FIXTURES
- Friday 29th March Home to Needham Market League kick-off 3.00pm. We advise you to buy your tickets online but tickets can be purchased (card payments only) from the club ticket office which will be open from 13.30 to 15.15.
- Monday 1st April Away to Berkhamsted League kick-off 3.00pm. There is no coach to this game.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY BRETT DONNELLY
So we did it.. we stopped the rot. I have never been happier with a point in all my time in football. The lads dug in and produced a fighting display which I have been told has been lacking in recent weeks. It wasn’t pretty, I am well aware of that, but pretty isn’t going to keep us up. We gave clear instructions of what we wanted and how we wanted to stay in the game for as long as possible.
The boys defended for their lives and kept the ball away from our goal. Fin produced a massive piece of quality to give us the lead but two lapses in concentration cost us for their equaliser. This needs to be stamped out quickly. But a point against a top 3 side is a point earned. We now have to build on it starting tomorrow with league leaders Needham.
They are a completely different prospect to Telford. They will look to pass their way through us and we need to be alive to that. We can’t have any player switching off. They will be getting reminded of this… for 90+ minutes!
For me it’s a week in the hotseat, but it feels like a month! I’ve been on the phone for an untold amount of time and I’ve had to come to terms with the size of the task in front of us. Is the squad good enough, well it was 3 months ago. We’ve added a couple more in today . We tinker with what we have and I think we have enough to get ourselves safe. The boys are confident, they are taking onboard what we are asking, and they are prepared to roll up their sleeves for the fight. So lets have it.
Finally many thanks for the great turn out last Saturday. We need the supporters behind us like never before so please make Top Field the only place to be tomorrow.
Brett Donnelly
AMAZING ATTENDANCE STATISTICS
I was always told that nothing succeeds like success but in the case of attendances at Top Field it seems that nothing succeeds like—failure! I have done a comparison between the first seven Saturday home league games and the last seven home league games. The difference between the two periods is that during the first seven games we were in the play-off positions while during the most recent seven home games we had lost twelve consecutive league games. Therefore it should follow that attendances have dropped off—but not so. The aggregate attendance at the first seven was 3,872 at an average of 553 but the aggregate attendance for the last seven was 4,579 at an average of 654. So despite the twelve successive defeats our average attendance had gone up by 101. That is a really incredible statistic.
The first of the twelve defeats was Royston watched by 643. The second defeat saw 690 at the Berkhamsted game. The third defeat saw 680 come to see Long Eaton and 725 were at defeat number 6 against Kettering. Stratford was the eighth defeat with 473 present while 610 were at the tenth defeat to Bromsgrove. After 12 defeats we played AFC Telford last Saturday and attracted our highest league attendance of the season with 757 present.
What incredible loyalty the Hitchin supporters have shown and we are so grateful that you have stood by us. Brett and the rest of the management team and players are going to do everything to ensure we stay up and reward that magnificent support.
MERCHANDISE REMINDER
Please visit the club shop on Friday. There is a great selection of merchandise and you can also buy the match programme and team sheet as well as sweets and chocolate. Various price reductions have been implemented on the clothing items. There is also a large selection of old programmes and football books. If you cannot get to a game please visit the online club shop.
HERTS SENIOR CUP AT TOP FIELD
We are pleased to announce that the Herts FA have chosen Hitchin to host the Herts Senior Cup Final at Top Field on Tuesday 9th April kick-off 7.45pm. St Albans will be playing Berkhamsted and further details will be announced regarding prices etc in due course.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Tuesday 26th March second year goalkeeper Tyrese Kamara was invited into training by new manager Brett Donnelly. Tyrese has been playing at London Colney this season so it was great to see him rewarded for his good performances.
Also on Tuesday Torin Ntege trained with the first team. Torin was part of the FA Youth Cup squad last season where he contributed with plenty of goals and assists. These performances in the Youth Cup, caught the attention of league one side Peterborough United who signed him on as a scholar.
It’s great to see players who have come through the academy set up, get opportunities to progress with the first team.
