Soccer Community Mourns Barton Town FC Goalie Following Fatal Attack
The football community is mourning the tragic loss of James Hitchcock, a goalkeeper for Barton Town FC, who passed away following an alleged assault at York railway station.
Hitchcock, a married father of one from Cottingham, East Yorkshire, sustained serious head injuries during the incident on Sunday evening and succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Wednesday.
In response to this tragedy, Barton Town FC has postponed all matches scheduled for the upcoming weekend as a mark of respect.
Club chairman Mark Gregory expressed the profound sense of loss, stating, “The news of James’s death has been hard to take in. It’s horrible. James was a popular member of the club. We are all devastated. We are a very close-knit club.”
The alleged assailant, 22-year-old Mckenzie Dicicco from Stockton-on-Tees, has been charged with murder and affray. He is scheduled to appear at York Magistrates’ Court.
Hitchcock joined Barton Town FC at the start of the season, having previously played for Bridlington Town.
Tributes have poured in from across the football community, with many clubs and players expressing their condolences to Hitchcock’s family and friends during this difficult time.