Hitchin Town Football Club are ready to host All Souls' Day today, Saturday [October 23].

The Top Field outfit have been busy preparing for the event to honour the lives of former players, club officials, volunteers, supporters plus family and friends who have sadly died during the Covid pandemic.

Tributes will be led by Canaries chaplain and vicar of St Marks Church, Hitchin, the Reverend Nick Smith who will address supporters before the Canaries home match against Stratford Town at 3pm today.

This will be followed by a minute's applause to remember, celebrate and draw inspiration from those we have lost in recent times.

Who will the club be clapping for?

Former players such as full back John 'Woody' Woodward who made 166 appearances between 1981 and 1986.

Centre Half John Ashworth, who captained the Canaries to London Senior Cup success against St Albans City in May 1970.

Goal scoring legend Bernie Gogan who scored 108 goals in 210 appearances including seven goals in the 1969-70 London Senior Cup campaign with two in the final.

Another member of the London Senior Cup winning squad, defender Peter Robinson who made 293 appearances for the club.

Bill Saunders who scored 67 goals in 83 appearances between 1945 and 1948.

Legendary, charismatic club president Tony Huckle who passed away in November 2020, aged 87.

An ambassador for the club, welcoming opposition officials and dignities to Top Field, a role he performed for over twenty years.

Former commercial manager and committee member Fred Andrews plus ground staff volunteer, Matthew Malarowski.

Former Supporters Club membership secretary and match day volunteer John Gray.

Rose Wilkinson, who ran the Canary Club Bar.

The club will also be remembering stalwarts of the terraces such as Ralph Armitage, Min Birdsey and Chris Green plus other supporters who followed the club for many years.

And not forgetting legendary Dulwich Hamlet supporter and friend of Hitchin Town FC, Mishi Morath who supported the clubs Save Top Field campaign, joining the march and addressing supporters.

Hitchin Town Secretary, Roy Izzard said: "The club is steeped in history and everyone mentioned has played their part in creating that history, as well as making the club what it is today.

"Due to Covid and lockdowns we were unable to give many the send-off we would have wanted and thank them for their efforts.

"This event will be our opportunity to address that and we are currently contacting the families to invite them to join us on the day.

"We not only hope that supporters will join us in celebrating their lives but add names of family and friends they have lost whom they wish us to remember too".

The club are inviting supporters to offer names of family and friends they have lost over the past two years who will be added to the list in the matchday programme, so when the club and supporters clap before kick-off, they will be remembering and celebrating the lives of everyone on the list.

If you would like Hitchin Town FC to remember someone you have lost, please contact Brian Gray email: [email protected] or Chris Newbold in the club office on matchdays or email: [email protected].