WEEKLY BULLETIN: 6TH FEBRUARY

Upcoming Fixtures

Saturday 7 February vs Welwyn Garden City (A) – Southern League

We travel to Welwyn Garden City on Saturday for our Southern League Division One Central fixture – 3pm kick-off.

We beat them 2-1 at Top Field in front of 922 spectators with Liam Brooks and Kye Tearle our scorers. Welwyn are 15th in the league table with nine wins from their 26 games.

It would be great to see as many Canaries fans there as possible to cheer on the team. The ground is at Herns Way, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1TA, but please be aware there is a planned pitch inspection on the morning of the game following the heavy rain in recent days.

Because of the weather Welwyn have only played 2 games in 2026 being draws against Ware and Biggleswade Town. Their average attendance is 119.

Wednesday 11 February vs London Lions (A) – Herts Senior Cup

We travel to London Lions on Wednesday night for our Herts Senior Cup semi-final clash.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm Rowley Lane Sports Ground, Rowley Lane, Barnet, Hertfordshire,
EN5 3HW.

The winners of the tie will face one of St Albans City, Hadley or Bishop’s Stortford in the final.

Our league game there was abandoned with us 2-0  ahead through two goals from Taylor Rhiney. On Wednesday this week London Lions lost to Berkhamsted in the semi-final of the Herts Charity Cup 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Manager’s Notes

Unbeaten Run Ended by Biggleswade

Last Saturday we hosted the late goal specialists Biggleswade FC. We knew how tough this fixture would be as our two previous fixtures against them did not produce any wins.

Biggleswade started the game on the front foot and early on Tyler McGregor was forced into a save from Ex Canary Lawrie Marsh. We struggled to get going in the early exchanges and our performance looked very flat and you could tell it was lacking the quality needed to be threatening. Alex Marsh then had a great header to take the lead for Biggleswade FC but he missed the target. This was a game of few chances and because our quality in the final third was lacking our best chances came from set plays but Biggleswade FC defended these extremely well. We needed halftime to reset and refocus as the first half had been very disappointing.

At half time we spoke about our lack of quality in the final third and our energy levels. Our passing needed to be better, our movement needed to improve and we needed to have some shots around the box. We needed a reaction and we expected one as we could not have another 45 minutes like the first half.

Second half and we upped our levels, not to our best but we were much improved than the first half. In the first 10 minutes of the second half we were able to create a good chance where Taylor Rhiney hit the post after some good build up play. The first 20 minutes we had been dominant but were unable to test the keeper, we couldn’t get on the end of the crosses and our best effort from Josh Coldicott-Stevens was blocked off the line by Taylor Rhiney, who couldn’t get out of the way in time. Biggleswade had only one effort in this period with Adam Hunt dragging a shot wide. Biggleswade then did have the next big chance when Ex-Canary Temi Akinbusoye went 1-1 but Tyler McGregor was able to save. This continued to be a game of few chances and with 10 minutes to go Lewis Franklin had a long range effort which was comfortably saved. The game was heading for a 0-0 but I did think if there was going to be a winner it would be us because we kept forcing the issue but we severely lacked quality when we got at the Biggleswade back line and in the final five minutes of normal time this showed on a few occasions. We were then hit with a sucker punch just before the 90^th minute. The ball came up to Taylor Rhiney who should have secured the ball but his chest pass fell to a Biggleswade player and this then broke for Temi Akinbusoye who from an extremely tight angle managed to score. We then had 6 minutes of added time to salvage a point but we weren’t able to find the quality needed.

A really disappointing Saturday, we weren’t at our best, not for lack of effort or willingness but just a lack of quality in the final third when it mattered. A really soft goal to concede to lose a game where we deserved at least a point. Credit to Biggleswade FC though, they are the hardest working team we have played, they spent pretty much a whole half without the ball but were able to produce one moment of quality when it mattered.

An excellent crowd of nearly 1000 shows just where we are as a community club at the moment and it’s just gutting we could not celebrate a goal and a win together at the end.

We now need to look at what a remarkable run we have been on since our last defeat to Hertford back in September and we need to remember what this group has given us so far this season. 

We have now reflected on Saturday and we need to make sure we put things right away to Welwyn Garden City.

Saturday’s Trip to Welwyn Garden City

We travel to Welwyn Garden City on Saturday in another tough fixture. They have plenty of experience within their side. They have only lost 2 of their last 12 games and all of their games have been very close score lines which shows just how difficult they are to play against.

We need to make sure we have the quality that was missing on Saturday in the final third and make sure we bounce back from the disappointment with a positive result.

Our support this season has been excellent and I hope to see and hear you all on Saturday.

Cup Game at London Lions in Midweek

On Wednesday we travel to London Lions in the Herts Senior Cup Semi Final. London Lions have had a very good season so far and have adapted well to life at Step 4 and In the last 8 games since we beat them they have only lost once to Biggleswade Town FC. They find themselves 9 points outside the play offs and if they carry on their good form could make a late push. In the cups they have beaten Step 2 Hemel Hempstead twice and only lost to Step 3 side Berkhamsted due to a last minute penalty for Berko to equalise and then went on to lose on penalties.

