WEEKLY BULLETIN – 6TH SEPT

FIXTURES

• Saturday 7 September away to Wisbech Emirates F A Cup kick-off 3.00pm. Coach leaves 11.30am and tickets are available online. Should we draw at Wisbech the replay will be on Monday at Top Field kick-off 7.45pm and the Welwyn Garden City game would take place on Tuesday 17 September.
• Tuesday 10 September away to Welwyn Garden City Southern League Cup kick-off 7.45pm. There is no coach to this game.

COMMENTARY AT WISBECH
If you cannot travel to Wisbech this Saturday then North Herts FM will be covering the game. Brian Gray and Freddie Cardy will be the commentators.

So how do you find North Herts FM, if you are not a regular listener? North Herts FM are on the ‘North Herts FM Extra’ channel on the North Herts FM website – click here to access.

If you are using a mobile device, the latest North Herts FM Android and Apple apps are available to download. North Herts FM is also available on Alexa, so you’ve got no excuses for not listening in.

REARRANGED FIXTURE
The game at Kings Langley which was postponed on Bank Holiday Monday will take place on Tuesday 24 September kick-off 7.45pm.

WISBECH ADMISSION PRICES
Admission prices at Wisbech on Saturday are as follows:
Adults £9 / Concessions £6 / Under 16s £3

The address of the ground is The Elgoods Fenland Stadium, Lynn Road, Wisbech PE14 7AL. Wisbech will play in an all red kit.

FA YOUTH CUP
Congratulations to our under 18 team who beat Netherton United 4-1 on Tuesday. They have a walkover in the next round.

PLAYER NEWS

• Jack Green returns to the squad for the Wisbech game.
• Jordan Norville-Williams has been given permission by Cambridge United to play In the Emirates F A Cup for Hitchin.

BERNIE GOGAN
I received a couple of emails from Andrew Gogan since the death of his father that I think shows how well respected Bernie Gogan was and he made some kind comments about our tributes to his father. There follows extracts from Andrew’s emails:

“My name is Andrew Gogan and I am proud to say I am the son of Bernie Gogan. I was looking for some information of a specific game Dad played at Top Field, though ironically against Hitchin for Hemel Hempstead, when I came across your wonderful piece about him.

It has truly touched both myself, my sister Joanne and obviously my mother (his ever loving wife Marion), to know what a high regard Dad is still held in, even after all this time.

I was very young when Dad was in his pomp banging them in for the Canaries but I have vague recollections of being fed fizzy pop and crisps in the club house, and I can remember the music on the Tannoy (was it Bridge over the River Kwai?). Also a couple of players, messers Baigent and Grafton stayed friends with the family. I always knew Dad was a special footballer but this became ever more apparent as I got older and started to make my own way in the game.

At my first county trial at 14 years of age, the coach saw my surname and came out with “you’re not Bernie Gogan’s boy are you.” I nervously replied yes and was then subjected to a five minute tribute to my Dad proclaiming him to be the best header of a ball he had ever seen and what an injustice it was that he wasn’t a pro. Turned out he was an apprentice journalist at Slough (20 years previous!!!) and used to cover the games. There were no shortage of people I met around the non league circuit later to share this opinion.

We have since found more tributes from various other clubs and non league forums. He really was quite a lad wasn’t he! The minutes silence also brought a lump to my throat.

So anyway thanks again for taking the time to remember my Dad, it is a lovely gesture and the family really really appreciate it. It’s been lovely, especially for myself as a football man, to see and remember Dad as he once was.”

I have invited Andrew and his family to attend a future home game and he hopes to do so.

EJA NEWS WITH NICK CARR
Our Eastern Junior Alliance (EJA) section is back this weekend with all four teams in league action on Sunday.

The U18s host Newport Pagnell Town in the U18 Brown Division at Top Field with a 2pm kick-off.

The U17s are away to Kempston Rovers Colts in the U17 London (Black) Division, kick-off is 11am.

The U15s also play Kempston Rovers Colts, at home at The Arena, Baldock in the U15 Brown Division with a 10:30am kick-off.

The U14s travel to Godmanchester Town for a 10:30am kick-off in the U14 Yellow (Cambs) Division.

If you can get along to any of the games to cheer along potential Hitchin Town FC stars of the future, I know they would really appreciate it.

Earlier in the week, six boys drawn from our U17 and U18 EJA squads represented the club in the FA Youth Cup alongside boys from the Hitchin Town / Pro:Direct College Scheme, and helped us earn a 4-1 win away at Netherton United to progress to the Second Qualifying round to be played week commencing 30th September.

MANAGER’S NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

TAMWORTH

We started brightly on Saturday but were punished with a good strike from Tamworth’s first attack of the game. We then went on to dominate the rest of the first half and created a number of chances, one of which hit the post. How frustrating was it then to concede a second goal on the stroke of half time with their second shot of the game.

The third goal early in the second half effectively killed the game. Tamworth then showed excellent game management which did not allow us to get in to any kind of rhythm. We huffed and puffed but did not really threaten the Tamworth defence.

It is in the final thirds at both ends of the pitch that we are letting ourselves down. We need to be more clinical and take our chances, while we have to be more resilient in our defensive play.

WISBECH TOWN

I attended the replay at Ely and was very impressed with Wisbech. They destroyed Ely in the first 20 minutes playing some good football and went three goals ahead. At least it meant I could concentrate on watching Wisbech as the result seemed determined.

After they scored their fourth goal Wisbech made substitutions as they could afford to rest players ahead of Saturday but it meant I could see more of their squad in action. Overall Wisbech worked tremendously hard and took their goals well.

Last season we entered the F A Cup in a similar position and we need to replicate last year’s cup run to kick start our season. Our supporters were very much part of the journey last season and I urge you to come out in force at Wisbech and be our extra man. Who can forget Leatherhead away last season and the atmosphere our supporters created. We all want to have another cup run and the players will all be aware of the importance of Saturday’s game.

WELWYN GARDEN CITY

We go to Welwyn on Tuesday if there is no Wisbech replay. We have enjoyed some success in the Southern League Cup in the past and I want to have another good run this year.

BY ROY IZZARD