“Even now, greater than 18 months on, it has nonetheless not totally sunk in. I see little Freddie rising up and it hits me so arduous.”
Chris Hitchcock is speaking in regards to the lack of his son James, a goalkeeper for non-league Barton City, who died after a single punch to the pinnacle in an unprovoked assault.
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James, a preferred team-mate often known as ‘Hitchy’ to household and mates, was killed in December 2024, simply earlier than he was about to spend his first Christmas as a father following the start of Freddie six months earlier.
His dying not solely devastated his household, however it left a tight-knit soccer membership in mourning.
“Till you begin talking about it once more… it nearly does not really feel actual,” says Anthony Bowsley, supervisor of Lincolnshire part-timers Barton.
The day earlier than the assault, James had pulled off a nice save in a 1-1 draw with Bottesford City within the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
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“As he was coming off, I mentioned to him ‘nice save Nigel Martyn’ as a result of Hitchy was a Leeds fan and he had somewhat chuckle to himself,” says Bowsley.
It might be his final sport.
The next day, the previous Leeds United academy participant, 32, was struck from behind at York Railway Station on his manner again from a time out with mates. He died in hospital.
On Saturday, his widow, April, and son Freddie, now aged two, will likely be at Barton City’s FA Cup third qualifying spherical house tie with Chorley – one of many greatest matches within the ninth-tier membership’s historical past.
April, who married James in July 2022, says being across the soccer membership the place he used to play brings consolation after the unimaginable lack of her husband.
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The ache, nevertheless, runs deep.
“It is actually unhappy the place James used to face in purpose and saying ‘the place is he?'” April, 32, tells BBC Sport.
“He needs to be stood there.”
James on his marriage ceremony day with April in July 2022 [April Hitchcock]
‘Love of my life’
“It was a numb feeling. You do not consider one thing like that might occur to considered one of your mates,” Barton City defender Jack Bulless says.
Bulless, who additionally performed with James at Bridlington City, ought to have been a part of the group on the day journey to York however pulled out as a consequence of sickness.
Andy Norfolk, a long-time good friend and team-mate, did be a part of James and their mates.
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“I keep in mind the Manchester derby being on tv within the bars we visited,” says Norfolk.
“It was an annual Christmas get-together, a day journey, nothing too heavy. We arrived again on the station to go house early.
“I ended up getting a taxi again to Hull because the prepare was not for an additional hour. I keep in mind Hitchy saying he was going to get some meals.”
It was the final time Norfolk noticed his good friend.
Leeds Crown Court docket heard James suffered a fracture to his cranium and mind harm when he fell to the ground after being punched on the precise facet of the again of his head.
Recalling that day, April says: “I would just put Freddie to mattress after I bought a name to say James had been hit, that he was unconscious, and was on his technique to hospital.
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“At that time I assumed he had concussion and I wanted to pack a bag as a result of he was solely going to be in for a day or two.
“Once I bought to the hospital they defined that he wanted to be transferred to the intensive care unit at Hull Royal Infirmary. He was on a life help machine till he misplaced the battle.”
Mckenzie Dicicco, who was then 22, was jailed for six years and eight months in July 2025 after pleading responsible to manslaughter for what decide Man Kearl mentioned was a “cowardly, deliberate and harsh assault on a person who had no likelihood to defend or brace himself”.
Talking after the decision, April described being “misplaced and alone because the love of my life was so selfishly taken from me”.
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James’ father, Chris, who used to take his son to Elland Highway to look at David O’Leary’s Leeds workforce within the late 90s, says his life has modified perpetually due to “one mindless act”.
“I do not dwell any extra – I exist,” he says.
“I try to be completely satisfied, I try to do issues and I put a courageous face on. However it’ll by no means be the identical once more for me.”
‘Hitchy is at all times with us’
James’ reminiscence lives on at Barton City, whose 3,000-capacity floor is inside eyeshot of the Humber Bridge.
“He’s at all times with us,” says Bowsley, referring to ‘Hitchy #1’ which has been sewn on to the again of the membership’s shirts.
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“It is an exquisite factor to have on the shirt,” provides Norfolk, who attended his good friend’s stag do in Benidorm, marriage ceremony close to York after which his funeral – all within the house of two and a half years.
“Earlier than every sport I look behind the shirt and have my 10 seconds with Hitchy earlier than I put it on.”
There may be additionally a plaque on the entrance to the gamers’ tunnel in reminiscence of James.
As well as, his two former golf equipment – Bridlington City and Barton City – meet yearly for the James Hitchcock Memorial Trophy to lift funds for the Sufferer Assist Nationwide Murder Service.
Tales about James are regularly informed within the membership home.
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“You possibly can hear him earlier than you noticed him due to his distinctive chuckle,” provides Bulless.
Norfolk agrees. “His chuckle was outrageously infectious. All of us used to name it a cackle.”
In the meantime, Bowsley says James “at all times had a smile on his face” and was “a little bit of a sensible joker.”
Speaking about his potential as a goalkeeper, Bowsley provides: “He was a extremely good shot stopper and actually good together with his toes. He was at Leeds academy after which performed the native leagues in Hull earlier than going to Bridlington after which Barton.”
Bulless provides: “He at all times had a manner at making you chuckle. There’s at all times a few baggage of sweets within the altering room, however Hitchy would at all times have his personal bag.
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“He would not inform anybody he had them. Then you definitely’d hear the packet rattling simply because the supervisor was attempting to ship a workforce speak – or was about to present a participant a dressing down.
“Hitchy could be sat within the nook making all this noise consuming a bag of sweets.”
A Barton City shirt with ‘Hitchy #1’ on the again in tribute to goalkeeper James Hitchcock [Barton Town FC]
Conserving James’ reminiscence alive
James’ dad was once a non-league referee however stopped so he might journey to look at his son play when he turned semi-professional.
“I used to go to the Lake District, Newcastle, you title it,” says Chris. “I cherished watching James play.
“He cherished soccer from the primary time he picked a ball up aged two or three. He by no means put it down. He simply cherished the sport.”
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Since James’ dying, Chris has returned to officiating matches and was an assistant referee for Barton’s FA Cup tie with North Ferriby earlier this season.
“When James left us I assumed, ‘proper, what used to take my thoughts off issues a few years in the past?’. It was refereeing and that is what I went again to.
“It is arduous work at my age, however it does assist when what’s occurred is continually in your thoughts.”
James (proper) with Barton City boss Anthony Bowsley after becoming a member of the membership in 2024 [Barton Town FC]
In the meantime, April continues to maintain James’ reminiscence alive.
“He was simply lovable,” she says in regards to the man she met by way of mutual mates 12 years in the past.
“He at all times had a smile on his face and had an infectious chuckle. James lit up a room and he had so many mates who turned a part of our lives, a part of our routine.
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“When one thing like this occurs, connections actually type. We’re actually lucky as a result of the soccer neighborhood and Barton City, they’ve not forgotten about James.
“Everyone will get on with their lives and everyone strikes on.
“However for me the soccer neighborhood, particularly Barton City, have been like: ‘let’s do stuff, let’s get you concerned’.
‘They requested if it was okay in the event that they put James’ title on the again of their shirts.
“Conserving his reminiscence alive simply speaks volumes. They have been such an in depth group of mates.
“Freddie and I are lucky that we have not misplaced that – they usually’ve not misplaced contact with us both.
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“I take Freddie with me to matches. I need to elevate my little boy in a world the place he is aware of about his dad.
“I need to ensure he’s concerned as a lot as his dad was.”
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