ROYSTON TOWN vs HITCHIN TOWN - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2022

PITCHING IN SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION CENTRAL

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs HITCHIN TOWN FC Saturday 19th November 2022 Kick Off: 1.30pm

Royston Town FC would like to welcome this afternoon's opponents Hitchin Town FC for their visit to Garden Walk for this Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture.

We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable afternoon and hope that the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game. ent

We also welcome today’s Match Officials and hope they too have an enjoyable game.

TODAY'S MATCH IS KINDLY SPONSORED BY

Royston Town Football Club President Chairman Secretary

Founded 1875 Alan Barlow Steve Jackson Terry McKinnell 9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY 07772 086709

Treasurer Welfare Officer Fixture Secretary Executive Board

Webmaster Programme Editors Official Photographer

email: secretary@roystontownfc.co.uk Jeff Gill Angela Baulk Steve Endacott (07971 512402) Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod, Matt Clowery Steve Endacott Angela Baulk, Neil MacLeod Kevin Richards

Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager U23 Manager U18 Team Managers Women's Team Manager Vets Team Manager

Steve Castle Chris Watters Dan Evans Dan Evans/Matt Campany Lewis Endacott Lee Wilkinson

Ground

Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP Telephone (01763) 241204

Colours

First XI U23 U18 Women's Vets

White/Black/White White/Black/White White/Black/Black White/Black/White White/Black/Black

Members of: The Hertfordshire Football Association Southern League Premier Division The Herts Senior County League Thurlow Nunn Youth League Eastern Region Women’s Football League The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Ladies League Royston Town Football Club is Limited by Guarantee under the trading name of Royston Town FC Limited (Company Reg No. 14261163)

CLUB HONOURS WINNERS Herts County League (Div I) 1969-70, 1972-73 Herts County League (Premier Div) 1976-1977 South Midlands League (Div I) 1977-1978 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II) 1978-1979 South Midlands Reserve League (Div I) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) League Cup, 1978-79, 1979-1980 Herts Charity Shield, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1996-1997 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1988-1989 Chiltern Youth League (Div I) 1989-1990 South Combinations Reserve Floodlight Cup, 1992-1993 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1992-1993 South Midlands Challenge Trophy, 1995-1996 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div II) 1998-1999 Eastern Counties Youth League Cup, 2001-2002 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2004-2005 KB Tyres Division III Champions 2006-2007 South Midlands League (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands League Cup (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1994-1995 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II East) 2008-2009 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2008-2009 KB Tyres Division I League Cup 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup 2009-2010 BIS Cambs League Division 2A 2010/2011 BIS Cambs League Divisional Champions 2010/2011 Veterans Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup 2010/2011 South Midlands Premier League 2011/2012 South Midlands Premier League Cup 2011/2012 Suburban League North Division 2012/2013, 2013/2014 Joint Winners of the Hinchingbrooke Cup 2013 Eastern Region Women’s League Plate 2013/2014, 2014/15 Suburban Premier League 2015-16 Eastern Region Women’s League Division 1 West 2015/16 Southern League Div 1 Central 2016/17 Southern League Challenge Cup 2021/22 RUNNERS UP South Midlands Challenge Cup, 1978-1979 Herts Charity Shield, 1978-79, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2008-2009 South Midlands League (Premier Div) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div III) 1981-1982 North Herts (Div II) 1982-1983 South Midlands Res Section Trophy, 1982-1983 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1986-87, 1988-1989 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1989-1990 Herts County Youth Cup, 1992-1993 North Herts (Div I), 1993-1994 South Midlands Floodlit Cup, 1995-1996 Herts F.A. Women’s Cup, 1998-99, 2001-2002 2013/14 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div I) 1999-2000, 2013/2014 2014/15 Eastern Junior Plate, 2001-2002 KB Tyres Division I 2008-2009, 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Trophy 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserves Floodlit Cup 2010/2011 Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup 2013/2014 Eastern Region Women’s League, League Cup 2014/15 Southern League Division 1 Central 2014/15 2015/16

WHO'S GOT WHO? Today's other fixtures SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2022 AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Stourbridge Basford United v Rushall Olympic Bromsgrove Sporting v Nuneaton Borough Ilkeston Town v Barwell Mickleover v Stratford Town St Ives Town v Needham Market

SO WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN? The history of Royston Town FC After some intensive research, the evidence is that the club came into existence in 1875 making Royston the third oldest Club in Hertfordshire after Hitchin and Bishop Stortford.

