Hitchin Town F.C.
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| Full name | Hitchin Town Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Canaries[1] | ||
| Founded | 1865 (as Hitchin F.C.) 1928 (as Hitchin Town)[2] |
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| Ground | Top Field Hitchin (Capacity: 4,000[3]) |
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| Chairman | Terry Barratt[4] | ||
| Manager | Colin Payne[5] | ||
| League | Southern League Division One Midlands | ||
| 2008–09 | Southern League Premier Division, 20th (relegated)[6] |
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Hitchin Town Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. They will compete in the Southern Football League's Midland Division for the 2009–10 season. Founded in 1928 and known as "the Canaries", Hitchin Town have been based at Top Field since their foundation, and claim lineage from the defunct Hitchin Football Club, formed in 1865 and liquidated in 1911.
The club have played in a number of local leagues, starting off in the Spartan League before moving to first the Athenian League in 1939, then the Isthmian League in 1963 and finally the Southern League in 2004. Their most recent honour has been the Southern League Cup, which they won in 2005–06, their second season in the competition.
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[edit] History
The original Hitchin club, Hitchin F.C., were formed in 1865. The club took part in the inaugural FA Cup competition in 1871–72, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to runners-up Royal Engineers. In 1905, Hitchin defeated Chelsea 3–2 to become the first away team to win at Stamford Bridge. Hitchin turned professional during the early years of the 20th century, but following financial difficulties and a fire at their ground, the club folded in 1911.
Hitchin Town F.C. were formed in 1928, and it was at this time also that the "Canaries" identity was settled upon. The club colours were settled as yellow and blue, replacing the old club's white and magenta — green replaced blue after only a few seasons. The new club were admitted to the Spartan League, and their first season, 1928–29, was a success — Hitchin won the Herts Charity Shield, as well as promotion to the Spartan League's second tier. Promotion to the top flight of the Spartan League was won in 1930–31 and Hitchin won the AFA Senior Cup a year later. Reg Smith, a future England player, led Hitchin to the Spartan League championship in 1934–35 before moving on to Millwall a year later. The club moved from the Spartan League to the Athenian League for the 1939–40 season, but after only two league matches the outbreak of the Second World War prompted the suspension of competitive football.[1]
The Athenian League returned for 1945–46, and Hitchin finished 10th out of 14 clubs. The next season saw an improvement to sixth, but Hitchin did not achieve a finish higher than mid-table until the 1953–54 campaign — Hitchin finished as runners-up. The club reached the quarter-finals of the FA Amateur Cup, but lost 10–1 to Crook Town. Two years later, Hitchin beat Wycombe Wanderers 1–0 in the same competition in front of 7,878 spectators, but the club once again failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals. Peter Hammond became the first Hitchin player to represent his country in 1958, when he appeared for England's amateur team. Former Arsenal player and England international Laurie Scott was appointed manager the same year.[1]
Scott worked to bring the amateur club more into line with their professional counterparts. The club met Football League opposition in the FA Cup for the first time during 1958–59, but despite holding Millwall to a 1–1 draw at Top Field, lost 2–1 in the replay. Hitchin travelled to Crystal Palace two years later in the same competition and lost 6–2. Meanwhile, Scott prepared his team for an assault on the Athenian League title and the FA Amateur Cup. Scott's team finished fifth during 1960–61, and lost in the semi-finals of the Cup. Hitchin came sixth the next year, and 1962–63 saw another fifth place finish and semi-final defeat before the club switched league again — joining the Isthmian League.[1]
The move to the Isthmian League coincided with a time of financial strife at the club. The club finished in the bottom half of the division during their first five seasons in the league, as the club struggled to attract players of a sufficient quality. The club were not helped by corruption behind the scenes — some supposedly amateur players were receiving salaries, and when this emerged, the club were barracked by the local press. It took some time for the clouds to disperse, and the result was the departure of Scott. The late 1960s saw the arrival of Vince Burgess as manager. Led by Burgess, Hitchin finished as Isthmian League runners-up in 1968–69 and won the London Senior Cup a year later. The success brought by Burgess then dissipated as soon as it had appeared, as Burgess left the club in 1970. Hitchin did, however, win the East Anglian Cup in 1972–73.[1]
During the 1970s, Hitchin reached the FA Cup first round four times —– in 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77 and 1978–79. The 1973–74 run was ended abruptly by fellow non-League side Boston United, who beat Hitchin 1–0 in the second round to deny them a third round tie against Derby County. Meanwhile, league finishes were poor — Hitchin only finished in the top half twice, ninth in 1976–77 and fifth a year later.[1]
A sixth place finish in 1983–84 proved to be a last hurrah — Hitchin Town suffered relegation from the Isthmian League Premier Division in 1987–88. It took five years for Hitchin to return, and the club suffered major financial hardship. Andy Melvin, who both owned and managed the club, led Hitchin back to the Premier Division in 1992–93 by winning the First Division. In the club's first season back, Melvin took them to eighth place and then fifth a year later.[1]
