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With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! We’ve got a memorable last meeting with the next club: Hitchin Town!

Name: Hitchin Town FC
Founded: 1928
Nickname: The Canaries
Stadium: Top Field

Representing the Hertfordshire market town of the same name, Hitchin Town FC are gearing up for their thirteenth consecutive season in step 3, looking to beat their 12th placed finish last season.

In the past, the Canaries have got close to promotion to step 2, having lost in play-off campaigns. Despite having the year 1865 on their badge, this actually relates to the founding date of Hitchin FC - the first team to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - not Hitchin Town FC who were founded in 1928.

They play their home games at Top Field, which has a capacity of 4,554. It has been their ground since the foundation of the club back in 1928. Mark Burke currently holds the reigns, he first joined the club in 1985 from QPR as a player and made over 700 appearances until his retirement in 2005. The club legend was only away for 10 years and joined as manager, where he guided Town to two play-off spots in his first two seasons.

Have we met before?

You bet we have! Promotion was achieved after a 2-1 extra time win at Your Co-op Community Stadium.

An early Hitchin goal unsettled the Brakes, and it seemed like the Hertfordshire side would see the game out to gain promotion to the National League South, but 90th minute drama ensued with a penalty awarded to Leamington - Hitchin’s captain sent off in the process. Rob Thompson-Brown converted to send the game to extra time where Courtney Baker-Richardson popped up with a winner, securing a return to the National League North.

Distance - 72 miles
Travel Time - 1 hour 34 minutes

Give them a follow…

You can find them on Twitter @HitchinTownFC, Facebook /Hitchin Town FC and Instagram @hitchintownfc!

Leicester City will be bringing their u21 side to Your Co-op Community Stadium on Wednesday 19 July, 19:30, in pre-season.

The side recently relegated from the Premier League last visited the home of Warwickshire football in 2017, as Leamington beat a Leicester XI 3-1. Their visit before then was in 2013 with a Foxes side that featured players such as Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan, Richie De Laet, Jeff Schlupp and Anthony Knockaert with the visitors' goals in a 2-0 win coming from Chris Wood and Martyn Waghorn.

Kick off for Leamington vs Leicester City u21 on Wednesday 19 July will be at the slightly earlier time of 19:30, with ticketing details released closer to the fixture.

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Current Pre-Season Schedule:

With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! Next up are newly promoted Halesowen Town!

Name: Halesowen Town FC
Founded: 1873
Nickname: The Yeltz
Stadium: The Grove

Halesowen will start the 2023/24 season back in the level their rich history points that they deserve to be at, following on from promotion from the Northern Premier League Midland Division One last season.

The Yeltz will finally be able to lock horns with their great rivals Stourbridge in a league encounter again and also face an ex-manager in Paul Holleran at the Brakes after their play-off final win against Spalding last season.

They play their home games at the Grove, a familiar visit for Leamington fans over the years and with average crowds of over 1000, they will want to put up a strong challenge in their first season back in the Southern League Premier.

Have we met before?

A Dan Turner goal gave us a 1-0 win in pre-season 2022, but our last league meetings were back in 2010/11.

It was a duo of 3-0 wins for the Brakes against the Yeltz last season. Matt Lewis scored an away hat trick at The Grove before a Luke Corbett goal was added to a James Rowe brace in Warwickshire.

And, of course, Bello scored against them. See his goal against them in 09/10 below!