Barton Town will pay tribute to their former goalkeeper James Hitchcock, known as 'Hitchy', at their FA Cup third qualifying round home tie against Chorley on Saturday. Hitchcock died in December 2024 following a single punch to the head in an unprovoked attack at York Railway Station.
His widow, April, and their two-year-old son Freddie will be present at the match. April, who married James in July 2022, finds comfort in being at the club where her husband played, despite the deep pain of his loss.
Hitchcock, a former Leeds United academy player, was 32 when he died, just before his first Christmas as a father. Mckenzie Dicicco was jailed for six years and eight months in July 2025 after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the attack.
James's memory is kept alive at Barton Town, with 'Hitchy #1' sewn onto the back of the club's shirts and a plaque at the entrance to the players' tunnel. His former clubs, Bridlington Town and Barton Town, also hold an annual James Hitchcock Memorial Trophy match to raise funds for the Victim Support National Homicide Service.