The Hatters Development squad's pre-season programme starts today, Saturday July 8th, with Adrian Forbes’ young Hatters visiting our neighbours Hitchin Town at Top Field for a 3pm kick-off.
Our partnership with the Development squad and Hitchin Town continues, with Hatters youngsters regularly moving to the Hertfordshire club on loan and our U21s using Top Field as a venue for home fixtures during the season.
Mark Burke’s Canaries finished 12th in the Southern League Premier Central Division in the 2022-23 season, with help from the likes of Town forwards Dan Idiakhoa and Josh Allen, and we look forward to kicking-off our pre-season at Top Field this afternoon.
It would be great to see as many Hatters supporters in attendance at this fixture as possible.
Tickets are already available to buy in advance, which can be done by clicking HERE.
The Development squad then travel to National League South’s Hemel Hempstead on the following Saturday, who had former Development squad defender Josh Williams on loan last season, before a mixed team of Development squad and Under-18s visit Ampthill Park Stadium to face Ampthill Town on Tuesday 18th July.
Cheshunt will be hosting a mini-tournament as a mix of the Development squad and Under-18s will face Leyton Orient and the hosts in two 60-minute games on Saturday 22nd.
The Development squad will then have away games at Fulham, Welling United, Cardiff City and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Development Squad Friendlies:
Saturday 8th July: Hitchin Town (A) – 3pm
Saturday 15th July: Hemel Hempstead (A) – 12pm
Tuesday 18th July: Ampthill Town (A) – 7:30pm
Saturday 22nd July: Cheshunt & Leyton Orient (A at Cheshunt) – 3pm
Saturday 29th July: Fulham (A at Fulham Training Ground, behind-closed-doors) – 12pm
Tuesday 1st August: Welling United (A) – 7pm
Saturday 5th August: Cardiff City (A at Cardiff International Sports Stadium) – 2pm
Tuesday 8th August: AFC Rushden & Diamonds (A) – 7:30pm
Alan McCormack’s Under-18s will begin pre-season with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Arsenal at their Hale End academy training ground on Saturday 8th July.
The Premier League opponents continue as the Under-18s host Fulham at The Brache on Saturday 15th before linking up with the Development squad at Ampthill Town on Tuesday 18th.
The Under-18s once again join the Development squad at Cheshunt for the mini-tournament before a yet-to-be-arranged friendly with Isthmian League North side Brentwood.
Under-18s Friendlies:
Saturday 8th July: Arsenal (A at Hale End behind-closed-doors) – 11am
Saturday 15th July: Fulham (H at The Brache behind-closed-doors) – 11am
Tuesday 18th July: Ampthill Town (A) – 7:30pm
Saturday 22nd July: Cheshunt & Leyton Orient (A at Cheshunt) – 3pm