WEEKLY BULLETIN: 9TH JANUARY

Upcoming Fixtures

Saturday 10 January vs MK Irish (A) – Southern League

Saturday 10th January – KO 3PM

On Saturday 10th January we visit Milton Keynes Irish for a league game kick-off 3.00pm. It will be our fist ever meeting with Milton Keynes Irish who are 14th in the league table with nine wins from 24 games and they have won two and drawn one of their last six games. Their average attendance is 218, the fifth highest in the league.

There will be a pitch inspection at 10.30am and we will share any news as soon as we have it.

Wednesday 14 January vs Aylesbury (A) – Southern League

Wednesday 14th January – KO 7.45PM

On Wednesday 14th January we travel to Chesham to play Aylesbury in the replay of the game that was abandoned when we were winning 2-0 . Their current form is good with four wins from their last six games putting them sixth in the current form table whereas they are seventeenth in the actual league table with seven wins from 23 games. There will be free admission but there will be collection buckets for supporters who did not attend the abandoned game to make a donation. Their average attendance is 135.

Manager’s Notes

Last Weekend vs Stotfold

Saturday we hosted Stotfold in another local derby. Stotfold had plenty of ex-Canaries within their squad and they would be more motivated than normal.

It was a freezing cold day and the game was in doubt but we can’t thank the volunteer ground staff enough for all the effort they put in throughout the week to get the game on.

The game started off with both teams trying to adjust to the difficult conditions and you could tell from early on this was going to be a tight contest. We did score a well worked goal but the assistant referee adjudged Lewis Franklin to be offside in the build-up. We were controlling the game but we were struggling to find the finishing touches to break down a solid Stotfold defence. Stotfold were looking to spring counter attacks but these had been well managed by the backline and both keepers were just spectators in the first 30 minutes. We were starting to find ways to unlock the defence as the half went on and a Lewis Franklin deflected shot just went past the post in our best chance of the half. At the other end Stotfold’s best chance so far was a shot from the edge of the box which went high and wide. Stofold then had a brief spell of long throws and corners but these were well defended. The next big chance of the game fell to Taylor Rhiney after some good play from Callum Nicolson and Lewis Franklin set up Taylor who should have scored but he put a weak effort at the keeper. We then did take the lead after an awkward cross was spilt by the keeper and Kye Tearle was fouled as he went to score the loose ball. Taylor Rhiney dispatched the penalty to give us the lead. We then were able to use this momentum to move the ball quicker and right on halftime Lewis Franklin hit the crossbar from a header.

We came in at half time being nowhere near our best but had the goal lead and had had the best chances during the game. We were hoping for a Barton Rovers second half performance and not a Rayners Lane one.

Not long after the restart and some poor defending resulted in a dubious free kick and from this some more poor defending/marking allowed ex- Canary Henry Snee to equalise. This then gave Stotfold some much needed belief and this pushed them on. We were very loose with our passing in these moments and this would have encouraged the visitors further. After this initial period the game fell into aperiod where all attacks were breaking down in the middle of the pitch and the counter attacks were well dealt with by both sides meaning both goalkeepers were spectators again so far. The next big chance came with just over 15 minutes to go but Lewis Franklin was unable to score from within the 6 yard box but then from this we were awarded a free kick. The free kick was deflected into the path of Charlie Briggs who was able to pass the ball to Taylor Rhiney to give us the lead. This had been a game of few chances and this looked like it could be a big goal in such a tight game. The game looked to be heading towards a 2-1 win but with around 3 minutes of normal time to go and a Brett Longden own goal levelled the scores up at 2-2. We then tried to push for an unlikely winner but deep into added time a Kye Tearle cross fell perfectly to Lewis Franklin to smash home and send the Canaries faithful into a loud cheer of joyful celebrations. We were then able to see out the final few minutes with some game management to give ourselves a 3-2 derby day win.

It was great to get a win against a good side in front of nearly 1500 people and it was really good to find a way to win despite being nowhere near our best. We were still able to find the belief to keep going and push through for the win.

Despite the result I am disappointed with the goals we conceded and this is something we need to try and rectify fast!

On such a freezing cold day at Top Field it was great to be able to celebrate a win with everyone at the end.

Thank you to everyone who came to the game and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!!

This weekend, a trip to MK Irish

Saturday we travel to Mk Irish who have adapted well to life at Step 4 after romping Step 5 last season. They have been involved in a lot of high scoring games so far this season showing they are a huge threat going forward and that they never know when they are beaten. They are coming into this game off the back of an impressive 1-1 draw against Leighton Town.

