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Hitchin Town boss Mark Burke: I’m so proud of my team after our fantastic FA Cup run

PUBLISHED: 12:32 14 November 2018 | UPDATED: 12:42 14 November 2018

Daniel Webb of Hitchin Town and Darren Carter of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Hitchin Town boss Mark Burke has been speaking to CometSport in the aftermath of his side’s stirring FA Cup run. Read on for what he told LAYTH YOUSIF.

Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

That was a battling performance from your team Mark Burke...

A packed out Top Field watched the FA Cup 1st round match between Hitchin Town and Solihull Moors. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Goalkeeper Michael Johnson and Jack Green of Hitchin Town keep a tight watch on Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors as they prepare to defend a corner during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

I’m so proud of them. They put in a great shift against a team two leagues above us who are flying high. We gave them a good game. I thought we were excellent in the first half.

Michael Cain of Hitchin Town chases down Jamie Reckord of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

We gave them a little bit of a fright. We gave everything. Their first goal knocked the wind out of our sails. I’d love to see a replay of the penalty. It looked soft. Did the initial contact take place outside the box? Their second goal was a little lucky in the way it rebounded to their man.

Matthew Spring and Alex Anderson of Hitchin Town crowd out Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

But we worked hard. We never gave. It’s disappointing to lose but hopefully the boys will have enjoyed the experience.

Matthew Spring and Alex Anderson of Hitchin Town crowd out Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

I hope they will have good memories of the day with a big crowd behind them and hopefully we can kick on.

Isaac Galliford of Hitchin Town and Luke Maxwell of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

I said to them we’ve got to dust ourselves down, be professional and we’ll go again in the league and get some points on the board.

Michael Cain of Hitchin Town challenges Jamie Reckord of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Danny Wright of Solihull Moors makes it 2:0 during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

What’s your overriding emotion when you look back on leading Hitchin through a memorable FA Cup campaign?

Daniel Webb of Hitchin Town tackles Darren Carter of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Alex Anderson of Hitchin Town and Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

The whole experience has been excellent. It’s been really enjoyable. It would have been great if we could have put the icing on the cake and beat Solihull but it wasn’t to be.

Isaac Galliford of Hitchin Town is tackled by Luke Maxwell of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Hopefully we’ll come back stronger in next year’s FA Cup.

Alex Anderson of Hitchin Town and Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

All these years I’ve been telling the boys how great it is to sample an FA Cup run and now they’ve experienced it hopefully they’ll get the taste for more next year.

Matthew Spring of Hitchin Town attempts to block a shot from Adi Yussuf of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

And a feeling of pride?

Daniel Webb of Hitchin Town tackles Darren Carter of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Josh Bickerstaff of Hitchin Town and Tyrone Williams of Solihull Moors during the FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture: MARTYN HAWORTH

Absolutely. I’m so proud of all my team. They put their bodies on the line throughout this run and I couldn’t be prouder.

Hitchin Town Manager Mark Burke. Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

Top Field. Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

A word about the tremendous crowd at Top Field?

Top Field. Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

Yes. They were brilliant. I wish they’d come in those numbers every week! No, they’ve been fantastic.

Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

Top Field. Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

Even with my maths I make that £67,500 banked from the entire run. Not a bad bonus?

Hitchin Town Vs Solihull Moors. FA Cup 1st round match at Top Field. Picture by Martyn Haworth 11/11/2018

It’s not to be sniffed at. As you can see the place is falling down a bit so we might invest a bit in the Top Field infrastructure. Whatever we do with it I have no doubt it will be used wisely.