Hitchin Town Fans Forum

With only 15 entrants, Hitchin FC reached Round 2 (I refuse to call it a quarter-final!) by virtue of a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on 11th November 1871. Hitchin Football and Cricket Clubs were still at Hitchin Hill in October 1871, when they jointly hosted their annual athletics sports; this i...

Until 1819 Paynes Park was part of the Boys Grammar School. Following the meeting of the townspeople, the school had to use Butts Close for its sporting activities. Thank you, Michael. When I was at the Grammar School (1961/66) we played footie with a tennis ball in the North Court. Mr Dolden, the ...

Reginald Hine reckons that Paynes Park was used for football only in the Georgian period, c1714-1819. A meeting of townspeople in 1819 evidently forced the footballers out. Perhaps these early footballers continued on the public space of Butts Close?

Another of Francis Shillitoe's talents was boating. The History of Hitchin by Reginald Hine records the following: Boating on Oughton Head, and, peradventure, further, for had not two intrepid watermen, Francis Shillitoe and William Hill, in their 'Ruby' and 'Wanderer' canoes worked their way by riv...

Hitchin FC matches (practice matches and friendlies) were played at Dog Kennel Farm, Charlton from 25th November 1865 until 30th September 1869, when games were moved to the new Hitchin Cricket ground at Hitchin Hill, on the edge of the Hitchin Priory Estate 'close to Squire Peter Delme Radcliffe's ...

I have added a few early results (1869/70) against Clapham Rovers and C.C.C. (Clapham Common Club).

The Forest Club This club has lately had its hands, or rather, perhaps we should say its feet, full of work. It has played three matches in the last four weeks, and has fully sustained its reputation of never having suffered a defeat. ..............The third game was played on Saturday, Feb 13, when...

Football at The Crystal Palace Forest Club v Crystal Palace The return match between these two clubs came off on Saturday week (5th April 1862), on the ground of the latter, at the Palace. The weather which had been fine for the previous two or three days, was again wet, and the ground was not in fi...

The Forest Club v The Crystal Palace Club This match came off on Saturday, the 15th March 1862, on the ground of the former club at Leytonstone, Essex. Play began at about half-past two, and ended at five p.m. The result was a victory for the Forest Club who obtained one goal, their opponents having...

Just to remind supporters of the link Hitchin F.C's founder John Pardoe had with his Harrow School and Wanderers contemporaries: John Pardoe: Harrow School 1853-58, Forest F.C 1862-64, Hitchin F.C 1866-7 Cecil Reid: Harrow School 1855-61, Wanderers F.C 1865-72, Hitchin F.C 1866-71 & Welwyn F.C R...