WEEKLY BULLETIN 8TH AUGUST
Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday 9 August vs Hadley (A)
We kick-off our 2025-26 league campaign with an away trip to Hadley (3pm kick-off).
Admission prices are as follows:
Adults: £10
Concessions: £5 (Under 16s & Over 65s)
Under 12s: Free
You can find more information about how to get to Hadley on Saturday here: https://www.hadleyfc.co.uk/club/index.html
Tuesday 12 August vs Biggleswade Town (H)
Our first home league fixture of the 2025-26 season will see us host a well-known opponent in the form of Biggleswade Town at Top Field.
Tickets
Where possible we advising purchasing online. As well as being cheaper, it will ensure your quick and easy entry into the ground through the turnstiles.
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 need to buy your tickets in person, our matchday ticket office will be open from 18.30-20.00, and can be accessed from the rear car park (behind the Canary Club).
Once you have purchased a ticket at the matchday ticket office you will then need to walk round to the turnstiles on Fishponds Road present your ticket for entry.
More details here:https://hitchintownfc.club/admission-prices/
Turnstiles open at 18.45.
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 11am 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.
Mad Squirrel Brewery are now a permanent fixture at Top Field matches serving a great range of craft beers. They are located adjacent to the main stand.
Canary Kitchen will be open from when the turnstiles open serving a great range of food and soft drinks including our signature HTFC Pies. They also have ice creams on offer!
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 everyone to Top Field and hope that everyone has a great evening.
Manager’s Notes
Last Weekend’s Friendly vs Stevenage U18
Last Saturday we hosted Stevenage U18s in our final pre-season game. This was not the original game we had scheduled and was not the ideal opposition to be playing a week before the season as we wanted to be playing another non-league team, however I am grateful for Stevenage sending a team down as this was a much needed game.
We started the game at a fast pace and looked to control the game from the opening periods, we created a few opportunities which we probably should have converted but the start was positive. Then an uncharacteristic mistake from Stevenage Academy coach Josh Coldicott-Stevens allowed Stevenage to take the lead. We then continued to play the game in the Stevenage half but were unable to find a goal, with Lewis Franklin forcing the keeper into a save and Liam Brooks hitting the post. Our defence stood firm and Stevenage did not create anything in the first half but most importantly they had the lead and they were looking to hold onto this.
In the second half we got off to another fast start and continued to push for the elusive home pre-season goal, playing much of the game in the Stevenage half, but the quality in the final third was missing with a lot of the crosses not beating the first man and the opportunities to shoot were turned down. Once again, against the run of play, a Stevenage free-kick from deep was poorly defended and it resulted in Lewis Franklin giving away a penalty and Stevenage with their second shot of the game took a 2-0 lead. As Stevenage were forced deeper into their defensive third the movement from the front three was crucial but this was severely lacking until substitutions were made. Charlie McDonald and Josh Coldicott-Stevens forced the keeper into saves but these were the best chances of the half so far. The substitutes added more movement and created a few half chances and then a really good chance was dragged wide by one of the trialists and this summed up the afternoon.
This game summed up so many from last season, dominating a game of football, struggling to score and making a mistake or two to cost us the game. This is something that will not be tolerated this season and hopefully Saturday we have got this out of our system when it does not matter.
Final score was a 2-0 win to Stevenage U18s. An extremely disappointing way result wise to end pre-season and I know everyone will be just as annoyed as myself with the result and our quality in the final third. We all need to understand no matter how disappointing Saturday was, nothing was won or lost and pre season does not really have much relevance come kick off at Hadley on Saturday.
Saturday’s Game vs Hadley
On Saturday we travel to Hadley for our first league game of the season.
It ‘s great to finish pre-season and finally get down to business in the league. Hadley had a very good season last year where they finished in the play-offs, before losing to promoted Berkhamsted in the semis. Hadley have a very well organised, hardworking, physical team and despite losing some key players in the summer they will be a very good Step 4 side and will be looking to push for playoffs again.
We are looking forward to getting back to competitive football and showing everyone what this group is capable of when it really matters.
Pressure is on to meet the expectations of our supporters as well as the ambitions of the club and the objectives we have set ourselves as a group.
I hope to see as many of our loyal supporters there Saturday to get behind the group as we start our Step 4 journey together.
Tuesday’s Home Match vs Biggleswade Town
We host Biggleswade Town on Tuesday in our first home game of the season. We have always had tough battles with Biggleswade over the years, including two games from last season.
Biggleswade have had a high player turnover this summer but they have recruited some excellent additions to the squad and will be confident of a return to Step 3. They won this division the year before last and Jimmy Martin will know exactly what it takes to win the league again.
Hopefully we will be coming into this game with a positive performance from Saturday.
Player News
- Lewis Barker is currently taking a break from football due to increased work commitments/personal issues.
- Stephen Gleeson is struggling with a knock picked up in our Herts Charity Cup win at home to Ware FC.
- Toby Syme is away on holiday.
- Callum Kane is still recovering from a knock picked up on Saturday and will not be risked this weekend.