The Club’s very first honour came in 1911/12 when they won the Creake Charity Shield beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time.

The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77. In 1978 we rejoined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking. Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980. The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994.

After a period in the doldrums that culminated in relegation from the South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of 2006/07, Paul Attfield was appointed manager with ex-Spurs favourite Tony Galvin returning to Garden Walk 1st Team Coach in November 2007.

Paul immediately set about building a new 1st Team squad and a run of 17 games undefeated saw the Club move from the bottom of the table to finish in 5th place in the League.

The foundations had been laid for the 2008/09 season and the first team took the South Midlands Division One League title with one of the best sets of stats for any Step 6 Club in the country W33, D4, L3, GF138, GA30, GD+108, PTS 103.

The 2011/2012 season will be seen as a watershed in our history with winning the South Midlands Premier Division title and promotion to Step 4 in the shape of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central.

In our first season back at Step 4 after an absence of 19 years, it was hard to know what to expect and how we would perform. Most of our supporters felt a mid-table position would be an acceptable target for the season, but we quickly found ourselves exceeding all expectations as our performances propelled us towards the top of the table. Four straight wins in the first four games set the tone and a run of nine wins with just one defeat between October and December saw us maintain a play-off position. In the very last game of the season a playoff was still a possibility and having gone 2-1 up away at AFC Hayes with just a few minutes of the game left it looked a near certainty. But it was not to be as Hayes scored an 87-minute equaliser and our play-off place was lost.

In our second season at this level, our steady progress to claim a place in the playoff zone was given a severe jolt when Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health at the beginning of November. The search for his replacement began almost immediately and we were inundated with applications from some very well know and successful managers. After an exhaustive selection process, the Board appointed Steve Castle at the end of November and on Boxing Day Steve officially took over securing a 0 – 0 draw against the League’s form team and eventual champions Dunstable Town.

Our 2014/15 season opener was at home against one of the promotion favourites Rugby Town but an impressive team display ensured their threat was stifled and we ran out winners 2 -1. That victory really did set things buzzing but we were quickly brought back down to earth when on the following Tuesday night Bedworth United were the visitors winning the game 3 – 1.

As we all know consistency in performances provides the key to long term success and although the early stages of the season produced good results against the likes of Daventry Town and Beaconsfield these were punctuated by dismal performances against the likes of Aylesbury and Egham Town. From mid-November to mid-December We really lost our way with six defeats in seven games but our rollercoaster ride saw an incredible run of form over the Christmas period and into the New Year with five straight wins which helped us maintain a position in the playoff places.

On a miserable Tuesday evening in February, we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance, we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play–offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season. That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the playoff semi-final where we met local rivals Barton Rovers.

After an incident-packed 90 minutes and extra time the game ended in a goalless draw but it was not to be our night and we lost the shoot out 4-5 and had to suffer the agony of all the emotions which go with being defeated in this way.

We started the 2015/16 season strongly and between the end of December and the end of March we produced a rich vein of form with only one defeat in 14 games and this ensured we were sitting on top of the league with just 7 games to go and with the expectation that we could win promotion outright ran high throughout the whole club. However, three games in succession proved our downfall when we could only draw 0 – 0 with Bedford and lost to Egham away 3- 1 and Godalming at home 1- 0 and once again we ended up in the play offs against AFC Rushden but we failed to turn up and went out tamely to our opponents 2 - 1.

Having finished runners up for two years in succession Steve Castle was determined to make it third time lucky and began to recruit some experienced new blood in the shape of John Frendo and Adam Murray whilst at the same time giving youngsters Gus Scott Morris and Josh Castiglione extended runs in the first team.

However, the season didn’t start well and after four games we’d only mustered five points whilst promotion rivals Farnborough just couldn’t stop winning. Although results did improve, defeat in the FA Cup to Heybridge Swifts 4 – 1 and a thrashing by Barton Rovers at home 6 – 3 at the end of September didn’t do a great of good for our confidence.

