WEEKLY BULLETIN 3RD JANUARY

FIXTURES

• Saturday 4th January League Away to Bromsgrove Sporting kick-off 3.00pm. Coach leaves at 10.30am.
• There is no midweek fixture.

MANAGER’S NOTES BY MICHAEL JONES

AFC Telford

Well, what a game this was, two teams not content for a point and going all out for the win. I felt we had a good start to the game and created a few good chances but against the run of play Telford punished us with a clinical finish. Credit to the group they kept going despite a disappointing set back and we got our rewards in the form of a Harry Titchmarsh equaliser. I am really pleased for Titch, he has been excellent since I have been leading the group and deserved to have this moment. We continued to force the issue but were unable to add a second. Telford had one good chance themselves, but Seb made an excellent save to deny them taking the lead. As I was planning our messages for half time there was a sucker punch of a Telford goal. This could have knocked our confidence as we had given so much to the game and found ourselves coming in at half time in an underserved losing position.

Half Time and we emphasised on the areas we felt we had been particularly strong in and then looked to instill belief that we could not only get back in this game but we could in fact win it and what a win it would be, considering we were massive underdogs and 1 goal behind.

The group went out in the second half with plenty of confidence and continued to cause Telford problems but were unable to find the equaliser. We kept forcing the issue but Telford again had a good chance and Seb had to make another good save at the back post. We then went into the final 15 minutes of madness. Luke Stokoe equalised with a brilliant long range effort and I felt we totally deserved this. We were now thinking we had plenty of time to go for the win but almost straight away we conceded to fall behind again. This was a kick in teeth and it felt like the opportunity for any points might have been gone with such little time left against such a formidable opponent but credit to the group, they were not beaten yet and some good play down the left from Bradley Dixon Smith earned us a penalty and a chance to equalise again and Henry Snee under a lot of pressure calmly smashed the ball home. We continued to go for the win and both teams had their moments in the final minutes but we both had to settle for a draw after such an exciting game.

I can only credit the effort and character of the group after a busy Christmas period and after a tough fixture against Bedford on Boxing Day, which mentally was more draining than anything after playing so well and coming away with nothing. To then have the determination to go against a very strong, experienced opponent and go toe to toe for 90 minutes and to keep finding the strength to keep coming back from a goal behind. They gave us everything and it was just a shame we could not turn the performance into 3 points.

I would like to thank the huge noisy support we had, this helped the group continue to find the energy and the strength to keep going, even when they might have been lacking the energy levels needed. I feel since I have become manager this has been the loudest, greatest atmosphere we have had during a game. I think it goes to show what such great support can do for the players and we all thank you for getting us through a tough game.

Barwell

This was another game with a quick turnaround time.

When I arrived at the game the grounds team were working hard on the pitch and considering the weather we had the pitch was in very good condition. However the referee had other ideas and he was trying his hardest to have the game postponed but our grounds team were not going to accept defeat and did everything the referee required to make sure the game went ahead as planned.

I think this goes to show the level of commitment and effort that goes into the pitch from our volunteers that we can have such bad weather and the pitch is still playable.

We got off to the worst start with Lewis Franklin pulling up ill in the warm up and then less than 5 minutes into the game Lewis Barker having to come off after injuring his shoulder. This allowed Barwell to stamp their authority on the game and it made for a difficult opening 15 minutes. We then started to claw our way back into the game and as the half went on I felt we were now the stronger, more likely to score team. Some great play from Bradley Dixon Smith resulted in a penalty which Dan Stokoe put away to give us a lead. We did have another chance to extend the lead but we were unable to take it.

Second half was a closely contested game but I always felt we were edging the battle but just needed the second goal to kill the game off and after hitting the crossbar and post Ciaren Jones popped up with the goal.

A good 2-0 win to start 2025 which would not have been possible without the effort of the grounds team to get the fixture on.

Bromsgrove Sporting

Bromsgrove come into this game just two places in front of us in the table but they are in excellent unbeaten form with 4 wins in their last 5 games which now only puts them 6 points off of 7th!!!

This is a difficult fixture for our young team but one we are confident of causing an upset in after our performances during the festive period.

Player News

• Lewis Barker dislocated his shoulder against Barwell and will be sidelined for a while.
• Lewis Franklin has recovered from his illness and will be back in the squad.
• Enock Ekongo has recovered from his flu and will be in contention for Bromsgrove
• Solomon Sambou is still in Gambia so will not be available for this weekend.
• We have signed Josh Odell Bature, Josh is a centre back whose contract expired with Luton Town on Wednesday. Josh has been at Luton Town since Under 13’s and has played step 3 football this season during a loan spell. Josh will come straight into the squad for Bromsgrove.

ACADEMY AND JUNIOR CANARIES UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

Academy

The Academy will be back in training on Monday 6th January after a break for Christmas.

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

Issue 4 has been released today.

We look forward to a positive 2025 for our Junior Canaries.

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.

HITCHIN V AFC TELFORD—A FAN’S VIEW BY KATIE WILSON

A Christmas cracker

For anybody dismissive of the merits of non-league football this was a cracker that brought a touch of sunshine to a day that started with a mist that never went away.

Hitchin started well enough, with the players confidently knocking the ball around, but without having any end product. Early thoughts, indicated that the game would be a tight affair, and not the thriller that was to follow.

Unfortunately after that good start, Hitchin were undone by a ball straight through the heart of their defence that the Telford striker finished neatly. Hitchin die-hards, must have been thinking ” Here we go again “, but it wasn’t to be the case, and the Hitchin players certainly didn’t drop their heads and within seven minutes Hitchin were level, game on.

