Hitchin Begin Squad Building for 2021/22

Seven commit from last season`s squad and one new signing to date.

Mark Burke, manager of Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central club Hitchin Town, has made his first new signing and seen seven players from last season`s squad put pen-to-paper for the 2021/22 campaign.

The new arrival is left-back Alex Brown, whose brother Luke is also with the Canaries.

The 21-year-old signed for then-Isthmian League North Division Soham Town Rangers in July 2019 from Thurlow Nunn League side Godmanchester Rovers.

He had joined Goddy in the summer of 2016 and has also played for Ely City having previously been a scholar with Premier League Norwich City.

Those to have committed for next season are twins Alex and Lawrie Marsh, Ben Walster, Dan Webb, Lewis Barker, Ryan Smith and Kye Tearle.

Alex Marsh, 25, is a former Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough United youngster who joined Bigglesewade FC in 2016.

He joined moved Hitchin Town in October 2019.

Lawrie Marsh is a midfielder or left back who also turned out for Biggleswade FC and eventually followed his twin to Top Field in September 2020.

Walster is a 27-year-old left-sided player who re-joined the Canaries from league rivals Biggleswade Town in June 2019.

He made the move to the Waders in October 2018 after previously being with Chesham United.

In his first spell with Hitchin, he made over 100 appearances after joining from MK Dons in 2014.

Webb is a defender and club captain who was first spotted by Hitchin playing for Shefford and Campton FC in the Bedfordshire League.

He joined the Canaries in 2012/13 and made over almost 400 appearances for the club.

Midfielder Barker, 26, moved to Top Field in July 2019 from Spartan South Midlands League neighbours Baldock Town.

He was Baldock`s captain and won the players’ player of the year award for the second time in 2018/19 and made around 220 appearances and scored 40 goals before becoming a Canary.

Smith is a young, 19-year-old central midfielder who started off his career at Northampton Town as an 18-year-old first-year scholar in July 2018.

Burke signed him initially on a `work experience` loan deal in February 2020 and re-joined in the summer of 2020 following his release from the Cobblers.

Eighteen-year-old Tearle came through the club’s Pro Direct Academy.

He initially broke into the first team towards the end of the 2019/20 season and mainly played as a right back but can also play in central midfield.

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