Happy Birthday to Hitchin FC

[anthony.brown]

With the Club still showing a strange version of the early origins of Hitchin FC, and continuing to show the Francis Shillitoe myth, I will add a few key points from the local press.

3 July 1864 Reverend John Pardoe, the star striker of Forest FC Walthamstow, is appointed to a curacy in Hitchin.
(My comment: Had he not been sent to Hitchin, the development of football in Hitchin would perhaps have been delayed several years. Without John's contacts in the early Football Association establishment, including the Alcock brothers and others, Hitchin football would have perhaps been continued as the winter game of the Hitchin Cricket Club for a long period).

24 November 1865 Establishment of Hitchin FC in the National School-room.

25 November 1865 First practice session for the players at the Dog Kennel Farm, Charlton (on the edge of the Priory Estate).

24 February 1865 Hitchin FC's first game against Mr Elphinstone's XI, a scratch side sent down from London by Charles Alcock, of the famous Wanderers. Hitchin won by 2-1. This game would have been played at the Dog Kennel Farm.

17 March 1866 Hitchin's second game against a scratch side sent down by Charles Alcock, led by Messrs Elphinstone and Lucas. Hitchin won 1-0 with a goal by F.Lucas (Fred?). Hitchin's opponents included Charles Alcock, Arthur Pember, Cecil Reid and Robert Dalrymple Horn Elphinstone, all regular Wanderers' players.

1 Dec 1866 Hitchin's first meeting with the famous Wanderers club. A 0-5 defeat at the Dog Kennel Farm. Charles Alcock and Cecil Reid among Hitchin's opponents.

9 Feb 1867 Hitchin 0 Cambridge Old Etonians 1. Hitchin included Codicote's Wanderers player Cecil Reid in their team. Lord Fitzmaurice captained the Old Etonians.

9 Mar 1867 Hitchin 0 Cambridge Old Harrovians 3. Hitchin included Wanderers players Cecil Reid and Robert Elphinstone in their side. The Old Harrovians included Arthur Kinnaird, and H.H. Montgomery (the father of WW2 legend General Bernard Law Montgomery).

As will be seen, all Hitchin's early games were played at the Dog Kennel Farm. Play was switched to the Cricket Ground from the 1869/70 season.

I will add to this thread if anyone is interested.

[Stuart]

I will add to this thread if anyone is interested.

Yes please Anthony

[Brian]

Please keep adding anything you wish to the forum Anthony.

It's important we keep it active and I enjoy reading the history, especially the more obsecure bits like two of my distant relations having a motorcycle crash on the way to St Albans to see Hitchin Town play there.

Incredible to think it was ten years ago since we hosted the full Norwich City First Team Squad in celebration of 150 Years of Football in Hitchin.