WEEKLY BULLETIN – 6TH SEPTEMBER
FIXTURES
- Saturday 7th September League Home to Alvechurch kick-off 3.00pm.
- Tuesday 10th September League Home to Bishops Stortford kick-off 7.45pm.
PREVIEW
This Saturday we return to Southern League action welcoming Alvechurch to Top Field. Then on Tuesday night it’s another home game as Bishop’ Stortford head to Top Field.
The information below should help you make the best out of your visit to Top Field.
Tickets
For lowest prices and quickest entry into the ground please purchase your tickets online here:https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets
The online box office remains open until 30 minutes after kick off.
If you do still wish to buy your tickets in person, the matchday ticket office is open from 13.30-15.15 on Saturday and from 18:15-20:00 on Tuesday and can be accessed from the rear car park (behind the Canary Club). Once you have purchased a ticket at the Canary Club you will then need to present your ticket for entry at the Turnstiles on Fishponds Road. More details here:
Turnstiles open at 14.00 on Saturday and at 18:45 on Tuesday.
Remember our flexi tickets are also available. This allows you to buy a pack of 5 adult or concession tickets at a discounted rate. You can then login to your Kaizen account and decide which league games you want to use these tickets for. You can use as many as you like per game. Buy yours here:
https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/merchandise/hit2425flexi/flexi-ticket-202425-5-matches
Parking
Unfortunately supporter parking is not available in the club car park (unless you are a registered blue badge holder and have made prior arrangements).
Food and Drink
The Canary Club bar is open from 11.00 with some of the lowest prices in Hitchin! Drinks can be taken into the ground in a reusable plastic cup. (£1 deposit required). You can exit to the bar during the match and will be re-admitted via the side gate by showing your hand-stamp.
On Tuesday night Mad Squirrel Brewery will be on hand serving draught craft beers in the ground. They will be located between the main stand and the Fishponds Road stand. They will be open as soon as the turnstiles open and throughout the match. They will not be in attendance for the Alvechurch match on Saturday
Canary Kitchen will be open from when the turnstiles open serving a great range of food and soft drinks including our signature HTFC Pies.
Club Shop
Get your matchday programme, teamsheet, chocolate bars, sweets and HTFC merchandise from the club shop.
For full details on the facilities at Top Field see our Matchday Info page here:
https://hitchintownfc.club/matchday-info/
We look forward to welcoming another big crowd and hope everyone has a great afternoon at Top Field.
FIXTURE UPDATE
There are two new dates for your diary. On Tuesday 8th October St Albans come to Top Field in the quarter final of the Hers Charity Cup kick-off 7.45pm and on Tuesday 29th October we host Hadley in the first round of the Herts Senior Cup kick-off 7.45pm.
MANAGER’S NOTES BY BRETT DONNELLY
An FA cup exit to lower league opposition, no points in the league and a fair bit of murmuring of discontent shows the start has been anything but ideal.
Our FA cup defeat was tough to take as I thought we were actually the better side. Berkhamsted came to not be too expansive and started well as they got behind us on 2 or 3 occasions. This was why I had to take Lewis Barker off so early. He had been booked and we couldn’t afford to lose a man. After the change we settled down and managed to get hold of the midfield battle. But when your lucks out it’s out. The ref adjudged Toby to have fouled in the area. For me it was a great tackle and he won the ball first. But he gave the ref a decision and as we’re finding out at the minute it’s going against us! 1-0 became 2-0 from our own corner. How we managed that I don’t know. Unlike last week’s capitulation this week we stood strong and had a go second half without really testing their keeper. There were plusses, Dan Sears was tremendous, he will only get better. Harry Titchmarsh was everywhere and landed on all the second balls. He was busy throughout and something that was missing the previous week. Kyle had done well despite the goals conceded and good to see George and Glees returning to fitness.
Berkhamsted are a good side and shows that the drop gives you a great platform to reset. I’ve said this since our reprieve. You get to start from a position of strength. They had time to build a side to come straight back up. They have done that really well and you can see the confidence in the team. They didn’t play well against us but when your used to winning you find a way to win. That is where we need to get to. The club, myself and the players have now gotten used to losing. We need to stop this ASAP. I’m not silly we need to win games of football. Are we as a group good enough? Not at present, but we are working hard to get there.
In doing so we will have to offload some and get some in. We said good bye to Alex Kpakpe who moved to Aveley, James Callan who’s going to Hertford to seek more game time. Finally Albie Hall has decided to take a break from football. The new job he has on top of the longer trips means he’s unable to fully commit. I’m gutted but understand his reasons. That means we will be looking for players to add to the squad. Especially with Connor Vincent struggling with an illness we aren’t too sure on at present and Brooksy still not right with a calf injury. He may need to be rested coming up as it’s not improving at all.
Coming in this week we have Connor Roberts on loan from Chesham. Connor is someone the club know having played for us previously and one I played against a few times so can give a good view on what we have. He has won this league twice and his experience will be invaluable. Defends properly and organises. Exactly what we need at the minute. Also coming in is Dan Stokoe. A bit of an unknown as he’s been playing abroad the last 2-3 seasons. Can play high up the pitch and in training has looked robust, busy and has an eye for goal.
