Match Preview | Hitchin Town (H)
The Yeltz go again at The Grove after a draw to Alvechurch with the visit of Hitchin
Head to Head
This is a fixture we have not enjoyed in recent season. Many will remember when Hitchin arrived to our place in Setember 2024 bottom of the league and without a point in seven, and put four goals past us without replay. Others will remember the 3-1 defeat the season prior when their goalkeeper scored from his own half. Those two games were two of the three winless games we have had against the Canaries in our last three at The Grove.
The last meeting came at Hitchin’s Top Field in March 2025, where we secured a rare win against the Hertfordshire side. This game saw early second half goals from Conor Tee & Kieren Donnelly help claim us a 2-1 win. Bradley Bell scoring a 94th minute consolation for the hosts that day. This was result six of our 13 game unbeaten run at the end of 2024/25 season, running until our play-off semi-final defeat to AFC Telford United.
Opposition Overview
Manager (s)
Michael Jones
The 33 year old as appointed as manager in November 2024, after a successful month beforehand as interim boss. His coaching career started when he was 17 at Luton Town & Stevenage as a Casual & Community Football Coach. In 2011, he became assistant coach to Watford’s Development Academy side, and proceeded to spend the next two and a half years in the role. His role at Watford in the summer of 2013 lasted for seven years as he took on the work as Football & Education Project Officer, but he also spent time as Harpenden Town assistant manager, and Bedford FC manager during this time.
After leaving the Hornets in 2020, he started his time at Hitchin working in the academy system. When Brett Donnelly was sacked by the Canaries in October 2024, the role was given to Jones, who went on to go unbeaten with the club before being given the job in late November. Life as manager didn’t go too well, as the club won just four of 26 until the end of their season, ultimately being relegated to step 4. Despite going down, Jones helped them come straight back up, finishing second with 92 points before winning the play-offs with wins over Thame United & Biggleswade FC.
Goalkeepers
Jack Mason
The 18 year old signed in the summer from Crystal Palace’s Academy. The young keeper has started two of Hitchin’s 11 league games this season.
Tyler McGregor
The 24 year old signed in the summer from Real Bedford. The keeper made 12 league appearances for the Pirates last season, but spent the majority of the campaign at Hitchin on loan, where he featured in both play-off games and made 27 regular league appearances. He has started all but two of the Canaries league matches this season.
Defenders
Lloyd Asamoah-Junior
The 18 year old signed last month from Luton Town’s Academy. The young right back trained with the Canaries a few weeks before signing, and has since made one league appearance off the bench.
Jamie Breen
The 20 year old signed last month from Leighton Town. The left back made 10 league appearances for step 4 Barton Rovers at the start of last season, before the move to Leighton where he finished the season with 15 league outings on route to their promotion to step 3. He featured in three league games for the latter before his move to Hitchin, where he has made two league appearances, one of which in the XI.
Charlie Briggs
The 29 year old signed in the summer of 2025 from step 4 Biggleswade Town. The ex-Waders captain featured in 34 of Hitchin’s regular league games last season, and also their two-play off matches. He has featured four times in the league this season, all but one of which in the XI.
Ciaren Jones
The 26 year old signed in the summer of 2023 from Brackley Town. The centre half and Canaries captain featured in all but one of their regular league games last season, and also the two play-off matches, scoring to make it 2-0 in the final. He has featured in all but one of their league games this season, all 10 of which in the XI.
Blue Joy
The 19 year old came through the Hitchin academy. The central defender scored three goals in 30 of the regular league games he appeared in, also playing in the two play-off matches. He has featured in all but one of their 11 league games this season, 9 of the 10 in the XI.
Simeon Olarerin
The 25 year old signed in the summer from fellow step 3 side Berkhamsted. The left back featured in two league games for step 5 Belstone last season on loan, having missed the whole season for Berkhamsted through injury and surgery. He has made eight league appearances this season for the Canaries, half of which in the XI.
Boni Pagano
The 20 year old signed in the summer from Luton’s Academy. The Italian born centre half has made just one appearance off the bench this season, after impressing as a trialist during pre-season.
Toby Syme
The 28 year old signed in the summer of 2022 from step 4 Harpenden Town. The former Norwich City academy left back made 24 league appearances in the regular season during the last campaign, as well as featuring in the two play-off games. He has made nine league appearances this season, all of which in the XI.
