FIXTURES

  • Saturday 7 March – Away to Coalville – League – Kick-off 3pm. Coach leaves at 10:45am.
  • Monday 9 March – Home to Peterborough Sports – League – Kick-off 7:45pm.

PLAYER NEWS

  • Josh Bickerstaff is awaiting a second opinion on his hip problem and will miss the Coalville game.
  • Jacob Hutchinson was injured during training and will miss the Coalville game.
  • Kyle Tearle faces a fitness test ahead of the Coalville game.
  • Max Ryan has returned to Hitchin from Braintree and is in the squad for the Coalville game.
  • There are no further injury problems and our physio Sam Backhouse will soon return to action.

ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT
As expected last Saturday’s home game with Peterborough Sports was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. The wettest period I can remember has played havoc with our fixtures. Since 2 December we have only played four home games in a thirteen week period while playing twelve away games. We have not played at home since 8 February. This is terrible as far as cash flow is concerned and incredibly frustrating to all players officials and supporters. When a game is rearranged in midweek match day income is likely to be about 25% lower while bar takings also suffer.

As ever on Saturday we had a contingency plan in place and had arranged a friendly with Letchworth at the Arena. When the Peterborough game was officially called off our social media team as ever were immediately on the ball in advertising the Letchworth game. Unfortunately soon after this was done Mark Burke had a call from the Letchworth manager to say they could not play due to a lack of players. Again our social media team quickly relayed this news to avoid supporters making a wasted journey to Baldock.

However unfortunately one father and his son did not see the later post and did travel to Baldock. The players were sitting in the bar area at the Arena waiting to start training when they saw Daniel and his father arrive. Daniel was kitted out in his Hitchin shirt, scarf and hat. Mark’s first thought was ‘oh no what a nightmare’. He felt really sorry for Daniel when he explained there was no game and the young boy was really disappointed especially as they had travelled by train and bus to get to Baldock. To rescue the situation Mark asked if Daniel would like the players’ autographs and to have his photo taken with the players on the pitch. This really lifted Daniel’s spirits and his father could not thank Mark and the players enough. So congratulations to Mark and the players for making a young supporter’s day and rescuing a difficult situation.

PETER ROBINSON
I received a phone call this week informing me that ex Canary Peter Robinson had died. He played 293 games scoring 23 goals. He made his debut on 2 February 1968 and played his last game on 22 May 1973. He was substitute in the London Senior Cup Final when we beat St Albans and he did come on.

Peter was an excellent footballer and we send condolences to his family.

HITCHIN TOWN UNDER 19’S
The academy side were beaten 4-1 at Bromley this week. Next Wednesday they travel to Dartford.

HITCHIN TOWN LADIES FC WITH CALLUM ELLIS
HTLFC Firsts were away to Hartham United FC Ladies on Sunday 1st March 2020. The game saw Chaffey net two in the first half. She then scored a third rounding off a perfect hat-trick and sealing a 3-0 win andthree points for the Firsts.

Sunday 8th March 2020 – 14:00 kick off

Division One: HTLFC v Garston Ladies
Division Three: HTLFC v Bedwell Ladies

Venues will be announced via social media.

EJA NEWS WITH NICK CARR
Three of our four EJA teams were in action last weekend.

  • The U14s were away to Soham Town Rangers who are the league leaders and went down 2-1 in a close encounter. Rafael Miles was our scorer.
  • The U15s drew 0-0 with reigning champions Cockfosters, despite not being at our best and without key players. We have goalkeeper Neo Donoghue to thank for the clean sheet as he kept Cockfosters’ strikers at bay with a terrific performance.
  • The U18s lost 3-1 to Cheshunt in the quarter final of the Herts FA County Cup with Jack Holmes scoring for us.

This Sunday sees only three of our teams in action again with the U17s missing out on a fixture for the second week running!

  • The U14s are at home to Stotfold with the game kicking off at 11am at The Arena, Baldock.
  • The U18s are away to league leaders St. Albans City with a 10:30am kickoff at Clarence Park.
  • The U15s are in the Herts FA County Cup semi-final against a strong Bishops Stortford side. The game is at North Herts College, Hitchin and kick off is 11am.

Good luck to all our teams.

MORE FROM THE FIRST MINUTE BOOK
A committee meeting took place on 13 June 1928. It was reported that members of the ground committee had met members of Grammar School Old Boys Club and after a lengthy discussion were unable to come to terms with regard to the area of the ground to be sublet to Hitchin Town FC and negotiations were broken off. At the next meeting on 22 June 1928 it was reported that Hitchin Imps FC were willing to let Hitchin Town FC take over the tenancy of their field with the rent being £30 per annum with £10 to be paid for the goal posts and other property on the ground. It was agreed that formal application be made to Passingham and Hill for tenancy of the ground – now known as Top Field!

MANAGER’S NOTES WITY MARK BURKE

COALVILLE

On Saturday we travel to Coalville who are sixth in the table just outside the play-off positions. They have a good defensive record with only 30 goals conceded so it will obviously be difficult to score. I would be happy to return with a point but am obviously looking for the victory. I was pleased to see we are currently sixth in the current form table which is based on the last six results.

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS

I previewed this game last week and what I said remains true for this rearranged game – link.

BY ROY IZZARD