Open Training Session
On Friday 5th April we have our next open training session for our male and female teams. These sessions will be between 11:30am – 2pm at Top Field, Fishponds Road, SG5 1NU. To register your details or for further information – https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates
HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Our Firsts hosted Watton Ladies FC and come the 90th minute there was not much that separated the sides. They shared the points leaving the relegation battle open.
The Canaries were on their travels to Stotfold. Stotfold broke the deadlock in the fifty-fifth minute before doubling their lead later on.
We are recruiting a manager for our First Team. Please get in touch with Callum via our website. Keep up to date with all our news, fixtures, results and so much more on https://www.hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk
TOP FIELD RAINBOWS BY KATIE WILSON
I am delighted to announce the forming of Top Field Rainbows, an LGBTQ+ supporters club, for Hitchin Town Football Club.
Most of the premier league teams have LGBTQ+ supporter groups- so it’s time for the non -league to get involved as well.
For those new to football or wishing to re-engage with the game, Hitchin Town is the perfect club.
They have worked hard at being an inclusive and diverse organisation and continue to do so.
If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, we would love to hear from you, as we seek to make football a game for everyone and tackle the issues of homophobia and transphobia by raising awareness. Please contact the following email for more details.
Katie also sent us a report on her experience at the AFC Telford game and it is great to hear that she is so positive about her visit —.
A few weeks back, I attended my first Hitchin Town football match, which may not seem like a big deal but believe me- it is when you are a trans woman.
When I went before, I went with my friend and I had a really nice time, I must have enjoyed it because I decided to go again for the match against Telford United, only this time it was on my own.
So, this was another big step in my journey, and even though Hitchin is a very friendly club, it’s difficult to put into words how hard it is, because you still don’t get a lot of people like me at football.
It was bitter cold as kick off approached, I had time to pop into the bar and get myself a blackcurrant and soda, ( a hot drink would probably have been a better choice).
It was so cold that I purchased myself a scarf from the club shop ( there’s no going back now). Because of the weather, I decided that the stand was my best option. It was pretty crowded, and I know that I got a few looks and a few comments were whispered among friends but I expect that. I’m sure, if some spoke to me they would be surprised at the depth of football knowledge that I have.
I made my way to the back of the stand with my drink. By now; what with the weather, my nerves and the cold drink inside me I found myself shaking a bit.
I prayed that I might get someone to talk to, and my prayers were answered when a man stood next to me. I found out that he was a Millwall season ticket holder. ( There were no championship games that day, as England were playing).
The highlight of the first half was the opening goal from a free kick for Hitchin, where the ball cracked the underside of the bar before going in, giving the keeper no chance. Unfortunately Hitchin were unable to hold onto their lead.
The second half followed the same pattern with lots of hard work and endeavour, but not much in the way of clear cut chances. Telford seemed to me to be the better ball playing team but I was disappointed in them for a team third in the division, but then that can also be down to Hitchin’s fighting spirit.
If anyone was going to snatch a late winner, I thought that It would be Telford – but Hitchin did enough to hold on. As someone who has only been a few times, I would question ‘Where are the goals, going to come from ? ”
As for me; it was another successful day in my journey and I am sure that it will get easier every time, for me it’s about breaking down barriers. Football should be for anyone, and I’m trying to do my bit to help.
I hope that by sharing my thoughts and feelings, it might give an understanding to those who might find what I do a bit odd.
I’ve always loved football. I wasn’t a bad player, I was player of the year for my village team, when I was eleven. Ray Stewart of West Ham and Scotland presented me with my trophy. I used to go to Chelmsford City as a youngster and stand at the Wolsey end, then later on- on the North Bank at Highbury.
I’m still the same person, as I was all them years ago. I just need to express myself differently. I never ever thought that I would go to football as Katie, that was always a dream.
It’s been a battle along the way, an inner battle. It’s only because of my faith that I am still here. At the end of the day, it’s just clothes, a wig and a bit of make up-but in other ways it’s so much more than that.
I’m not brave, I’m just doing what I need to do.
Katie Wilson
I can assure Katie she will always be most welcome at Top Field and we admire her battle to break down barriers.
BY ROY IZZARD