Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Nolan: "I can still make it"
Sunday, August 24 2003
MATT NOLAN still believes he can make it as a professional footballer, despite his close-season setbacks with Peterborough and Chesterfield.
Nolan spent the summer training with the two Football League second division clubs and Hitchin were coming to terms with the fact that they were going to lose their 21 year-old striker. But neither club agreed to take him on, much to Nolan's disappointment.
"I have put it all down to experience now," he says. "I thought I was doing well at Chesterfield, although at Peterborough I could have done better."
He believes that it has been a big learning experience, one that can prepare him for another stab at making the grade. "One thing I noticed was how fast everything was moving. And I know now that my finishing needs polishing up," says Nolan.
Hitchin manager Robbie O'Keefe has long been convinced that Nolan would follow in the footsteps of Zema Abbey, who left Hitchin in 2000 to join Cambridge United, then managed by current Chesterfield boss Roy McFarland.
Nolan is now determined to regain the form of two seasons ago. Last year was not a vintage season for him and he wants to put that all behind him. "I want to do well for Hitchin and if that happens, perhaps I will get another chance with a pro club."
