As we approach Roy Izzard’s Testimonial match against a Luton Town FC XI on Friday 8th March we are delighted to announce the first batch of former Canaries that will be attending the evening to celebrate Roy’s 50 years service to the Club.
Firstly, we have all time appearance maker Paul Giggle coming down from Norfolk and legendary former goalkeeper Charlie Turner attending the evening to pay tribute to Roy on his special night.
Giggsy made 760 appearances for Hitchin in 4 separate spells starting in 1968 and ending 19 years later in 1987 having scored 213 goals making him the all-time goal scorer for the Club. Whilst Charlie holds the all time appearances for a goalkeeper at Hitchin with 597 matches played and unsurprisingly no goals scored. Charlie sits in fourth place of all time appearance makers having made his debut against Enfield on Boxing Day 1958 and went on to star in the great Laurie Scott team of the early 1960’s before finishing his Hitchin career against Woking on 27th April 1974 in a match that Paul Giggle played in. Paul originally from Luton arrived at Hitchin from Limbury Old Boys a local club based in Luton and made his debut away to Woking on 26th October 1968 alongside Charlie and made a further 9 appearances in that successful 1968/69 season that saw the Canaries finish runners up to Enfield in the Isthmian Premier League.
Giggsy featured in all the Canaries successful FA Cup runs during the 1970’s including reaching the 1st Round proper on 3 occasions all of which was attended by Roy. In 1973 Hitchin narrowly lost 1 nil to Boston United, followed by defeat to Cambridge United in a replay after drawing 0-0 at home in 1974. Paul scored in the second match against Weymouth in the epic 1st Round tie that took four matches to decide as the Canaries went one better than previously and reached the 2nd Round Proper in 1976. However, they lost in a replay to Swindon Town 3-1 after extra time with a certain former Hatter David Moss scoring Swindon’s 2 goals in extra time.
BY MARK BURKE