WEEKLY BULLETIN – 29TH APRIL
While the season is now over I intend to produce a bulletin each week keeping supporters up to date with any news from Top Field. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me produce the bulletin through the season and I hope you have found it interesting and informative.
MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE
BROMSGROVE
As Biggleswade had lost at Tamworth on Thursday their relegation had been confirmed. This meant we were able to approach the game with Bromsgrove in a relaxed frame of mind knowing we were safe. But we wanted to finish the season on a positive note and finish as high up the table as possible.
I have to be honest and say the game was not a classic and our winning goal was probably the only bit of quality in the 90 minutes. But I must thank the supporters who created a really enjoyable atmosphere and we were able to give Dan Webb the really good send off he richly deserved. It was great for him to be able to make his 400th appearance and to receive a trophy in front of the fans who have always appreciated him. Dan was actually quite nervous when he came on as he was not in any way fit and would have to play on one leg! I put him up front as it would have been a risk to put him at the heart of the defence. But he survived his few minutes and had he have received the pass that should have been delivered to him he may have scored a fairy tale goal. His family were there in force to see his farewell and it is hard to believe the Dan Webb era has come to an end.
I would really like to thank all our supporters who have stood by me and the team throughout what has been a difficult season. Hopefully we can build on the current fan base next season
We did finish the season on a high and were 7 points clear of relegation with 4 teams below us. Work will start immediately on preparing for next season and we have to be ready to make a good start after the poor opening in the 2021/22 season.
I will be looking back over the season in the coming weeks.
MARK BURKE
I would like to thank Mark who has spoken to me every week so I can prepare his manager’s notes despite the fact I am sure he would rather that I had not called on more than one occasion. I have heard at first hand his pain, his frustration but also his determination to turn things round. I know how much he has appreciated the support he has received from ex players such as Kane Smith and from supporters. He had always said to me if he felt he could not pull us out of the relegation mire he would resign.
STAT ATTACK
Rupert Russell made an interesting post on the Fans Forum regarding statistics for the season. I hope Rupert does not mind me repeating this post as I am sure it will interest those supporters who may not have seen it—
‘’We often hear about a game of two halves, but this was clearly a season of two halves. A look at the stats show that Hitchin had an awful first half of the season (as if you needed me to tell you that) taking a mere 13 points from 20 games which left us bottom of the pile whilst the second half of the season saw us take 29 points, which puts us in 9th place in the division for the second half.
1st 20 games – W 3, D 4, L 13, GF 19, GA 36, Pts 13
2nd 20 games – W8, D 5, L 7, GF 28, GA 22, Pts 29
The four teams that finished below us at the end of the season also had the four worst second half records
Only three teams had a better defensive record in the second half of the season, but twelve scored more.’’
A few other statistics on the season. Of our 20 defeats 13 were by a single goal (showing how many games were decided by fine margins) and 4 by 2 goals
We finished 7th in the attendance table with an average of 504. Again comparing the first 10 attendances with the last 10 attendances shows the season of two halves again. The first 10 were 458, 723, 375, 341, 424, 374, 363, 372 401 and 520—4353 at an average of 435. The last 10 attendances were 546, 637, 302, 796, 412, 496, 619, 559, 575, 777—5719 at an average of 572.
Biggleswade was the highest league attendance with 796 and Stourbridge the lowest with 341.
Our worst sequence of results was between 18th September and 8th November when we had two draws and ten defeats in twelve games. Our best sequence of results was between 11th December and 22nd January when we won five and drew one of six games.
ONLINE CLUB SHOP
Don’t forget that you can continue to buy club merchandise from our online club shop throughout the close season.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Wednesday 27th April we played our final National Youth Alliance fixture of the season away to Newport Pagnell. Having already secured a third place finish we were able to relax and enjoy the game.
However we got off to the worst start possible and conceded a goal within 1 minute. We then worked hard to get back into the match and after 10 minutes Nikolay Rusev scored a very good free kick from about 40 yards out. Not long after a great bit of play allowed Matthew Blake to give us the lead. We were not far from the half time whistle when Newport equalised after a mix up at the back meaning we went in level at the break.
Despite controlling the second half we went 3-2 down and the score stayed this way until the 88th minute when Flavius Drescanu curled the ball into the top corner. The game looked to be heading for a draw when in the 91st minute Flavius Drescanu bundled home the ball at the back post to give us the 4-3 win and 3 points. It was an excellent way to finish off a very successful season both on and off the pitch.
We also played at Home in the SCL league to a very physical Barking team, despite matching them for long periods, Barking scored late on to give them the 3 points.
HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Both teams had games at the weekend however it was losses across the board. We are entering the final week of fixtures and they are as below.
Beds and Herts Women’s Football League fixtures, 14:00 kick off:
SUNDAY 1st MAY 2022 – 14:00 kick off
Division One
Hitchin Town FC XI v Hartham United FC Women
The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, SG7 5AU
Division Two
Hitchin Town FC Canaries v Everett Ladies First
The Bury, London Road, Buntingford, SG9 9HZ
WEDNESDAY 4th MAY 2022 – 19:00
Division Two
Watton Ladies v Hitchin Town FC Canaries
Watton At Stone Community Hall & Recreation Ground, School Lane, Watton at Stone, SG14 3SF
Keep up to date with all the live scores & fixtures, Twitter @HitchinTownWFC or on Facebook, Hitchin Town Womens FC
We are still now recruiting for the 2022/2023 season. We return on Wednesday 1st June 2022. We will be at Ickleford Sprts & Recreational Ground, Chambers Lane, Ickleford at 1930. All abilities welcome! We are also looking for Club Sponsors ! Please get in touch for further information.
BY ROY IZZARD