The Times Monday November 13th 1995(match report)

[Greenfinch]

MARKET TOWN MINNOWS IGNORE LOCAL HOSTILITY AND GULF IN STATUS TO PROGRESS.
Rob Hughes on a 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers that was in keeping with FA Cup traditions.
Lift an original stone of FA Cup history,and the essence of knock out football rises superbly.In the North Herts market town of Hitchin on Saturday, the traders for once had to give second best to the footballers.When this great competition began 124 years ago, Hitchin Town were among the 15 original subscribers to the purchase of the trophy; they were knocked out in the second round by Royal Engineers , a team wearing dark blue Knickerbockers.
Bristol Rovers were expected to emphasise the gulf between professional and part time players but, as 3,101, the capacity allowed, bore witness, Hitchin of the Icis league,were the better team, the victors on merit. It is only the second time in that century and a quarter that they have erased a league team from the competition that they helped to start.It was fitting that Graham Kelly, the chief executive of the Football Association, sat in the homely wooden stand at Top Field. Terry Venables is the England coach partly because he came unstuck attempting to be both owner and manager of a club. Andy Melvin owns and manages Hitchin Town; he has to do so, for the club was in a parlous state three years ago, and he put his money in on condition that he controls the rebuilding.He has a fine, Emerald Green, fast draining pitch, surrounded mainly by proud trees and recast terracing, and the profits from a cup run are essential to the dream of providing cover for some of those standing supporters.However, as is the want of councillors, Hitchin operate in a hostile local environment, their every plan for expansion countered by residents who really would rather not disturb the market town peace for the clamour of football spectatorship.
They then were oblivious to the outpouring emotions , that greeted two goals from the Canaries, the first headed after 47 seconds by Steve Conroy, a British Telecom engineer, the second nimbly converted by Lee Burns, a very fast postman, in the ninth minute. (this is part one of a fascinating report,to be continued)