Things took a dramatic turn thereafter with 12 successive league wins which ended with defeat 2-1 at Kidlington in early January 2017, interspersed by a magnificent run in the FA Trophy including a victory against Step 2 outfit Hampton and Richmond Borough before in the replay against Dulwich Hamlet we eventually went down 1 -0.

With cup football out of the way, the team put together an incredible run of 16 league games undefeated including a 5 – 0 thrashing of closest rivals Farnborough which saw us maintain the top spot until the end of the season by a margin of 12 points and the highest number of goals scored, 120, across all three Evostik Leagues.

Promotion to the Southern Premier League means that the Club was playing at the highest level in its 142-year history!

Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceed all expectations in our first season at Step 3. Throughout the season we managed to maintain our hopes of a play-off place until they were finally put to bed with two successive defeats against the eventual play-off winners Slough Town and we had to be satisfied with a seventh-place finish. The signing of Adam Marriott, a proven goal scorer who had played for Lincoln City, Stevenage and Cambridge United was without a doubt a real coup and he was to play a key role in the progress made by the Club by becoming our leading marksman with 31 goals. A good run in the FA Trophy with wins against Enfield Town and Leatherhead came to an end against Eastbourne Borough when having managed to draw at their place we lost the replay on penalties. We managed to get to the final of the Herts Senior Cup where we played Borehamwood from Step 2 and in spite of a brave performance we never really had the power to compete and lost 2 – 1.

Given where we had started from we definitely exceeded our own and many other peoples’ expectations and this has provided us with the building blocks to face this season in the newly constituted Southern Premier Central League.

Season 2018/19 saw us finishing in a respectable 9th position in what proved to be a very strong Premier Division Central. During February/March we recorded six wins out of seven league games to give us a faint hope of a playoff spot, but three straight defeats in April put paid to our chances.

We suffered another early at AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy we progressed through two rounds before being beaten in a replay at Needham Market.

Season 2019/20 will go down in the Club’s history as one of the most successful and exciting but ultimately one which ended in bitter disappointment.

Steve Castle was quick to ensure we had players who were proven goal scorers and the arrival of Matt Bateman, Brandon Adams and Claudio Ofosu did not disappoint. Perhaps the only sadness that our young and highly talented left wing-back Joe Newton had created so much interest from EFL Clubs that in the end, it was inevitable he would have to leave us and Joe was signed by Coventry City.

No Crows fans will ever forget the team's brilliant performances in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy and although our FA Cup run ended with defeat to the very talented Maldon and Tiptree in front of what was then a record crowd for Garden Walk of 1152. The interest generated in the Crows both locally and beyond was immense and set the scene for what was to come in the FA Trophy. It all started with very comfortable wins against Brightlingsea Regent and Haywards Heath and then were drawn away at Step 2 table-topping Wealdstone which for many was one of the games of the season as Royston shot into a 2- 0 lead before Wealdstone hit back to pull the tie level 2-2. In spite of being under constant pressure, the Crows mounted a great counterattack down the left and the cross was despatched by Brandon Adams to give the Crow’s victory 3-2. What followed was truly historic with home wins against Step 2 teams Boreham Wood 2-0, Chester 3-0 and away at National League Ebbsfleet 2-0, to set up a quarter-final tie away at Concord Rangers. In the run-up to the game, the rain had been falling heavily but our opponents declared the pitch playable and the invasion of six coach loads of Royston supporters and a convoy of cars and mini-buses descended on Canvey Island. As we started arriving for the kick-off the match referee declared the pitch unplayable and with a sense of extreme disappointment and also a lot of anger we all returned home. The following Tuesday the game went ahead but it was not to be and we were defeated 2-1. There is no doubt the Clubs achievements in the FA Trophy marked a watershed in our history which will be remembered for a very long time.

Running alongside the cup success it was easy to forget that we had got ourselves in contention to win the League with a run of only two defeats in 20 league fixtures. With 3 games in hand and only 2 points behind Peterborough Sports and Tamworth and playing some of our best football, we looked nailed on to win the League. Then out of the blue, the Covid crisis hit all levels of football and with what many felt was indecent haste the League decided to null and void the whole season.