Wednesday gives us an opportunity to rotate the team as we have done in all previous games so far this season. This allows us to rest some players who have played a lot of games but also give much needed minutes to ones who need them.

Player News

• Josh Jackman will return to the squad on Saturday.
• Fernando Bell – Toxtle has been carrying a knock and will be rested for a week. 

Academy Update

Wednesday we hosted Peterborough College and after an excellent first 30 minutes we were able to race into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from first years Archie Tonks, Jo Riformato and top goal scorer Daniel Mwale. We did concede a goal when goalkeeper Kaden Field got caught on the ball but we were able to control the rest of the game to win 3-1.

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/WebFormsLive/webenrolment.aspx?page=~/webcontrols/coursedisplay.ascx&CourseInformationID=5398

Michael Jones

Hitchin Town: Team of the Month (January)

This is how the league reported our award…

The PST Sport Club of the Month Awards for January 2026 have been announced.

We congratulate the winners:

JANUARY 2026
Premier Central – Real Bedford (3.00ppg) tied with Banbury United but win on superior goal difference
Premier South – Chertsey Town (2.33ppg)
Division One Central – Hitchin Town (2.50ppg) tied with Leighton Town but win on superior goal difference
Division One South – Frome Town (3.00ppg)

Please note that each club needs to have played at least three games in a qualifying competition (League, Emirates FA Cup or Isuzu FA Trophy) during the course of the month to be eligible for the award. Goal difference is considered for League matches only.

ABOUT THE PST SPORT CLUB OF THE MONTH AWARDS
In each division, the club with the best average points per game is declared the winner. Clubs must have played a minimum of three games during the month in either a league, League Cup, FA Cup or FA Trophy match to be considered.

Should more than one club have the same best average points per game, then the winner shall be declared as the club with the best goal difference (in League matches) and if that is equal the club scoring the most goals.

PST Sport are the sponsors of the Southern Football League’s club of the month awards for the four divisions. Each winner receives an engraved glass memento along with a voucher for use with the company.

Sponsorship & Ticket Update

Player and Team Achievement Sponsorship

The sponsorship raised for January was £503.50. This is made up as follows:-

£331.50 – goals scored
£91 – defence or other in-game achievements (clean sheets, penalty saves etc.)
£80 – results (wins, league points)
£1 – players used in league matches

If anyone would like to sponsor any players or team achievements they can either speak to Roger who sells the 50/50 tickets at home matches or email him at roger.berry@hitchintownfc.club

After last Saturday, we passed our best ever season total of ?2,080.50 (2016-17), and our current season total raised stands at ?2,085.50.

Season Tickets

Well we had one more purchaser which took our total Season Ticket holders to 250 for this season.  Absolutely tremendous.

Chris Newbold

Chairman’s Notes

You can read the Chairman’s programme notes from both of January’s programmes online at the link below:

https://hitchintownfc.club/chairmans-programme-notes-january-2026/

Hitchin Football Museum

One of my work colleagues Sam Rayner is the son of the Tottenham Hotspur programme editor Jon Rayner. Jon knows of my Hitchin involvement and found this article in a Spurs programme from the 1968/69 season which highlights the items that were in our football museum that had a connection to Spurs.

Community Update

Coaching Courses at the Arena

Junior Ability Counts

The Junior Ability Counts sessions at the Arena, Baldock start from 5pm until 6pm and are open to children from 5-16 years old with physical and or SEN but be able to walk.

It is the last session this Monday 9th February 2026, but a new course will be starting again on Monday 23rd February for five weeks.

Safe Hands Goalkeeping Course

The very popular Safe Hands Goalkeeping sessions at the Arena, Baldock with former Hitchin Town first team goalkeeper Josh Mollison start at 5.30pm to 6.30pm on a Wednesday with the final session next Wednesday 11th February 2026 with a new course running for five weeks from Wednesday 25th February.

February Half Term Holiday Courses

The Arena, Baldock – Football Holiday Camps

We are holding our football holiday camp at the Arena, Baldock starting on Tuesday 17th February and will run for three days until Thursday 19th February.

Preston Primary School – Multi-Activity Holiday Camps

There will also be a multi-activity holiday camp at Preston Primary School starting Tuesday 17th February and will run for three days until Thursday 19th February.

The Girl Done Good!

We have previously reported on the sons of former Hitchin players Johnny Barnett, Richard Wilmot and Colin Cardines who have all carved out professional playing careers at Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City and Crystal Palace respectively.

This week the daughter of former Canary and current Arsenal U21 coach Ken Gillard signed for Montpellier in the French League.

Grace Gillard came up through the ranks of Arsenal as a youth player before winning a full University scholarship in the USA where she had a very successful time.

Mark Burke

Hitchin Town Women FC

Results

Hitchin Town Women FC 3 – 1 Cranfield United
HTWFC Canaries 1 – 1 Hitchin Belles

Fixtures

Sunday 8th February 2026 – 14:00

Hitchin Town Women FC v Bedwell Rangers
St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ

Hitchin Belles v HTWFC Canaries
Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TR

Callum Ellis