We need to make sure we can continue our current good run of results and make sure that we continue to find a way to get a positive result.

Then midweek, we head back to Chesham to face Ayelsbury United

Wednesday we travel to Aylesbury United to replay the abandoned game where we found ourselves 2-0 up in the opening 20 minutes.

Since this game at Aylesbury United they have won 4 of their last 6 league games and are currently unbeaten at home in their last 5 games, winning 3 and drawing 2. We know this game will be much tougher than the start of the previous visit and it will be another tough battle to try and get a positive result.

Player News

• George Morrall remains out injured.
• Stephen Gleeson will miss the next few games due to an injury picked up against Stotfold.
• Josh Bowler has joined AFC Welwyn on a dual registration for some much needed game time as he recovers from injury.
• Josh Jackman picked up a knock on Saturday and will not be available for Saturday’s game.
• Toby Syme will be back in the squad this Saturday after returning from holiday.

Academy Update

Our return after the Christmas break has been disrupted due to the weather and we hope to return fully next week when the weather improves.

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/SCLSPEnquiry/

Michael Jones

Attendance Analysis

Rupert Russell posted the following article on the supporter’s forum and he has given me permission to put it in this week’s bulletin—-

Given the amazing attendance at the game on Saturday I had a look at our home league attendances since the start of the century and here’s a list of those over 800. There are 18 matches in the list and I find it interesting that half of those have come in the last three seasons which shows just what a great job has been done by everyone involved with the club in providing a welcoming and enjoyable matchday experience, particularly in the post-Covid era.

Interesting that there was a six year gap after the Leamington game in 2017 before we broke the 800 barrier again. Let’s hope we can add a few more to this list before the end of the season!

17-08-2002 — Aldershot — 974
27-12-2004 — Bedford — 867
25-04-2011 — Arlesey — 1508
02-05-2011 — Daventry — 1048 (Play Off final)
06-12-2014 — Poole — 1606
23-04-2016 — St Neots — 1184
27-04-2016 — Hungerford — 1305 (Play Off semi)
11-03-2017 — Slough — 828
25-03-2017 — Leamington — 824
28-01-2023 — Bedford — 823
08-04-2023 — Royston — 834
22-04-2023 — Ilkeston — 812
27-04-2024 — Stourbridge — 1141
16-11-2024 — Harborough — 825
29-03-2025 — Royston — 871
21-04-2025 — Bedford — 1093
11-10-2025 — Welwyn GC — 922
03-01-2026 — Stotfold — 1499

These stats come from the excellent Fishponder Stats on the website, so anyone else is welcome to double check I haven’t missed anything!

Rupert Russell

Volunteers

I often say how the club cannot exist without the efforts of our volunteers. The Stotfold game really showed this to be the case. I highlighted the incredible efforts of Steve Barker’s ground staff in my report and how they planned ahead because of the adverse weather conditions. Because the game went ahead due to their great work  it meant we were the only game played locally and this helped create a bumper attendance of 1,499. But again with such a big crowd the volunteers came into their own and their work before during and after the game ensured the supporters could enjoy a great day out and saw a cracking game. So once again I would like to thank all our volunteers and confirm there really is no club without them.

Chairman’s Programme Notes

Paul’s programme notes from December were added to the website this week and are available here: https://hitchintownfc.club/chairmans-programme-notes-december-2025/

Ex-Canaries Update

It is massive congratulations to Ashley Hay who has scored his first two goals for Dundee in the last two games. The first goal was against Kilmarnock and the second earned Ashley hero status as it was the winning goal at Dundee United! The following article comes from the Courier in Scotland –

A picture of Ashley Hay celebrating his winner during Saturday’s Dundee derby has appeared on a billboard in the city.

An image of the billboard, next to the Sainsbury’s on Tom Johnston Road, was shared online on Monday. Included in the image was the phrase “one team in Dundee”. The billboard also read “our city, our rules”, pinched from a display Dundee United supporters presented before the teams took to the field.

Dundee secured a 1-0 win after Hay latched onto a misjudged header before slotting past United keeper Dave Richards.

 

Live FA Cup 3RD Round at the Canary Club

Showing Live at the Canary Club this weekend we have the following TNT Sports matches from the Emirates FA Cup 3rd round

HTWFC Update

Results

Evergreen Eagles P – P Hitchin Town Women FC

HTWFC Canaries P – P Welwyn United

Fixtures

Sunday 11th January December 2026 – 14:00

Hitchin Town Women FC v United in Memory

St Christophers School, Barrington Road, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3JZ

 

Roy Izzard