All our achievements were suddenly for nothing and the taste of bitter disappointment amongst all supporters of the Crows was very hard to swallow.

Season 2020/21: As the pandemic took hold it seemed like the chances of seeing a new season start were remote but by summer 2020 there had been a massive improvement and by July the lockdown ended albeit with a host of restrictions in place.

By the time we had assembled a squad, we were without key players such as Matt Bateman who moved to Hemel Hempstead and Claudio Ofosu who joined Hartlepool and with a lot of the momentum and energy generated by the now-defunct season now dissipated we were finding it hard to get going again. In the League, we seemed to slip into the habit of conceding goals when in a winning position and a string of draws meant we languished in the lower half of the division.

The FA cup again promised to provide excitement with wins against Newmarket, Wroxham and AFC Stamford before losing to our old rivals Bishops Stortford. We won our first two ties in the FA Trophy against Hythe Town and Tamworth before going out 3-2 away at Brackley by which time the League season was yet again declared null and void as the second wave of Covid took its stranglehold.

A comprehensive history of the Club can be found in The History of Royston Town FC 1875 2012 first published in 2013. The book was written by the Club’s President, Alan Barlow following more than five years of painstaking research and can be purchased via the Club.

SCORES ON THE DOORS! LEAGUE TABLE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/southern-football-league-premier-central-division

THEY’RE paid the big bucks because they make the big contributions. Top strikers are worth their weight in gold.

Whether it’s turning possession into points when his team is playing well to getting his manager out of jail when they’re not, the value of an in-form number nine simply can not be underestimated.

Take Charnock Richard FC for example. Back in 2009, they took a punt on a young 24-year-old forward called Carl Grimshaw, who had only previously tasted action at Bolton Lads and Girls club and Eagley FC - and that to simply help with a player shortage. Now, just over 13 years on, dairy farmer Grimshaw, at the age of 38, has etched his name in club folklore by notching up an incredible 501 goals, reaching his latest milestone during the North West Counties League Premier Division club’s recent defeat to Squires Gate.

Indeed, in 12 out of 13 seasons at Charnock Richard he has scored over 25 goals with his record tally being a sensational 50-goal season in 2012-2013.

Naturally, his success in front of goal has brought silverware too. His goals have helped take the Mossie Park clubs from Step 7 to Step 5, collecting no fewer than four West Lancashire League Premier Division championship Winners’ medals and two runner-ups. While Grimshaw will be humble enough to admit that the club’s success was not solely down to his efforts, having a centre forward averaging 38 goals a season is a pretty solid platform in which to build a legacy.

Another prolific veteran on a hot streak right now is Brett Pitman. Having forged a glittering career for himself in the Football League with the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Bristol City, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and Swindon Town, Pitman is now enjoying a new lease of life at his local club AFC Portchester in the Wessex League. In fact, that’s something of an understatement as Pitman is currently the leading marksman in the top nine tiers of English football. His four goal blast for the Royals against Alresford Town last weekend took his tally to 28 in just 18 league and cup starts in 2022-23.

In all, his 14 Wessex League appearances have yielded 22 goals, scoring in ever game but one, while 14 goals have come in his last six. Naturally, it’s a tally which is sparking a right Royal waltz at the top of the Wessex Premier with the Royals having collected 40 out of a possible 42 points to lead by eight going into this week’s round of matches. Frighteningly, Pitman is still only 34 years old and given that he’s never really modelled his game on blistering pace and power, he may well be still at his peak.

“He’s never going to run in behind defences, his movement in the box is brilliant, that’s what he does,” says Royals boss Dave Carter. “His movement to pull away from defenders is fantastic.

“It’s not all about Brett, a lot of other lads are playing well. A lot pf Brett’s goals are put on a plate for him, but what he does is score goals at important times.”

The value of having a top striker is not lost on Ashton United it seems.

The NPL Premier Division side audaciously attempted to lure goal machine Erling Haaland from Manchester City with Norway not in World Cup action. A PR stunt, a stroke of genius or the height of ridiculousness, we’ll let you decide but the point remains valid, the importance of having a topclass number nine in your ranks should never be undervalued.

