WEEKLY BULLETIN 28TH MARCH

NEXT FIXTURE

Saturday 29th March – At home to Royston Town (kick-off 3.00pm) in the league.

In the away game against Royston earlier this season Hitchin came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 thanks to a brace from Coree Wilson.

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 5x 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 & DRINK

The Canary Club bar is open from 11.00am 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.

MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES

Last weekend’s loss at Spalding United

We started off with our worst 30 minutes of football since I have been leading the group.

Despite having a chance early on where Liam Brooks smashed a half volley over the bar we ended up being a goal down after some disorganised defending allowed Spalding to score from inside the box and we were only 12 minutes into the match.

This motivated Spalding and they started to really force the game and this pressure we were struggling to compete with in the early exchanges. 20 minutes in and it was 2-0 after a cross from wide left was tapped in by an unmarked forward in the box. This highlighted how bad we were defending as a collective and how far we were second best to a confident Spalding team.

We started to settle into the match and had worked on our organisation and we were starting to pass the ball, instead of just aimlessly kicking it up the pitch to no one. This resulted in a good 1 on 1 chance for Rio Deall in which the keeper saved and this gave us some hope that we might now be able to fight back in the game but 33 minutes in and Spalding added a third from a routine set play.

We were now at the stage where this score could be 5,6,7 and we would just completely capitulate. We looked miles off being anywhere near a competitive step 3 side and Spalding were motivated and playing with plenty of confidence.

We won a set play high up the pitch after a good passage of play and a great delivery from Stephen Gleeson was headed in by Rio Deall to give us a goal and not long after we had our second goal when some good build up play resulted in some link up play from Jake Hutchinson, Liam Brooks and this allowed Rio Deall to slot home at the back post.

The game changed and we were now the motivated, confident team on the front foot and Spalding were trying to live with us and manage the game until the half time whistle. We came into half time at 3-2 down but were the team finishing the half on top.

Second half we continued in a similar fashion to the end of the first half but we just lacked the quality in the final third – poor end product, wrong decisions and lack of efforts on target. This meant that we were unable to find an equaliser and fell to another damaging defeat.

I understand our start to the game was totally unacceptable and embarrassing but I feel the players showed their commitment to the club and  that everyone is playing for the supporters as we showed the real fight of our group in the final 70 minutes and we just came up short in the final third with a lack of quality.

We have been inconsistent from week to week and minute to minute during matches and this is something we are working tirelessly on trying to rectify so we can finish the season as strongly as possible.

I would like to thank our loyal travelling support on Saturday away to Spalding. We turned up in great numbers and really got behind the team, especially during the challenging times in the match. I want to apologise for falling short at present and not giving you the results you deserve for the loyal support and commitment you have not only given our club in these disappointing times but also the group of players and staff. It is greatly appreciated to know we have the support of so many and we are determined to reward you with some performances and points!!!

This weekend’s game at home to Royston Town

It’s derby day on Saturday as we host neighbours Royston Town. Royston are on course for a strong mid-table finish and have been on a run of 10 games which has only seen them lose twice.

We know Royston will be very organised with and without the ball and they will look to dominate us physically, especially from set plays.

We arrive at this game in poor form, losing three league games in a row for the first time since I have been leading this group.

We know this is derby and anything can happen, as league position and form goes out of the window.

We will be giving everything possible to make sure we sent the supporters home happy.

Player News

• Lewis Barker is still in non-contact training as he recovers from his long-term shoulder injury.

• Kobi Sinclair-Linton was back in training this week and will be up for selection next weekend.

• Dominic Martins – has signed on loan from Luton until the end of the season. Dom is a player we have been trying to sign from the start of 2025. He is a hard working, battling midfield player, who possesses good technical ability and will be a great addition to the squad for the final six games.

INTERVIEW WITH MP

I had a very interesting interview with our local MP Alistair Strathern on Friday. He explained how he became a Hitchin Town supporter and how he fully supports what the club are trying to do. The interview will go on our social media outlets as soon as it is ready. There are a couple of interesting stories concerning Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Hitchin Town FC!

COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE

Read Easy

Reading is a basic requirement of everyday life, and for many of us it is a skill we take for granted. Yet there are 2.4 million adults in England alone who can barely read or cannot read at all. In turn, people who struggle with reading may also struggle with writing and have quite limited spoken vocabulary.

Learning to read as an adult can be life-changing. The benefits can extend beyond the individual and enable families to break the inter-generational cycle of literacy difficulties.

These are the reasons Read Easy a voluntary organisation exists to help adults learn to read. Contact details for our local Read Easy group can be found on the flyer.

The new dates for our coaching clinics at the Arena are out and can be booked on via the website www.northhertsarena.co.uk

On Monday evenings from 5-6pm we host a Junior Ability Counts session for children aged between 7 and 16 years old with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Monday 28th April, 12th & 19th May 2025 (3 sessions) – Cost: £12

On Wednesday evenings from 5.30-6.30pm we host a specific goalkeeping course called Safe Hands for children of all ages and abilities delivered by former first-team goalkeeper Josh Mollison.

Wednesday 21st April – 23rd May 2025 (5 weeks)     Cost: £30

HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS

Results

HTWFC 0 – 4 Bury Rangers
Ruislip Rangers 5 – 1 Canaries

Fixtures

Sunday 30th March, 14:00

Bedwell Rangers v HTWFC,
Rifling Wood, SG2 9LX

Canaries v Bletchley Scot,
Top Field, Hitchin Town FC

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

I need to apologise to Blue Joy, last week I mentioned in the report that Josh Beedell scored the first goal but in fact it was Blue Joy.  Sorry Blue, this mistake will not happen again.

A quiet week in the academy this week with educational commitments taking priority.

Blue Joy did get selected for the Pro:Direct U17 showcase event which was held on Thursday. Blue played 60 minutes in the match which took place at Bedford Town FC in front of scouts from various clubs throughout England. Blue looked comfortable and assured with and without the ball.

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

The next issue will be out on Friday 4th April.

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.

HERTS SENIOR CUP FINAL

Hemel Hempstead beat Wormley Rovers in the second semi-final and will play Potters Bar in the final.

BY ROY IZZARD