NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Hitchin Town F.C.

Hitchin Town is a football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, currently playing in the Southern League. They are nicknamed "The Canaries", and play their home matches at Top Field. Their current manager (As of June 2006) is Darren Salton, a former Scotland Under 21s player. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Hitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England, and has an estimated population of 30,360. ... Rungnado May Day Stadium is the worlds largest football stadium. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... Darren Salton (born 16 March 1972 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish footballer whose career was cut short by injuries suffered in a car accident. ... The Southern League Premier Division is a football league covering central and south western England. ... The new Wembley Stadium has been completed in time for this seasons FA Cup Final. ... The Southern League Premier Division is a football league covering central and south western England. ... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... body of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... body of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Hitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England, and has an estimated population of 30,360. ... Hertfordshire (pronounced Hartfordshire and abbreviated as Herts) is an inland county in the United Kingdom and part of the East of England Government Office region. ... The Southern League is an English football league for semi-professional and amateur teams. ... Darren Salton (born 16 March 1972 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish footballer whose career was cut short by injuries suffered in a car accident. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11 - 0 Ireland (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat Uruguay 7 - 0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First...

History

Formation

Hitchin Town can trace its roots back to 1865 when Hitchin FC was formed. The club took part in the first FA Cup in 1871-72, and reached the quarter finals of the competition, losing to eventual finalists Royal Engineers. That first Hitchin club, a struggling professional outfit, floundered during the first world war, debt-ridden and the victims of a fire at their ground. Note: for the full results of all FA Cup finals, see FA Cup Final The FA Cup â€” this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

Formation of Hitchin Town F.C.

It was not until 1928 that Hitchin Town FC was formed, and it was at this point that the nickname, “The Canaries”, was established. The club colours of yellow and at that time, blue, were also agreed upon. Prior to that, the old club played in white and magenta. Hitchin gained admission to the Spartan League and in the 1928-29 season, enjoyed a hugely successful campaign, winning the Herts Charity Shield and promotion to the Spartan League Division One. The 1930s were halcyon days for Hitchin Town. Promotion to the Spartan Premier was won in 1931, but it was the FA Amateur Cup and AFA Senior Cup that captured the imagination of the Hitchin public. Although there is little doubt that Hitchin won more games than at any time in their history, the standard of opposition has to be considered when determining whether the Canaries’ side of the period was the finest in the club’s history. The Spartan South Midlands Football League is an English football league covering north London and parts of the Home Counties. ... The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition. ...

Golden Age

Nevertheless, with players like Reg Smith, who later played for Millwall and England, Wally Odell and Les Clarke, there is little doubt that this was a golden age for Hitchin Town. The club won the AFA Senior Cup in 1932, beating Derbyshire Amateurs in the final and in 1935, won the Spartan League Premier Division. The club entered the Athenian League in 1939, but after two league games and a Herts Charity Cup tie, all of which saw Hitchin score seven goals, Adolf Hitler intervened. Like many clubs, Hitchin struggled in the aftermath of World War Two, although the goalscoring antics of players such as Frank Wingate and Wink Saunders lit up Top Field. It was not until the mid-1950s that the Canaries recovered. In 1953-54, the runners-up spot in the Athenian League was secured and the club reached the last eight of the FA Amateur Cup, losing 10-1 to the mighty Crook Town. Reg Smith (born James Christopher Reginald Schmidt on 20 January 1912; died 8 January 2004) was an English footballer and manager, who played outside left (the modern day equivalent of left wing). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Hitler redirects here. ... The Athenian League was an English amateur football league in and around London. ...

Two years later, a crowd of 7,878 watched Hitchin beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 in the competition, but the club failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals again. In 1958, Hitchin’s Peter Hammond became the club’s first England international. It was around this time that Hitchin appointed former Arsenal and England international Laurie Scott as manager. He brought a new approach to the club. Wycombe Wanderers F.C. are an English football team currently playing in Football League Two. ... Peter J. Hammond (sometimes credited as P. J. Hammond) is a British television writer. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Laurie Scott is a politician in Ontario, Canada. ...