ROYSTON TOWN FC v AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS FC Saturday 12th October 2022 An 81st-minute penalty from Royston substitute Matt Bateman secured the 3 points for the home side and gave them their first win in seven games.

The Crows took an early lead as Ronnie Henry was on hand to finish from close range in the 7th minute after Adam Murray had headed back a deep corner from Nathan Tshikuna. The Diamonds nearly responded straight away as Dimi Kyriatzis had to be alert to turn away Fraser Corden’s long-range effort.

Royston continued in the ascendency as Connor Furlong, Alfie Williams and Tshikuna were all denied by Dean Snedker in the AFC goal. The Diamonds got themselves in some good areas but struggled to penetrate the home defence, although Royston were indebted to a fine pointblank range save from Kyriatzis, as he turned Jack Connor’s effort over, right on the stroke of half-time.

The away side were not to be denied for long though, as in the 53rd minute Miguel Ngwa scored an equaliser from the edge of the box, as his low effort beat Kyriatzis at his near post.

The game became increasingly stretched as both sides looked to attack. Murray should really have scored for the home side, as a long Joel Nakatani-Brown ball was not dealt with by the away defence, but he blasted his effort straight at Snedker and it bounced away to safety.

And so it was left to Bateman to slot home the winner, as he calmly despatched the penalty after Kartell Dawkins was possibly harshly penalised for a close-range handball and give the Crows a much-needed 3 points.

Royston: 13-Kyriatzis, 2-Da Silva, 3-Nakatani-Brown, 4-Mentis (16-Bell-Toxtle 79), 5-Murray ©, 6-Henry, 7-Robson (17-Bateman 70), 8-Williams, 10-Tshikuna, 11-Furlong (15-Harness 60), 20-Newton Unused – 12-Keane, 14-Bustamante MOM – Adam Murray

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS Dimi Kyriatzis (Goalkeeper) A recent addition to the Crows squad having joined us from Bedfont Sports. Dimi's previous clubs include Brentford and Inter Leipzig.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Defender) Versatile defender who re-joined the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at Hayes & Yeading. Started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team during the 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before moving to Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Adam Murray (Defender) Adam joined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons at Cambridge City where he made 60 appearances. He quickly settled into the squad and has proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows.

Ronnie Henry (Defender) Signed for the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at Billericay Town. Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to play 502 games for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells either side of two seasons at Luton Town.

Dan Newton (Defender) Joined the Crows early into season 2020/21, Centre-Back Dan's previous clubs were Biggleswade FC and Northwood. He is a calm and confident defender and cousin of former Crow Joe Newton.

Joel Nakatani-Brown (Defender) Joel is a 22 year old left-sided defender who has impressed during pre-season and joins the Crows for their 2022/23 Southern League Premier Central campaign. Joel’s previous clubs include Westfield, FC Romania, Cockfosters and Walthamstow.

James Brighton (Defender) Experienced full-back who joined us in November 2019 from Kettering Town, where he had spent a successful four seasons. James has previously played for Hemel Hempstead Town, Cambridge City & Cambridge United.

Jay Rolfe (Defender) Versatile defender who can play in a number of positions. Joined the Crows this Summer from Welwyn Garden City. Previous clubs include Cockfosters, Colney Heath and Hatfield Town Spyros Mentis (Midfield) Versatile, hard-working and tough-tackling midfielder or defender, Spyros re-joined The Crows in 2018/19 after a season away at Hayes & Yeading, he previously played just under 100 games for us from 2013 during his first spell at Garden Walk.

Alfie Williams (Midfield) Joined the Crows on loan from Stevenage until the end of this season. Alfie joined the Stevenage academy after being released by Tottenham Hotspur and signed a professional contract with Stevenage in April 2021. Made his professional debut for Stevenage in a 1–0 victory at Scunthorpe United in May 2021, coming on as an 83rdminute substitute in the match. Alfie has spent time on loan at Kings Langley, Hemel Hempstead Town and Hayes & Yeading United.