Midfielders
Kavan Cotter
The 27 year old signed in January after a break away from football. The midfielder in his third spell at the Canaries, made 16 league appearances in the second half of last season. He is one of two Hitchin players who have started all 11 league games this season.
Rio Deall
The 23 year old signed in the summer from Real Bedford. The wide midfielder played for the Canaries in the 2024/25 season, and scored nine goals in 32 league games at step 3. His form warranted a move to Real Bedford last season, where he failed to score in 11 league matches. He has scored once and featured in six league appearances this season for Hitchin, all but one in the XI.
Diogo Freitas-Gouveia
The 25 year old signed in October 2025, after a long spell on the sidelines. The former Colchester United academy attacking midfielder scored seven goals in 23 league appearances in the regular season in the last campaign, before featuring in the two play-off games. He has scored once and made nine league appearances this season, four of which in the XI.
Callum Nicolson
The 24 year old signed in the summer of 2025 from step 4 AFC Dunstable. The defensive midfielder played in 38 of the Canaries 40 regular league games last season, also featuring in their two play-off games. He has featured in all but one of their league matches this season, eight of which in the XI.
Dylan Stitt
The 19 year old joined last month on loan from Luton’s Academy. The young midfielder made one National League South appearance on loan at Hemel Hempstead last season, but mainly featured in academy football at the Hatters. He has featured in three league games for Hitchin this season, two of which in the XI.
Dan Stokoe
The 24 year old signed in the summer from Filipino side Garelli United. The attacking midfielder started last season at Bishop’s Stortford, where he made two league appearances. In September last year, he joined step 4 Egham Town, and made 16 league appearances. He joined Garelli in the New Year, and ended the season in the Philippines by featuring in five league matches. Alongside Cotter, he has featured in all 11 of Hitchin’s league games this season, four of which in the XI.
Luke Stokoe
The 24 year old signed in the summer from Banbury United. The midfielder who spent parts of his youth career in Spain with CD Leganes, also spent time in Finland in 2025, and scored five times in 37 league games for Banbury last season. He has made eight league appearances for Hitchin this season, six of which in the XI.
Forwards
Temi Akinbusoye
The 22 year old signed in the summer from Biggleswade FC. The striker scored 13 goals in 40 league games at step 4 for the latter last season, and also competed in their two play-off games. The final against Hitchin as well. After impressing in pre-season, he has featured in six league games, all but one of which in the XI.
Owen Brooks
The 21 year old joined last month on loan from Real Bedford. The winger played for step 4 MK Irish last season, and scored 14 goals in 42 league games. He appeared once off the bench for the Pirates this season, and has played three times for Hitchin, all but one of which in the XI.
Cole Butler
The 24 year old signed in the summer of 2025 from step 4 St Neots Town. The energetic winger featured in 21 league games for the Canaries last season. He has made four league appearances this season, one of which in the XI.
Sean Duodu
The 20 year old signed in the summer from Berkhamsted. The striker scored twice in 29 league games at step 3 for the latter last season. He has featured seven times for Hitchin this campaign, three of which in the XI.
George Morrall
The 22 year old signed in the summer of 2024 from St Albans City. The striker scored twice in 17 games during the regular campaign last season, before featuring in their two play-off matches. He has scored once and featured in nine league games this season, four of which in the XI.
Taylor Rhiney
The 32 year old signed in the summer of 2025 from step 4 Barton Rovers. Having scored 20 league goals in the 24/25 campaign, he managed 26 last season at the same level for Hitchin. He has scored twice, both of which penalties, and featured four times in the league this season, all but one of which in the XI.
Kye Tearle
The 23 year old signed in the summer of 2024 from Berkhamsted. The winger came through the clubs academy, and scored eight goals in 35 games during the regular season in the last campaign, before playing in the two play-off matches. He has scored once, from the spot, and featured in seven league games this season, all but one of which in the XI.
Tickets
Tickets for the game can be purchased on the gate with cash or card, for the following prices:
🎟️ £14 Adults, £11 Concessions, £8 U18’s, £4 U12’s
To speed up the process of getting into the ground for this fixture, and helping us out on the turnstiles, tickets can also be purchased online ⤵️
🔗 https://ht-fc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/hitchin2627