Anyone, watching the match unaware of league positions, would have been hard pushed to see which side was pushing for promotion, and which was desperate for three points to close the gap at the bottom of the league.

Hitchin were stung again five minutes before half – time, never a good time to go behind, and the recent trait of playing well, but not getting the result their efforts deserved seemed to be continuing.

As the second half progressed, a well contested match seemed to drifting once again to an inevitable defeat, with little in the way of clear cut chances being created, both teams sensing that a point wasn’t enough for the day and their respective predicaments as the game went from end to end.

It came as a well received shock in the 78th minute, when Hitchin struck again- making it 2-2, but Hitchin supporters had barely finished celebrating, when Telford went up the other end and struck again, leaving Hitchin fans cursing and acknowledging that the most vulnerable time to concede is when you have just scored – it was a sucker punch, and with just ten minutes left it seemed unlikely that Hitchin could claw themselves back into the game again. But after a spell of pressure they did just that – when they were awarded a penalty.

As the masses, waited hoping in the home end, the Telford keeper tried mind games with Henry Snee, but the intimidation had little effect as he calmly stroked the ball into the back of the net, sending the masses into complete hysteria as a scene of chaotic jubilation enfolded.

In the remaining minutes, the Canary fans hoped that one last attack might result in a fairytale winner as they tried to suck the ball in but it wasn’t to be and both sides ended up sharing a point.

It may have not have been the nine goal thriller from the corresponding fixture at New Bucks Head, but it was certainly a match to warm the heart on a cold winter’s day.

While neither side would probably have wanted to have settled for a point, at the start of the day it would probably have been an injustice for there to have been a loser.

The match though highly competitive was played in a fantastic spirit by both sides who left everything on the pitch and the applause that echoed around the four sides of the ground endorsed that.

Hitchin may not win the battle to stay up this season, but whatever happens after watching this there is certainly optimism for the future, and for those who poo – poo non league football you don’t know what you are missing.

Community Update by Mark Burke

Happy New Year

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy and prosperous New Year!
Our coaches will be returning to the local schools we deliver breakfast, lunchtime and after school clubs next week after a couple of weeks off enjoying the Christmas and the New Year festivities.
The Canary Club hosted a Christmas luncheon with Mobile Munchies serving up a delicious 3 course meal that was enjoyed by the Community coaches and staff.
Also in attendance were Club Officials, volunteers from the ground staff and matchday, Canary Club bar staff and sponsors Modern Networks represented by James Tizzard who all joined in with a Music Quiz hosted by Dick Mocking.

The Arena

The dates for our coaching clinics at the Arena for the New Year are now out and can be booked on via the website https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk
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 13th January 2025 – 10th February 2025 (5 weeks) Cost: £20

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 1st team goalkeeper Josh Mollison.
Wednesday 8th January 2025 – 12th February 2025 (6 weeks) Cost: £36

HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS

Happy New Year to all those working with us at HTWFC, HTFC & HTYFC. Happy New Year to all our Canary fans. We start the New Year with cup matches in the Chris Renshaw Cup. Seasonly we do quite well but fall in the semi finals. Hopefully this year both teams can progress and maybe see a HTWFC final.

Sunday 5th January 2025, 14:00

HTWFC Firsts v Watton Ladies FC

St Christophers School, Letchworth, SG6 3JZ

Evergreen Eagles v HTWFC Canaries

Evergreen FC, Abbots Langley, WD5 0JL

We are also recruiting to build some depth into our squad. Sadly we lost a couple of players due to injury and due to work commitments of some, each Sunday could be ruled out. So if you have a New Year’s resolution to get fit, try something new, getting back into it, if you want a new team, then we are the club for you! We train weekly at The Arena, Norton Road, SG7 5AU between 19:30-20:30 on Wednesday evenings. All of our coaches are DBS checked, FA qualified within their coaching and first aid. Come join our forever growing HTWFC family.

NEWS OF EX CANARIES

It is always good to see how our ex players are currently performing. Here is an update on some of them.

Asley Hay who is contracted to Brentford and has scored 14 goals in 15 games for Brentford B has gone on loan to Cheltenham for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. This is how the Brentford website reported the move—

He joined Brentford B on Deadline Day in the summer of 2023, making the move from Hitchin Town. His arrival at Brentford followed a standout season with the Southern Premier Division Central side during the 2022/23 campaign, where he netted 11 goals.Now the attacker will be looking to make an impression in the Football League, as the Robins currently sit in 14th place in League Two with eight wins, six draws and nine losses.On the move, B team head coach Neil MacFarlane said: “Ash came to us from Hitchin Town and we saw some excellent qualities we felt we could develop and, over a sustained period of time, we have worked together to put him in the best possible position to go and succeed on loan.“He is currently in fantastic form and has been a huge part of the success the B team has had so far this season in particular. He is a fantastic pressing forward, a real threat in and around the box, and is in great goalscoring form.“I’m delighted for Ash as he is a terrific character with an outstanding work ethic. He will be a great addition to the Cheltenham squad and we wish them both the best in the new year.”

Matt Lench has rejoined Chesham after originally playing for them 12 years ago. He left Slough in October and then had a brief spell at St Albans. He made his debut from the bench in a 1-0 victory over Hemel Hempstead on Wednesday.

Callum Stead continues to prosper at Barnet and scored for them on Wednesday.

Kane Smits was an unused substitute for Stevenage on Wednesday.

Will Wright is regularly playing for Swindon.

Alex Kpakpe has signed for Wingate Finchley on a dual registration with Aveley.

BY ROY IZZARD