Ahead of the new campaign, I wanted to update you all on the goings on at the club during the off season. A lot of hard work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure the new season goes off with a bang!

In just twenty days time, the new league season begins for Hoddesdon Town and thoughts will return to just how far the team can go this year. The lads have been in training in recent weeks and are eagerly awaiting the start of the season, as well as some pre season games to get up to match speed.

After finishing in 10th place last season, Simon Riddle and his troops will be hoping to improve on that performance and perhaps launch an assault on the play off places this time around. And it all begins with an away trip to new Thurlow Nunn Division One South outfit, Coggeshall Town, on Saturday the 27th of July.

Affectionately nicknamed 'The Seedgrowers', Coggeshall will be no pushovers and they have plenty of experience in this league, being the Eastern Counties League Premier Division Winners 2017/18 and the Eastern Counties League Division One Runners Up 2016/17.

In cup news, it was announced on Friday that we have received a bye in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Vase and will therefore play AWAY to Clapton Community in the 2nd Qualifying Round, on Saturday the 21st of September. This season represents the 50th anniversary of our FA Vase win at Wembley Stadium, and we hope to share with you soon, news of how we intend to celebrate the wonderful achievement made by the club on the 19th of April, 1975.

We also have a bye in the 1st Round of the League Challenge Cup, with the draw for the 2nd Round yet to be announced.

In the Herts Charity Shield, we received yet another bye in the first round draw land will therefore travel to Oxhey Jets in the Quarter Final at The Boundary Stadium on Altham Way in South Oxhey, with a date to be confirmed asap.

Of course we also look forward to defending the trophy we won last season, the Herts. Senior Centenary Trophy, and will bring you fixture news once we get it.

Early season fixtures are confirmed as follows:

Friendlies:
London Colney (A) Sat 13th July KO 3pm
Sawbridgeworth Town (H) Mon 15th July KO 8pm
Letchworth Garden City Eagles (A) Sat 20th July KO 3pm
Stansted FC (H) Mon 22nd July KO 8pm
Brook House (A) Thu 25th July KO 7:30pm

League Fixtures:
Sat 27 July Coggershall (A)
Tue 30 July Dunmow (A)
Sat 3rd Aug Southend Manor (A)
Tue 6th Aug Harlow Town (A)

With huge thanks to Hoddesdon Cricket Club, we have managed to secure TWO home friendly games in July at Lowfield, so this will be a good opportunity for you to pop down to Lowfield, before the season begins proper, and see how the club, and the team, is coming along.

Keep your eyes on the website for match previews and a full list of fixtures for the season, when they are announced. If you can get along to any of these game and support the lads, I know it will be very much appreciated.

With our Veo video system, we hope to once again this season, be able to bring you full match coverage, highlights packages and all the best action from Lowfield via our Hoddesdon Town TV page on our website. Never miss a kick, goal or save from the new campaign!

Off the pitch, we have a very, VERY exciting announcement to make shortly so keep your eyes on our social media channels and our website for that. It's an absolute game changer for all of our supporters and will transform Lowfield as we know it!!

Our senior committee are working hard to be ready for the new season and as ever, our grounds team are preparing Lowfield so it is in tip top condition come the start of our tenancy.

We are always looking for new volunteers at the club to help out with match day chores and ensure our fans, visitors and guests are well looked after during their visit to the club. We have roles available for all ages and abilities, so please do get in touch if you want to help support your local football club.

Our club Golf Day takes place this coming Friday (12th) at Essendon Country Club and we have ONE spare place available if any of you fancy joining us. The cost is just £65 for breakfast, 18 holes on the stunning New Course, followed by lunch and prize giving. If you are interested, please get in touch.

Our website has continued to grow, even during the closed season, and there have been a few articles uploaded in recent weeks, including news from our Youth Section and their brilliant presentation day, as well as an announcement on a new ground share deal with OIR FC for the forthcoming season. You can read all about that new relationship HERE.

Our club photographer and graphic genius, Danny Smith, has been working hard on some new visuals for the upcoming season, and we can't wait for you to see them! The Digital and Social Media team are also working hard to ensure all the very latest is available to you in the palm of your hand, so dont forget to download the Pitchero App and have Hoddesdon Town FC with you, wherever you go!

Inside the clubhouse, we are delighted to announce that this season we will be serving Greene King 'Level Head' at the bar. Unfiltered, balanced and an easy drinking 4% ABV session pale ale, 'Level Head' Session IPA is quite simply a perfectly executed, delicately balanced, sessionable thirst quencher. The aroma is hoppy, balanced between tropical and grapefruit notes, and at 4% it's a delicious invitation to keep it steady.

Our new payment system will finally be introduced for the new season, enabling us to serve you your favourite items a lot quicker and easier, whether it's at the bar, the tea bar or the turnstiles.

Sponsorship options are available for the new season and whether you wish to sponsor a player, a match, the ball, or anything else for that matter, please get in touch or head to our club shop HERE.

Don't forget, the club shop is always open via the website and you can get your hands on great HTFC merchandise, season tickets, replica shirts via our partners at ORC Teamwear, and much, much more!

We hope to be able to present to you soon, a full list of club events for the season, including the return of the chairmans popular Quiz Night, darts evenings, Live Sport at the club, and much much more.

On the subject of Live Sport, together with Hoddesdon Cricket Club, we have installed a brand new jumbo TV screen in the club and cannot wait to host you for all the big premier league, champions league, FA Cup and League Cup games this season! The club now boasts THREE tv screens in the club, so we have got you covered when it comes to live sport!

The clubhouse is also available for private hire this season, so if you are looking for somewhere to host that birthday party, anniversary, celebration of life or anything else, please click HERE or email us on the address below.

Our monthly club lottery continues to be a great success for the club and we are always looking for new ticket holders to join to help support the club. For just £5 a month you can win some superb cash prizes, whilst raising key funds to help sustain football at Lowfield. To sign up now, please click HERE and join today.

You can always email us if you have any questions or need help with anything Lilywhite, or follow us on our social media channels below:

TWITTER/X
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
Email info@hoddesdontownfc.co.uk or click HERE
Website www.hoddesdontownfc.co.uk

With England making it through to the semi finals of Euro 24 (somehow!), we hope your appetite for football has been reignited after a short break and we look forward to seeing you all back at Lowfield for the new season.

See you soon and Come On You Lilywhites!!

Best regards,

Jon Dean
HTFC Digital & Social Media Chairman