Fernando Bell Toxtle (Midfield) Fernando started his career at Cambridge United and spent time on loan at St Neots Town. Following his release from Cambridge United, he joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2017. In November 2017 he moved to Basford United in order to pursue his university studies in Nottingham. He then rejoined AFC Rushden & Diamonds and was a key member of their squad last season Isa Rotimi (Midfield) Young midfielder who signed for the Crows at the beginning of season 2019/20, Isa previously spent two seasons at Colney Heath.

Nathan Tshikuna (Midfield) Featured a number of times for the Crows in pre-season and has impressed enough to join Steve Castle’s squad for the coming season. Nathan’sprevious clubs include Bedford Town, Kempston Rovers, Barton Rovers and AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Nathan scored an impressive 11 goals in 44 appearances for Rushden & Diamonds last season.

Matt Bateman (Forward) Re-joined us last season from Hemel Hempstead, where he spent a season after moving from the Crows. Matt signed for the Crows at the start of season 2019/20 and scored an impressive 24 goals in 41 games during that season to earn his move to Hemel. Previous to that Matt played a big part in Berkhamsted’s push for promotion in 2018/19 where he netted 43 times in 54 appearances for The Comrades.

Max Bustamante-Macaire (Forward) The 18-year-old striker impressed in pre-season and has signed for the Crows. Max is a former Chilean youth player and has represented his national side at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 18 levels. His previous clubs include Barnet FC and Stevenage FC. Whilst at Stevenage, Max had loan spells at Kings Langley, Biggleswade Town and Bedford Town.

Cole DaSilva (Defender) Recent acquisition, signed from Hemel Hempstead Town. 23-year-old defender joined the Tudors from Oxford City. Capped by Wales at under-15 level, for England at under-16s and then Wales again at under-17, 19, 20, and under-21 level. Bega at Luton Town’s academy before moving to Chelsea, making 2 appearances in the EFL Trophy in 2017.

He joined Brentford’s B team in 2018 and in 2020 spent time with Leicester City under23s. Signed for Croatian First League club HNK Sibenik in 2021, before joining the Oxford City at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Connor Furlong (Midfield) Joined earlier this year from AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Previous clubs include Biggleswade Town, Bedford Town, St Ives Town, Oxford City, Aylesbury United and MK Dons Andrew Osei-Bonsu (Midfield) 23-year-old joined MK Dons academy at the age of 8 and progressed through their age groups making his first-team debut in the EFL Cup at Newport County in August 2016.

Has had spells with Wealdstone, Dunstable Town, Larne (Northern Ireland), St Ives Town (twice), Billericay Town and East Fife

TODAY'S OPPONENTS HITCHIN TOWN FC Club History The first Hitchin FC was formed in 1865. The club took part in the first FA Cup in 1871-72, and reached the quarter finals of the competition, losing to eventual finalists Royal Engineers. That first Hitchin club, a struggling professional outfit, folded in 1911, debt-ridden and the victims of a fire at their ground.

It was not until 1928 that Hitchin Town FC was formed, and it was at this point that the nickname, “The Canaries”, was established. Hitchin Town gained admission to the Spartan League. The 1930s were a golden age for Hitchin Town. The club won the AFA Senior Cup in 1932, beating Derbyshire Amateurs in the final and in 1935, they won the Spartan League Premier Division. The club entered the Athenian League in 1939, but after two league games and a Herts Charity Cup tie, WW2 intervened.

Hitchin struggled in the aftermath of World War Two in the Athenian League, not recovering until the mid-1950s. In 1956 a record crowd of 7,878 watched Hitchin Town beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 in the FA Amateur Cup. At the end of the 1962-63 season, the Canaries moved into the Isthmian League. This move was not an easy one for the club, and the early years were a constant struggle.

But in 1968-69, Hitchin finished runners-up in the Isthmian League and a year later, won the London Senior Cup, beating St.Albans 4-2 in the final. Hitchin stayed in the Isthmian League until 2004, when as a result of a reorganisation they transferred to the Southern League. They won the Southern League Cup in 2006, and despite relegation in 2009, they won promotion back to the Premier Division in 2012, and in 2015-16 and 2016-17 they enjoyed their best-ever seasons in the Southern League, reaching the play-offs on both occasions but missing out on promotions through defeat in the semi-final and then the final.

