UPDATE: Hitchin Town are ready to honour those who sadly died during the Covid pandemic.

The Top Field outfit with strong links in our community will be hosting their event this weekend.

On Saturday, at the Canaries home fixture with Stratford Town, the club will be marking All Souls Day.

The club on Fishponds Road will be remembering former players, club officials, volunteers, supporters, family and friends that have passed away over the past two years with a round of applause before kick-off.

Hitchin's Brian Gray said:"When Dad (John Gray) passed away in January 2020 before Covid had reached the UK, we were so touched by the turn out from the football club and supporters at Dad's funeral and wake, also how the club had honoured him at the Banbury game.

"In November 2020, my sister and I were invited by the vicar of St Ippolyts Church to attend the All Souls Day Service where we remembered loved ones that we had lost.

"Prior to the service those attending were asked to supply the names of loved ones whom they wished to be remembered and we remembered and celebrated the lives of everyone together.

"We found the service very comforting and an appropriate way to celebrate the lives of our late parents."

Brian admitted he was shocked and saddened to read of Matthew Malarowski's passing in March 2021.

He also thought about how due to lockdown restrictions the football club and supporters had been unable to pay their respects to Matthew plus the other much respected supporters, volunteers and officials that we had lost since the lockdowns begun such as Tony Huckle, Fred Andrews, Min Birdsey, Ralph Armitage and Chris Green to name a few.

With this in mind Brian wrote to the club to suggest that they did something for All Souls Day and used it as a way of remembering and celebrating the lives of those recently lost.

He added: "Especially those that had done so much for this football club but had never been able to say thank you and goodbye as many did for dad."

Therefore, on Saturday, October 23, shortly before kick-off, club chaplin, reverend Nick Smith will address the crowd and lead a minutes applause to remember and celebrate those that we have lost over the past two years.

Hitchin Town asks supporters to supply names of family and friends they have lost in the last two years whom they wish to be remembered so the club can build a list of names in the match day programme.

So when we clap before the game we will remember and celebrate the lives of everyone on the list together.

Reverend Nick Smith added: "We also hope that families of those we are remembering will attend the game and join our celebration."

If you would like us to remember someone you have lost, please contact Brian Gray at [email protected] or Chris Newbold in the club office on matchdays or email [email protected]