Progress under Laurie Scott

Scott took Hitchin up a level in terms of preparation, training and tactics. The club enjoyed arguably its greatest period in the early 1960s. In 1958-59, the club met Football League opposition for the first time in the FA Cup, narrowly losing to Millwall after a replace. Two years later, Hitchin travelled to Crystal Palace and played in front of 21,000 people. At the same time, an assault on the Athenian League title and the FA Amateur Cup gathered momentum. Scott’s team, comprising players like Derek Turner, Tommy Everitt, Bruce Spavins and Terry Waldock, ran out of steam in the league – the victims of fixture congestion, and fell at the penultimate stage in the Amateur Cup. Walthamstow Avenue beat Hitchin 1-0 at White City, thanks to a disputed penalty. In 1963, Hitchin reached the semi-finals again, but this time, went down 4-0 to Sutton United at Craven Cottage. At the end of the 1962-63 season, the Canaries moved into the Isthmian League. The Football League is an organisation representing 72 professional football clubs in England and Wales, and runs the oldest professional football league competition in the world. ... Crystal Palace Football Club is an English professional football team based in SE25 in London. ... Derek Turner (born 1964 in Dublin, Ireland) is the editor of the right wing British conservative magazine Right Now!, and a freelance journalist. ... White City may be: In the United Kingdom: White City, London In Canada: White City, Saskatchewan In the United States: White City, Florida White City, Kansas White City, Illinois White City, Oregon White City, Utah And also; Tel Aviv; The White City is a nickname for this city in Israel... Sutton United Football Club is an English football team currently playing in the Conference South league. ... Craven Cottage is the name of a sports stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the football team Fulham F.C. since 1896. ... The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England. ...

Move into Isthmian League

The move into the Isthmian League was not an easy one for the club, and the early years were a constant struggle. Money was a problem, and there was a hint of scandal when club President Syd Stapleton revealed to the media that the club was paying its “amateur” players. It took some time for the clouds dispersed and during this period, the club said farewell to Laurie Scott.

Progress under Vince Burgess

It was not until Vince Burgess came on board that the club moved forward again. Burgess, a successful coach before he went to Hitchin, brought experienced players to the club who knew how to win. In 1968-69, Hitchin finished runners-up in the Isthmian League and a year later, won the London Senior Cup, beating St.Albans 4-2 in the final. Burgess declared that Hitchin had “arrived” by winning what was then a highly prestigious competition. Top Field was shocked a few months later when Burgess left the club. The London Senior Cup is the County Senior Cup of the London FA. The London Senior Cup was first won by Upton Park in 1882, and has subsequently been won by many famous names, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Wimbledon. ...

1970s

The 1970s was a period characterised by some exciting cup-ties and players like Paul Giggle, Peter Watson, Neil Bunker and Dave Archibald. The Canaries reached the FA Cup competition proper four times – in 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77 and 1978-79, although a giant-killing eluded them. In 1973-74, non-league Boston United beat Hitchin 1-0 in the second round, depriving them of a lucrative tie with Derby County. Cambridge United beat Hitchin in the first round a year later, and in 1976, Swindon Town finally saw off Hitchin 3-1 after a 1-1 draw at Top Field in the second round. In 1978, Bournemouth beat Hitchin 2-1 in the first round. By the end of the decade, though, the club was in decline and the 1980s was a dismal decade in which finances were limited and the emphasis was on youth. Name: Peter Andrew Watson Age: 14 Address: 12 Backland, Lerwick Date of Birth: 26/09/1990 Nationality: Scottish/Belgian Parents: Ally and Samantha Brothers and Sisters: Fiona, Alan and Bobby Hobbies: Football School: Anderson High School Number of Criminal Offences: 18 ... Dave Archibald (born April 14, 1969, in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada) is a former National Hockey League right wing. ... Boston United Football Club are a football club based in Lincolnshire, England. ... Derby County Football Club are an English football club based in Derby, who play in the Premier League. ... Cambridge United Football Club are a professional football club from Cambridge, England. ... Swindon Town Football Club is an English football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire. ... AFC Bournemouth are an English football team currently playing in Football League One. ...

Decline

In 1988, Hitchin Town suffered relegation from the Isthmian Premier for the first time. Near misses in the previous three seasons had hinted that a fall was coming, but it was a major shock to the club. It took five years for Hitchin to get back to the Premier, but in between, the club had suffered major financial hardship. It was Andy Melvin, the new owner-manager of Hitchin Town that led the club back to the Premier Division, winning the Isthmian First Division in 1992-93. Melvin, a good man-manager, was also thrifty and built a team on very limited resources. In the club’s first season back, he took them to eighth place and in 1994-95, fifth position.

