WEEKLY BULLETIN – 9TH SEPTEMBER

FA UPDATE ON FOOTBALL FIXTURES THIS WEEKEND
Her Majesty the Queen was a long-standing Patron of The Football Association and has left a lasting and indelible legacy on our national game.

As a mark of respect, following the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, English football has united to postpone all football fixtures between 9-11 September. This follows Government guidance, which encourages sporting organisations to show respect in an appropriate way.

The FA can confirm that all football fixtures across the Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship, the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, and the Isuzu FA Trophy, will be postponed this weekend. We can also confirm that all football fixtures across the National League System [NLS], Steps 1-6, including the Vanarama National Leagues, the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP], Tiers 3-7, and matches across grassroots football in England will be postponed.

The Premier League and the EFL have all confirmed that their fixtures this weekend will be rescheduled for a later date.

All flags at Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park will continue to fly at half-mast over the weekend.

Our thoughts remain with our president, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, and the whole of the Royal Family during this time.

FIXTURES

• Saturday 10th September — all Southern League games cancelled.
• Tuesday 13th September away to Bedford League kick-off 7.45pm. There is no coach to this game.

MANAGERS NOTES WITH MARK BURKE

HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS – FA Cup Nightmare

Throughout the season we are going to encounter highs and lows, and after our encouraging start to the League campaign it was disappointing to lose to a very good Heybridge Swifts team as we crashed out of the FA Cup last week.

Unfortunately, we were never at the races, and we were lucky to get away with only a 3 nil defeat, mainly because of Tiernan Parker’s performance in goal and the woodwork saving us from a heavier defeat.

There has been a lot of debate as to why we lost, so I thought I would share my thoughts on the matter:

Firstly, Heybridge Swifts are a very good side packed with experience, unbeaten this season and I will not be surprised if we don’t see them at least in the play-off positions. Therefore, credit should be given to the opposition on the day.

The next reasons why we lost are not to be taken as excuses, but rather a combination of factors that in my opinion contributed to our poor display.

Fatigue – The players looked a little tired and lacklustre and may have been suffering after the performance and work rate they put in over the 2 games the previous week.

Experience – We were missing Charlie Horlock, Lewis Barker, Rio Da Silva and a half-fit Jack Green who have all played big parts in our steady start to the season. A positive to come from the defeat was the excellent performance of Tiernan Parker who deputised for Charlie and was outstanding.

The steel and aerial qualities provided by Lewis Barker and Jack Green were evidently missing and a great loss to us, whilst Rio’s energy and work rate is a major catalyst in the team’s tempo and we certainly lacked that.

Complacency – This may have been a factor in some of the players’ minds, thinking we only had to turn up to beat a team playing a step below us, although I don’t think this was the case as we had stressed to them throughout our build up to the game how impressed we had been with Heybridge from our scouting reports.

Finally, my formula for introducing teenage players into the first team was severely tested. Throughout the years I have nurtured many teenage players by playing them for 2 or 3 matches before resting them and then bringing them back into the team for another taste of the action, followed by a loan spell at a local Step 4 or 5 club to gain further experience before bringing them back for extended runs in the first team and it has proved very successful.

However, this year has seen us start all of our matches with at least 4 teenagers and on occasions 5 and until last Saturday we had been relatively successful with this combination, but we certainly came crashing down to earth with a bump. Obviously, it will take time to address this problem due to availability of more senior players but, I will be looking to revert back to my original formula as soon as possible and I appeal to the supporters to be patient and continue your great support.

STOTFOLD

On Tuesday we played a training game at Stotfold to give match time to players who needed it.

BEDFORD

It has been a few years since we met Bedford in a league game and I am looking forward to renewing rivalries and seeing some old friends (and Callum Donnelly!!)

In a local derby form tends to go out of the window and it is hard to predict what will happen. I hope we continue to show the good form we have produced on the road so far and I hope we come away from Bedford with some reward.

FRANK KING RIP

The previous Thursday saw a final farewell to super fan and club volunteer Frank King with a private family service followed by a reception in the Clubhouse afterwards. It was a great credit to Frank that so many club volunteers, officials, players both present and past and of course fellow fans turned up to pay their respect and to say goodbye. He was a great lad and will be sadly missed but fondly remembered.

MARK BURKE

PLAYER NEWS

• Lewis Barker will miss the next two games through suspension.
• Jack Morrell will out for up to 6 weeks.
• Jack Green and Rio Dasilva face fitness tests but both are expected to be available for the Bedford game.
• Diogo Freitas-Gouveia has been out of football for 18 months due to an ACL injury so he will need time to reach full fitness.

ACADEMY UPDATE BY MICHAEL JONES
On Friday 2nd September we had two new 1st year players invited to play for the Pro:Direct regional team against Stevenage FC Academy. This was a great opportunity for our new recruits to show what they can do against a professional club. This was a great experience for both of them with one of them scoring a goal. We hope to have more players in the future involved with both the Pro:Direct regional team and the Pro:Direct 11.

We were due to start our league campaign on Wednesday 14th September at Home to Wealdstone but due to our involvement in the FA Youth Cup we have had to reschedule this game.

FA Youth Cup
On Wednesday 14th September we host MK Irish in the FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round. The game will be played at Top Field and will be a 7:45pm kick off. Please come down and support the young canaries. You can purchase your tickets online via the club website.

HTWFC UPDATE BY KARLA CHAFFEY
I am pleased & relieved to announce that our season begins Sunday 11th September 2022. However it is only the Canaries in match day action travelling to Birchanger Sports and Social Club to play BSC FC Ladies. The pre-season has gone extremely well and we have a number of fantastic additions to our squads. The success of the Lionesses in July 2022 made such an impact on the Women’s game. So many new players who have never played before, retiring players returning to the game they love and players doing the general moving to pastures new.

I would like to announce that Cathryn Henry & Jack Mitchell have come on board to our coaching team. Their experience in the game and fresh ideas have made quick positive impact and our teams are looking stronger. Pre-season has been a mixture of results but that is what preseason is there for. To learn, to build, to create and develop. Winning does not just happen overnight. It takes time to build a successful squad. It also takes time for players to adjust to new coaching ideas. I mean look at Arteta at Arsenal, it has taken him a couple of years to develop youth players and build a new team. They have had a great start to the campaign! As an Arsenal fan long may it continue. Rome wasn’t built in a day. We are always very quick to criticise however we never think about the positives they initially formed. So to the most important part of the update!

Division Two of the Beds & Herts Women’s Football League
13:00 Kick Off
BSC FC Ladies v HTWFC Canaries
Birchanger Sports & Social Club, 229 Birchanger Lane, Bishops Stortford, CM23 5QJ

Keep up to date with all the live scores & fixtures, Twitter @HitchinTownWFC or on Facebook, Hitchin Town Womens FC

We are currently recruiting new sponsors to help us cement our future. We are looking for sponsors to help us develop a women’s club to be the best Hertfordshire. Please get in touch for further information.

KARLA CHAFFEY
HTWFC Club Chairperson

MERCHANDISE
Please remember to visit the club shop at our next home game to see the wide range of club merchandise. New mugs will be on sale for the first time. If you cannot get to the game please visit the online club shop.

BY ROY IZZARD