With the teams now confirmed in the Southern Premier League Central, we’re taking a whistle stop tour of all of the clubs who we’ll be playing next season with our bite sized info packs! We’ve got a memorable last meeting with the next club: Hitchin Town!
Name: Hitchin Town FC
Founded: 1928
Nickname: The Canaries
Stadium: Top Field
Representing the Hertfordshire market town of the same name, Hitchin Town FC are gearing up for their thirteenth consecutive season in step 3, looking to beat their 12th placed finish last season.
In the past, the Canaries have got close to promotion to step 2, having lost in play-off campaigns. Despite having the year 1865 on their badge, this actually relates to the founding date of Hitchin FC - the first team to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - not Hitchin Town FC who were founded in 1928.
They play their home games at Top Field, which has a capacity of 4,554. It has been their ground since the foundation of the club back in 1928. Mark Burke currently holds the reigns, he first joined the club in 1985 from QPR as a player and made over 700 appearances until his retirement in 2005. The club legend was only away for 10 years and joined as manager, where he guided Town to two play-off spots in his first two seasons.
Have we met before?
You bet we have! Promotion was achieved after a 2-1 extra time win at Your Co-op Community Stadium.
An early Hitchin goal unsettled the Brakes, and it seemed like the Hertfordshire side would see the game out to gain promotion to the National League South, but 90th minute drama ensued with a penalty awarded to Leamington - Hitchin’s captain sent off in the process. Rob Thompson-Brown converted to send the game to extra time where Courtney Baker-Richardson popped up with a winner, securing a return to the National League North.
Distance - 72 miles
Travel Time - 1 hour 34 minutes
Give them a follow…
You can find them on Twitter @HitchinTownFC, Facebook /Hitchin Town FC and Instagram @hitchintownfc!