New Signings
We have signed Fernando Bell-Toxtle. Fernando is a player who signed last season but injury forced him out of action. He has great experience and was also involved with Bedford Town FC when they won promotion from Step 4. He’s hungry to show to everyone just how good he can be and he will provide quality with the ball and plenty of energy without it and we can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.
We have also signed Cole Butler. Cole spent last season at St Neots where he enjoyed promotion from Step 5 and he’s been training with us a few weeks, playing really well against Royston but unfortunately suffering an injury which has delayed his announcement. Cole is an exciting player who will provide us with hard work but most importantly some added creativity/quality in the final third.
Our third signing to announce is Mbunya Alemanji, who played a few games at Step 2 last season for Farnborough after coming back from injury. Mbunya is a big physical forward who is looking to reignite his career as he is still only 21 years old. We look forward to watching him develop.
Academy Update
Blue Joy was recalled to the first team on Saturday, he played 90 minutes and had a very good game. Blue has also been on trial with an EFL Championship team this week.
Will McNeill played in the FA Cup for Biggleswade United on Saturday and scored in their 5-1 win against Newport Pagnell.
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/ToolkitNew/webenrolment.aspx?page=~/webcontrols/courseapply.ascx&OfferingId=85258
Interview
You can read more on Michael Jones’ views on how pre-season went, plus an in-depth discussion about the season ahead in our feature with the HTFC boss from earlier this week. Read that here: https://hitchintownfc.club/match-preview-michael-jones-hadley-biggleswade-town/
Michael Jones
Opening Day History
On Saturday we start our league campaign. I have looked back to see how we fared in our first league game in recent seasons.
2024-25 Home to Bromsgrove – lost 1-3
2023-24 Home to Alvechurch – won 2-0
2022-23 Away to Barwell – won 2-1
2021-22 Away to Redditch – lost 2-1
2020-21 Home to Alvechurch – won 5-1
2019-20 Home to Stourbridge – lost 2-1
2018-19 Home to Kettering – lost 1-0
2017-18 Away to Merthyr – drew 0-0
So, in the last eight seasons we have won three, drawn one and lost four across five home games and three away games.
Season Ticket Update
We have now sold 180 season tickets as we close in on last season’s total of 191. You can still buy yours using the following link: https://hitchintownfc.ktckts.com/package/hit2526st/season-ticket-202526
As I have said before they are great value for money and we strongly recommend you buy one.
FA Cup Tie
Following their win over Barking in the Extra-Preliminary Round last weekend, we’ll face Grays Athletic next weekend (Saturday 16 August, 3pm kick-off) at Top Field in the Preliminary Round.
Please remember that season ticket holders will need to buy a ticket as being a cup game we have to share the gate receipts.
From Top Field to Ibrox
As mentioned in a previous Bulletin ex-Canary Ashley Hay is now at Dundee. He played the full 90 minutes last week and provided the assist for their goal.
On Saturday Dundee play Rangers at Ibrox so Ashley will be playing in front of 50,000 passionate fans—a long way from Top Field.
Community Update
Hitchin Town Football Club in the Community
Summer Holiday Camps – Week 2
We held the second week of our Summer Holiday Football camps at the Arena and a multi-activity camp at Preston Junior School from 9.30am – 3.30pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The camps are open to children aged 5-14 years with 48 children attending the Arena this week and 32 children attending Preston Junior school.
Remaining Summer Holiday Camps
The Arena, Baldock – Football Holiday Camps
We have three more weeks of our football holiday camps at the Arena, Baldock starting on 12 August to 26 August.
The Arena, Baldock – Multi-Activity Holiday Camp
With the success of our Multi-Activity Camp at Preston Junior School we have decided to run one in the last week of the holidays at the Arena, Baldock between 26-28 August.
Preston Primary School – Multi-Activity Holiday Camps
There will be two more weeks of the multi-activity holiday camps at Preston Primary School starting on 12 August and 19 August.
Happy 50th Birthday to Adam Parker
Last Friday I met Adam Parker in London for lunch to celebrate his 50th birthday. As a surprise I arranged for ex-Hitchin Town players and management to attend the lunch and more who arrived throughout the day for drinks.
It was great to catch up with Parks and he was very happy to see former colleagues as we rolled back the years over a few beers.
Pictured here are Shaun Marshall, Gary Dixon, Rudi Hall, Robbie Burns, Dan Webb, Robin Wainwright, Josh Bickerstaff, Parks and Me.
Others that attended included former Manager Andy Melvin, Charlie Williams, Jon Bone, Ken Gillard, Tim Allpress, Nick Grime, Marvin Bates and Danny Talbot who also played with Parks at Chesham Utd.
Throughout the day he received over 20 video messages from former players that could not attend on the day.
Happy Birthday Parks!
Mark Burke
HTWFC Update
It has been a fantastic start to the preseason schedule, several new faces training and a lot of our previous season’s players returning. So do you fancy yourself as the new Ella Toone or the new Lucy Bronze or one of our, Lucy Huffer!
Well you can, we run our sessions weekly on a Wednesday at the Baldock Road Rec on Baldock Road, Letchworth between 19:00-20:30. If you cannot make it till 19:30 it’s not an issue still pop down and take part.
Contact us today on hello@hitchintownwomenfc.co.uk
Callum Ellis