Hitchin Town Football Club

Rugby Town v Hitchin: Williams is ready

Thursday, August 12 2010

Canaries’ manager Carl Williams is looking for his team to get off to a good start on Saturday when they travel to Rugby Town (kick off 3pm).

We may be the team to beat, warns Williams
Saturday August 14: Rugby Town v Hitchin Town, Butlin Road 3pm

Carl Williams pays no attention to indifferent pre-season form by newly-relegated Rugby Town and expects Martin Sockett’s team to be fired up and anxious to put last season behind them.

“My contacts tell me Rugby have signed some decent players, so I don’t for one moment think we will have an easy time at Butlin Road,” says Williams. “But if we get our own house in order, we will be fine.”

Williams believes Hitchin will be one of the teams that opposition will be out to beat. “We went very close last year and we are seen by many as a big club at this level. We may find this season is a lot tougher than 2009-10. But I am pleased with the way things have gone in pre-season and the team is very fit and has taken on board everything we have tried to implement.”

Hitchin’s opponents also see the game as a difficult one. Speaking in the local press, Sockett said: “Two games in four days at the start of the season is always challenging, and starting against Hitchin is as difficult an opener as we could have got. But we are home and I’m sure teams will not relish playing us.”

Sockett’s squad has been completely turned over and he has presided over an intensive pre-season training schedule. “All of the lads who were around last season decided the grass was greener elsewhere – having contributed to the club’s biggest disappointment for a number of years. We did not want players who did not want to be here.”

Rugby’s situation is not far removed from where Hitchin found themselves 12 months ago. After rebuilding under Colin Payne, Williams is ready to finish the job started last August. “I am excited about our prospects for this season and I cannot wait to get going. We’ve had some good tests in pre-season and the squad is keen to get off to a good start.”

Hitchin will be without Richard Howell, who is injured, but otherwise will have a full strength squad. Williams is keeping everyone guessing over the part he will play at Rugby.

Useful links
Preview - Rugby v Hitchin, including Media Briefing
Rugby Town - Official Site
The Hitchin Advertiser