In 1994–95, the club beat Hereford United 4–2 at Top Field in the FA Cup first round. A year later, Bristol Rovers were defeated 2–1, also in the first round, thanks to two early goals. The second round tie at Gillingham, was lost 3–0. Despite the cup success, league form plummeted once more. The club were relegated once again in 1997–98, but the club won promotion back a year later. Melvin led the club to a 10th place finish in 2000–01, before stepping down.[1]
The club's new boss was Robbie O'Keefe, who had presided over the club's youth academy. He left after two uneventful mid-table seasons, and was replaced by former Chelsea, Luton Town and England forward Kerry Dixon. With Dixon at the helm, the club finished fourth from bottom, and the club left the Isthmian League at the end of the season. Hitchin Town moved to the Southern League.[1]
Halfway through the following season, Dixon was replaced by former Luton Town defender Darren Salton. A supporters trust was formed in 2005 to contribute weekly to the club's playing budget, and this helped the management to balance the books. Salton brought some success to the club in the form of a Southern League Cup victory in 2005–06. The 2006–07 campaign was an anti-climax — Hitchin were second league in December, but a spectacular collapse saw them 11th at season's end.[1]
Hitchin were at the foot of the table from the off during 2007–08, and Salton was replaced by Darran Hay in November. Hay managed to guide the club to safety, as Hitchin finished 18th,[1] but resigned in January 2009 with the club battling relegation once more.[7] Colin Payne was appointed manager a month later,[8] but he was unable to prevent relegation from the Southern League Premier Division.[6]
[edit] Stadium
Hitchin Town have played home matches at Top Field ever since their foundation in 1928. Prior to that, the original Hitchin club played at Hitchin cricket ground, Ransoms Field and Dog Kennel Farm in nearby Charlton. Floodlights were installed in 1962, and inaugurated by a friendly match against Arsenal. Top Field's current capacity is 4,000.[1][3]
[edit] Supporters
In the 2008–09 season Hitchin's average attendance was 338, placing them seventh out of 22 teams in the Southern Football League Premier Division. This represented a 7.1% rise from the average of 316 in the previous season. The highest attendance of the season was the 550 spectators attracted to the match against Bedford Town on 7 October 2008, while the lowest was the 228 present for the fixture against Bashley on 17 March 2009.[9]
[edit] Statistics and records
Hitchin Town's best ever league finish was a 2nd place finish in the Isthmian League (then at level 5 of the overall English football league system) in 1968–69, the sixth in a spell of 10 seasons played at that level. Hitchin have reached the second round of the FA Cup four times, in 1973-74, 1976-77, 1994-95 and 1995-96. The record for highest attendance was set in 1955-56, when an FA Amateur Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers attracted 7,878 spectators.[1]
[edit] Players
As of 26 May 2009.[5]
[edit] Current Squad
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The Southern Football League does not use a squad numbering system.
[edit] Former players
For a list of all Hitchin Town players, past and present, see Category:Hitchin Town F.C. players.
[edit] Backroom staff
[edit] Management Committee
- Terry Barratt (Chairman)
- Andy Melvin
- Roy Izzard (Secretary)
- Neil Jensen (Communications)
- Chris Newbold (Supporters Rep.)
- Stuart Virgo (Supporters Trust)
[edit] Football Management
- Team manager: Colin Payne
- Assistant manager: Carl Williams
- Physiotherapist: Neil Cheek
[edit] Honours
| Honour | Year(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Isthmian League | runners-up | 1968–69 |
| Isthmian League Division One | champions | 1992-93 |
| Athenian League | runners-up | 1953–54 |
| Spartan League | champions | 1934–35 |
| AFA Senior Cup | winners | 1931–32 |
| Southern League Cup | winners | 2005–06 |
| London Senior Cup | winners | 1969–70 |
| East Anglian Cup | winners | 1972–73 |
| FA Amateur Cup | semi-finalists | 1960–61, 1962–63 |
[edit] References
- General
- Hitchin at the Football Club History Database
- Hitchin Town at the Football Club History Database
- Specific
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "A brief history of Hitchin Town Football Club". Hitchin Town F.C.. http://www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/club/Club_history.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Hitchin Town Football Club". Hitchin Town F.C.. http://www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/index.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ a b "Hitchin Town FC". Napit. http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/football/southern-football-league/hitchin-town.php. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ a b "Hitchin Town Football Club". Herts Direct. http://www.hertsdirect.org/comdirectory/comvol/sport2y/spfoot4y/mensfoot/626196. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ a b c "Players 2008-9". Hitchin Town F.C.. http://www.hitchintownfc.co.uk/players/2008-9/index.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ a b "Massive overhaul planned after Hitchin Town are relegated". The Comet. 2009-04-29. http://www.thecomet.net/content/comet/sport/hitchinfc/story.aspx?brand=CMTOnline&category=SportHitchinFC&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=SportHitchinFC&itemid=WEED27%20Apr%202009%2010%3A23%3A28%3A507. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Hay steps down as Hitchin manager". BBC. 2009-01-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7843083.stm. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ "A chance to meet the new boss". The Comet. 2009-02-10. http://www.thecomet.net/content/comet/sport/hitchinfc/story.aspx?brand=CMTOnline&category=SportHitchinFC&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=SportHitchinFC&itemid=WEED10%20Feb%202009%2009%3A57%3A28%3A377. Retrieved on 2009-05-26.
- ^ "Attendances: Southern Football League Premier Division". Tony's English Football Site. http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/slpatt.htm. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