Andy Melvin

Andy Melvin will be remembered for his part in two exciting FA Cup runs, however. In 1994-95, the club became giant-killers for the first time, beating Hereford United 4-2 at Top Field in the FA Cup first round. The club had started its cup run in the First Qualifying Round and had been close to exiting on more than one occasion. A year later, the Canaries grabbed their biggest scalp, beating Bristol Rovers 2-1 in the first round, thanks to two early goals. It gave them a second round tie at Gillingham, which was lost 3-0. The two years of cup success brought to the fore players like Mark Burke, Shaun Marshall, Gary Williams and Ian Scott. The club gained more media attention than at any time in its history, but by 1998, relegation had come once more. A year on, the club won promotion back to the Isthmian Premier with a new, younger team. Hereford United Football Club is a football club based in Hereford, England. ... For details of the current season, see Bristol Rovers F.C. season 2006-07 Bristol Rovers are an English professional football team, based in Bristol. ... For the team based in Dorset, see Gillingham Town F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent, currently playing in the Football League One. ... Shaun Marshall is an English football goalkeeper. ... Gary B. Williams (born March 4, 1945 in Collingswood, New Jersey, United States) is the current head coach of the University of Marylands Mens basketball team. ... Ian G. Scott (born July 13, 1934 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. ...

Revival

In an age when clubs seem to lurch from financial crisis to crisis, Hitchin’s recent history has been relatively stable. Andy Melvin stepped down in 2001, handing over to Robbie O’Keefe. He was the mastermind of the club’s youth academy, and at times, O’Keefe promised to bring success back to Hitchin. In 2003, however, he left the club, and former Chelsea and England striker Kerry Dixon took over. At the end of 2003-04, Hitchin left the Isthmian League after more than 40 years, and moved to the Southern League. At the halfway stage of the following season, Dixon – who was unable to commit himself fully to the job – was replaced by Darren Salton. Building a team on limited resources, which is something of a mantra at the club, Salton has brought some success to the club in the form of the Southern League Cup. The 2006-07 was one of disappointment, however. At the halfway stage, Hitchin were second in the Southern League Premier, but a spectacular collapse and the break-up of a promising team left Canaries fans confused as the season came to an end. Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Kerry Michael Dixon (born 24 July 1961, in Luton) is a retired English professional footballer who played most notably for Chelsea and England. ... Southern League may mean: Southern League (baseball) for minor league baseball in the United States Southern League (football) for the semi-professional and amateur football league in England often known as the Dr. Martens League Southern League (ice hockey), a former top-flight ice hockey league in southern England. ... Darren Salton (born 16 March 1972 in Edinburgh) is a former Scottish footballer whose career was cut short by injuries suffered in a car accident. ... Southern League Logo The Southern League Cup is the official knock-out cup competition of the Southern League. ...

Hitchin Town's history can be found in the book, "The Men from Fishponds Road" by Neil Jensen, 1995. Two new publications are due in 2007: "The Spartan League Years" and "The Canaries Almanac"

References

External links

Categories: English football clubs | Southern League | Sport in Hertfordshire | Football (soccer) clubs established in 1865 Association football is the national sport of England, and as such has an important place within English national life. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England and the Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. ... The original FA Premier League logo, used until 2007 The Premier League (officially known as the Barclays Premier League for sponsorship reasons, previously known as The Premiership), is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top echelon of the English football league system (above The Football League). ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Note: for the full results of all FA Cup finals, see FA Cup Final The FA Cup â€” this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... The Football League is a league competition featuring professional football clubs from England and Wales, and is the oldest such competition in world football. ... The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short, the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League. ... 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First International England U-21 0-0 Wales U-21 (Molineux, Wolverhampton; December 15, 1976) Largest win England U-21 8-1 Finland U-21 (Boothferry Park, Hull; October 12, 1977) Worst defeat Romania U-21 4-0 England U-21 (PloieÅŸti, Romania; October 14, 1980) & England U-21... England B team England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... The Football Conference is a football league at the top of the National League System of non-League football in England. ... Conference National (currently billed as the Nationwide Conference for sponsorship reasons) is the top division of the Football Conference. ... The Football Conferences logo Conference North (often referred to as Nationwide North for sponsorship reasons) is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. ... 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This is a partial list of English football stadia, ranked in descending order of capacity. ... The Football Association Challenge Trophy is an English football competition for clubs playing in the Football Conference, Southern League, Isthmian League, and Northern Premier League. ... The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England. ... The Premier Division is the top division of the Isthmian League. ... The Isthmian League First Division North was a football division of the Isthmian League in the UK for two seasons from 2002-03 till 2003-04. ... The Isthmian League First Division South was a football division of the Isthmian League in the UK for two seasons from 2003-03 till 2003-04. ... The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing in the lower regional leagues of England. ... 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