WEEKLY BULLETIN – 6TH OCTOBER

FIXTURES

• Saturday 12th October Home to Stamford FA Trophy kick-off 3.00pm. All tickets must be purchased online and season ticket holders will need to buy a ticket as it is a cup game.
• There is no midweek game.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

DEFEAT IN THE FA CUP TO KETTERING TOWN

Disappointingly, we went out of the FA Cup last week when we lost to Kettering 1 nil in front of over 800 fans here at Top Field.

It was a match of few chances, and we were punished for not executing our opportunities when we were in good positions or our decision making let us down when we should have crossed or cut balls back rather than shooting.

Credit to Kettering they defended very well and took their chance when it came around, earning them an away tie to current National League leaders Chesterfield.

LEVERSTOCK GREEN

Although I was pleased to have won on Monday night against a very spirited Leverstock Green side, I was disappointed with our overall performance, and I think we can count ourselves lucky that we find ourselves in the next round.

We will need to be much improved tomorrow if we are going to progress to the next round of this Cup but it will be something we will have worked on in training last night.

STAMFORD

Stamford have had a very good start to the season and have been particularly successful on their travels having already won at Redditch, Bromsgrove, and Coalville in the League this campaign and currently sit in one of the Play-off positions.

Therefore, we are expecting yet another difficult and close affair, that I hope you all enjoy.

It will be good to catch up with former Canary Trey Charles who is currently playing at Stamford.

MARK BURKE

NEW SIGNING
We have signed Arnold Matshazi, a young striker from Braintree. He was formerly at Wycombe Wanderers and will be in the squad for the Stamford game.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES

FA YOUTH CUP
Wednesday 4th October we entertained Shefford Town & Campton in the FA Youth Cup 2nd Qualifying round.

The game started off at a slow pace with both sides trying to work each other out in a tactical battle where Shefford allowed Hitchin to have all of the ball and were extremely difficult to break down. When Hitchin did create chances the Shefford goalkeeper made some excellent saves and up the other end Shefford always looked a threat on the counter attack. No surprise both teams ended the half level at 0-0.

Second half Hitchin started off the better and it was not long before Donte Ranger was on the end of a superb through ball to give Hitchin the lead and a few minutes later he extended the lead with a very good first time finish from a cross. Hitchin looked to be cruising at this stage but Shefford did not give up and it was their turn for a quick fire double, after an outstanding direct free kick, they then scored a composed finish to get the score back to 2-2. Shefford were now the team that looked more likely to win, playing some good football and creating some chances but against the run of play Donte Ranger completed his hat-trick to give Hitchin the lead again. Shefford continued to press and with the last kick of the game had a shot from distance that hit the inside of the post and rolled across the goal line, which could have sent the game to penalties.

Hitchin now progress to the 3rd Qualifying round, the same stage they got to last season where unfortunately they lost to Chesterfield in a one sided game. We have been drawn at home to Bury Town and this game is due to take place week commencing 16th October.

OPEN TRAINING SESSIONS
GIRLS
On Monday 23rd October we have our first girls open training session at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU on the all weather pitch between 11:30am – 2pm.

BOYS
On Friday 27th October we have our boys open training session at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5AU on the all weather pitch between 11:30am – 2pm.

To register your interest for either the Girls or Boys and for further information please use this link – https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates

HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
Just a small update, We were left homeless in July 2023 when Ickleford Sports and Recreation Club decided to ‘pull all football’ from the location. They didn’t want the facility to be dominated by football and they wanted to give a chance for other sports to use the facility. However they kept male football at the recreation ground. So during the Women’s World Cup, a grass roots women’s football club had been made homeless. Ickleford then refused to engage in conversation with us even if it was to host a few games till we had found a new facility. So with many conversations with the Parish Council and a meeting cancelled, we were not making headway. We had a number of conversations with other facilities but they were unable to give us a place called home. Within the first couple of weeks into the season it was looking very dangerous for our future and then out came St Christopher’s School, Letchworth. We have now secured a new home venue for our long term plan and we are currently in talks with them in developing their sport facilities and making this a hub for Hitchin Town FC, Hitchin Town Women FC and Hitchin Town Youth FC. I’d like to thank all those involved in securing this relationship. Those who run football clubs know how difficult it can be when there is no football pitches available or even the cost / state of local council pitches.

It has been a turbulent start to the campaign for both teams, our teams were very depleted at the start of pre-season with players moving on, retiring, injuries took hold and work commitments. I am very pleased to announce the signing of an additional twenty eight players to our ranks and it was great to see four previous Hitchin Town Women FC players returning back to the place they call home. It’s time to rebuild for the 2023/2024 season and bring all those together. Our committee members, managers & coaches really did pull off an unimaginable miracle in just over a month and a half. So a huge thank you from me to them. It’s going to be a few games before results start to come in but the process is starting so it’s time to focus on the long term goal. Less of my chat, this is how the weekend went:

RESULTS

BHWFL
Stotfold Junior Ladies 7 – 0 HTWFC Firsts

BHWFL CUP
Bury Rangers Ladies 4 – 2 HTWFC Canaries

Our next round of fixtures in the Beds and Herts Women’s League are :
Hitchin Town Women FC Firsts : are away to EB Lions AFC Ladies at The Green, High Street, Edlesborough, LU6 2HX
Hitchin Town Women FC Canaries : are home to Real Bedford Ladies Development at St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ
Both matches are at 14:00 kick off.

We are also looking for new sponsors for the women’s set up. We are looking for sponsorship for training kits and tracksuits. If this is something you are interested in please get in touch with Callum on HTLFC.ClubSecretary@gmail.com.

MESSAGE FROM THE CLUB CHAPLAIN
I’ve not been at Top Field as much as I’d hoped recently due to one of my children being ill and then harvest activities. I’m looking forward to joining you all again during the lull in-between Harvest & Remembrance activities. During this period of time (known as ‘Creationtide’ in the church) we remember things we are grateful for. Food, creation, people, places – the list goes on & we try to remember ways in which we can give to others who don’t have as much as we do. So we delivered a food parcel to one of the many food initiatives in Hitchin and will continue to do so as I engage with Primary schools through their Collective Worship (or assembly as it used to be known!)

One of the things that has caught my attention recently is the whole debacle over VAR in the Premier League. Many of us during our lives make mistakes, don’t make the right decision or occasionally do something we know not to be right. Fortunately for all of us, this is never played back over and over again on TV, social media & other platforms under full scrutiny of the public eye. For this we should all be thankful, and I’ve tried to hold that thankfulness on the one hand whilst watching the unfortunate VAR officials have their mistakes replayed many, many times over. There but for the grace of God…….

A quick note about our Baby Loss awareness event – a safe space to come and find some quiet for reflection & thinking or to have a cuppa & chat, whichever is more helpful.

MAXINE HOWARTH

OCTOBER FOOTBALL FUN
Our ever popular football fun holiday sessions return for the October half term. Based at the Arena in Baldock sessions run from 24th -26th October 9.30-15.30 and can be booked for individual days or for all 3. The sessions are supported by Hitchin Town FC first team players and coaches and always receive great feedback from participants. They are open to both boys and girls aged between 5 and 14 years of age. Book online now: https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/holiday-courses

SINGLE USE PLASTICS BY MICK DOCKING
This Saturday should witness the arrival of our new green bins around the ground which we hope will encourage everyone bringing a beer into the ground to enable their plastic empties to be reused.

Better still for the pocket would be to return the pot to the club bar where you can be refunded your pound deposit.

We have decided that for every pot that is put into the re-use bin we will donate the unclaimed refund to charity.

BY ROY IZZARD