Injury wise, Snee has been back with us training. Hoping to get games in him in the next 2-3 weeks. Connor came off Saturday not feeling well and we need to evaluate this. Brooksy is a problem and we need to give him a rest as he is groin and calf issues don’t seem to be clearing up even after a week’s rest. Forbesy is probably a week away with a groin issue. Rio Deall is training and we would like to see him back in contention after the 14th September. Hopefully have everyone back soon.
As always thanks for the support
Donners
HITCHIN V DUNSTABLE FA YOUTH CUP REPORT BY PIPEMAN
HITCHIN TOWN 2 DUNSTABLE TOWN 5
In a vibrant and entertaining game, Dunstable Town came from behind to secure a comfortable win. Hitchin had an impressive opening spell, but the visitors defended well and looked dangerous on the break. Nevertheless, William Mc Neill’s two shots on target saw Mikey Dobbs save comfortably.
Jack Norman for Dunstable was the architect of some telling counter moves as the visitors began to look the better side, but James Hobbis lobbed just over the bar and, a little against the run of play, Luke Gilbank finished a concerted attack to give the hosts a lead, which they almost lost in an immediate reply from Dunstable.
Kavanagh and Goodwin had fierce shots saved by Hucks, who, in defending a corner from Norman, could only palm the in-swinger into his own net, and right at the end of this pulsating half Kavanagh gave the Bedfordshire side a deserved lead.
Worse was to come right after the break when Dunstable increased their lead after just forty- seven minutes. It was fitting end to end stuff in a proper cup game, with Hitchin clearing off or close to the goal line no fewer than six times. With Dunstable seemingly cruising, the goal of the game came from a superlative strike from range from substitute Lewis Kennet. It was now 3-2 to the visitors with an even more exciting finish in prospect. Both teams had employed a fair sprinkling of substitutions, with Hitchin’s Rushaun Cross impressive in the home attack.
With both teams still intent on attack it was Dunstable who secured the tie with two opportunistic but well -taken late goals, and they fully deserved the acclamation from their impressive away support, and we wish them success in the next round.
The Hitchin team was –
Ben Hucks, OWN GOAL, Luke Gilbank, GOAL, 30 minutes, Louie Pagett, Lucas Pritchard, Carter Fenn, Archie Oaten, Jacob Herron, Dominic Hayes, cautioned, William Mc Neill, James Hobbis, Tyler- Roy Cresswell, captain.
Substitutes used – Rushsaun Cross, Romano Marieri, Joshua Beedell, Lewis Kennet, GOAL, 78 minutes, Kasey Paul. Not used – Lucas knapp.
Attendance 92.
ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Wednesday 4th September we played Dunstable Town in the FA Youth Cup.
Despite taking the lead midway through the first half through Luke Gilbank, we were unable to keep Dunstable at bay and they took a 2-1 lead into half time.
Second half Dunstable started stronger, scoring early on, they then extended their lead. The young Canaries gave themselves a chance after a wonder goal by Lewis Kennett but in the last 5 minutes of the match got caught on the break to go down 5-2.
We wish Dunstable all the best in the competition.
We will now turn our attention to our league campaign which starts in a few weeks.
If you wish to be a part of the academy or for further information please use this link – https://www.northhertsarena.co.uk/next-trial-dates
COMMUNITY UPDATE BY MARK BURKE
Hitchin Town Community Football Club
Schools are back
The schools returned this week, and I am delighted to say that so did our coaches.
We currently supply sports coaches to school’s for various activities including:
Breakfast Clubs Lunch Clubs After School Clubs
PE Lessons PPA Cover
We have been delivering these sessions for numerous years in the following schools and we have built a great relationship with the teaching staff.
- Oughton Primary & Nursery School (Hitchin)
- The Priory School (Hitchin)
- Preston JMI (Preston Village)
- The Grange Academy (Letchworth)
Junior Canaries
We will be launching a new initiative called the Junior Canaries very shortly which will be rolled out to our current schools’ children before being available to individuals.
Keep your eyes open.
The Arena
It is still not too late to sign up to our coaching clinics at the Arena.
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). The course runs for 7 weeks.
Wednesday evenings from 5.30-6.30pm we host a Primary Coaching Clinic for children aged between 5 and 12 years old those that are just starting to play football and, also a specific goalkeeping course called Safe Hands for children of all ages and abilities.
HTWFC UPDATE BY CALLUM ELLIS
First game of the season for the Canaries ended up with a 2-1 win over new side Leighton Woodside Ladies FC.
Sunday 8th September 2024 – 14:00
HTWFC v EB Lions
St Christophers School, Letchworth Garden City.
HTWFC Canaries v Olney Colts FC
Ousedale School, MK46 5LF
We are still recruiting for our teams. We train Wednesday evenings at The Arena, Norton Road, Baldock, between 19:30-20:30. Get in touch today ! hello@hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk
BY ROY IZZARD