The team also won the Herts Senior Cup in both seasons.

Since the heights of reaching the play-off final in 2016-17, the Canaries have at times found survival in the Southern League Premier Division tough going. The 2017-18 season saw a mid-table finish of 11th, having lost key players from the previous season. The following 2018-19 season in the newly formed Premier Division Central saw some bad runs of results, but despite this the Canaries managed to finish 18th and survive. Season 2019-20 saw another poor start by the Canaries, and saw them in the relegation zone fairly quickly. However a remarkable transformation in the middle of the season saw the team display form which if it had been continued, would have steered the team towards a play-off spot. When the season was cut short by the pandemic, the Canaries were comfortably placed in 17th position, safe from relegation. Season 2020-21 promised much for the Canaries. The team that finished the previous season stayed, and the continuity was starting to show dividends. When the season was curtailed, the Canaries were sitting in a very comfortable tenth place in the League.

Unfortunately this impetus could not be maintained into last season. The Canaries lost key experienced players for whom similar replacements could not be found, they started badly and found themselves in the relegation zone again

TODAY'S OPPONENTS HITCHIN TOWN FC Club History contd.

by October, where they stayed until the last day of the season. The Canaries battled gamely though, and secured their survival in the Premier Division Central with a late Rio Dasilva goal against Bromsgrove Rovers in their final game of the season.

It should be noted though during recent years, the Canaries have had a little more success in Cup competitions. A second Southern League Cup success came the way of the Canaries in 2017-18, along with the Herts Charity Cup, which was retained in the 2018-19 season. But the highlight of this season was in the FA Cup, where the Canaries reached the First Round Proper for the first time in 23 years before bowing out at home to Solihull Moors in front of a crowd of 3,148, the highest attendance at Top Field for over 40 years. During the curtailed 202021 season, the Canaries recorded impressive wins in the FA Trophy against Herne Bay from the Isthmian League and Mickleover FC, who at the time were league leaders in the Northern Premier League, before bowing out to eventual semi-finalists Peterborough Sports in the Second Round Proper.

The new season starts with the usual hopes and dreams, but above all, survival in the Premier Division being the priority.

WHO ARE YA? HITCHIN TOWN FC Player Pen Pics Charles Horlock Goalkeeper who started his career at Wycombe Wanderers before spells at Stevenage U18s, Harrow Borough and Hendon. Horlock signed for the Canaries from Wycombe in November 2014, making 87 appearances between the sticks in what was initially a loan deal. After two seasons, Eastbourne Borough swooped for Horlock- he spent a year there before moving east along the coast to Hastings in late 2017. The goalkeeper returned to Top Field for the 2019/20 season, and is Mark Burke’s first choice once again in the upcoming campaign. Widely viewed as one of the best shot stoppers at this level.

Delsin Ackon Former MK Dons academy product who joined in 2020. The right-footed defender spent time with Barton Rovers last season before returning to Top Field for 2022-23 Stan Georgiou Versatile and very promising teenager signed earlier in the season from the Hitchin Academy, having gained some first team experience playing for Letchworth Garden City Eagles. Captained the Hitchin team in the FA Youth Cup and can play centre-back, central midfield or right-back. The youngster became a mainstay in the starting XI in the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.

Toby Syme Former Norwich City academy defender who is returning for a second spell at Hitchin Town. He was previously part of the squad in 2017-18, before leaving to join Kings Langley. Spent some time at Harpenden Town in 2020-21, but has come back to Top Field following a solid pre-season at the club.

Jack Morrell A defender equally comfortable as either a central defender or left-back. Formerly of Stevenage, Gillingham and East Thurrock, who joined in the summer following a successful pre-season campaign with the Canaries.

Malaki Black Quick and energetic player who is adept in any midfield position but can also fill in at the back when needed. Former MK Dons schoolboy who signed on for Hitchin Town in the summer of 2021 and played a part in the majority of the Canaries fixtures in 2021-22.

