update
William McNeill played for Pro:Direct 11 against Arsenal Academy on Friday 20th December at Arsenal’s training ground. Will started the game and played well, testing himself against some excellent players. Will enjoyed the experience and we look forward to watching him develop in the future.
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
JUNIOR CANARIES UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
Issue 4 will be released on Friday 3rd January 2025.
If you would like to receive this issue please register your details by Wednesday 1st January 2025.
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.
BY ROY IZZARD