Kye Tearle Versatile teenage product of the Pro:Direct Academy in Baldock. Broke into the first team in the 2020-21 season, initially featuring as a right-back before moving into a midfield role in 2021.

Josh Coldicott-Stevens Cultured central midfielder who played a key role in Mark Burke’s side last season. Josh began his career across Hertfordshire for Boreham Wood in 2016 and went out on loan to both St. Neots and Kings Langley in the 2016-17 season. Kings Langley clearly liked what they saw, and signed Coldicott-Stevens on a permanent deal. He spent two seasons there before signing for the Canaries midway through the 2019-20 season.

Stephen Gleeson ​Experienced former Republic of Ireland international midfielder capped four times by his country who featured for the likes of MK Dons, Birmingham City and Ipswich Town at Football League level before moving north of the border to spend two seasons at Aberdeen. Turning 34 years old at the start of 2022-23, he joined the Canaries in November 2021 after spells at Solihull Moors at Hemel Hempstead in non-league.

Lewis Barker Strong, no-nonsense midfielder who rarely loses an aerial battle. Barker started out for Baldock in the 2013-14 season, before staying at the club for another five seasons, making a total of 222 appearances for Baldock. Lewis signed for Hitchin at the start of the 2019-20 season and is a regular in the centre of midfield.

Finley Wilkinson The 19-year-old midfielder joined Hitchin Town in the summer of 2022 following a successful spell at Histon after coming through their U18 side.

Leon Chambers-Parillon 20-year-old central midfielder who was formerly of Oxford United before his departure in the summer. Spent last season on loan at National League sides Slough Town, Gloucester City and Havant & Waterlooville.

Rio Da Silva Quick winger or attacking midfielder whose career began in the Luton Town academy setup before spending four years as a Chelsea academy prospect. After leaving the Blues, Da Silva spent a year at Dunstable Town before joining Hitchin at the start of the 2020/21 season. His brother Jay plays for Bristol City Steve Cawley Experienced striker who joined the Canaries from Hemel Hempstead in 2020-21 after a loan spell the previous season. Previous clubs included Bishops Stortford and Concord Rangers, where he spent five years, much of the time playing in the National League.

Effective with his hold-up play and strength.

Bradley Bell The skilful winger moved back to Top Field this summer following a previous spell at the club in 2019-20. Spent time at Biggleswade Town and Barton Rovers over the last two seasons.

Diogo Freitas-Gouveia Former Colchester United professional who spent time on loan at Hitchin Town in the latter half of 2019-20, impressing the Canaries fans with exceptional goals and creativity. The forward signed on at the club again in September 2022 after a long term injury.

Ashley Hay Young striker who joined the club in October from local rivals Biggleswade Town after a short spell with the Bedfordshire side. Hay enjoyed a prolific season in front of goal at Baldock Town in 2021-22 and has already impressed in his short time at the Canaries.

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SQUADS Saturday 19th November 2022 Kick Off: 1.30PM TODAY'S MATCH IS KINDLY SPONSORED BY

TODAY'S OFFICIALS REFEREE: Matthew Fletcher ASSISTANTS: Tom Cartwright, Cameron Rayment

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Dimi Kyriatzis (GK) Ed Asafu-Adjaye Joel Nakatani-Brown Will Hall Adam Murray (c) Ronnie Henry Nathan Tshikuna Jay Rolfe Max Bustamante-Macaire Matt Bateman Lewis Williams Sean Keane Oliver Williams (GK) James Brighton Fernando Bell Toxtle Isa Rotimi Cole DaSilva Spyros Mentis Kian Harness Dan Newton Connor Furlong Andrew Osei-Bonsu

Steve Castle / Chris Watters Scott Taylor

Charlie Horlock (GK) Kye Tearle Stan Georgiou Stephen Gleeson Lewis Barker Toby Syme Diogo Freitas-Gouveia Rio Dasilva Ashley Hay Bradley Bell Jack Snelus Malaki Black Josh Coldicott-Stevens Stephen Cawley Callum Kane Delsin Ackom Jack Morrell Finley Wilkinson Leon Chambers-Parillon

MANAGERS SPORTS THERAPISTS

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Mark Burke / Adam Parker Sam Backhouse