WEDNESDAY WHAT’S UP DOCK?

A quick midweek update for Canaries followers with nothing better to read.

NORTH HERTS MUSEUM

Last Thursday myself and Alan Clarke had a most enjoyable guided tour of North Hertfordshire Museum, in Brand Street, conducted by the curator Matt Platt. Some of you will be familiar with Matt courtesy of his Football tweets on the Museum website every Friday.

Suffice to say Matt is a keen follower of football and that, I suspect, is one reason for there being an Exhibition on at present displaying many interesting football related items, many, if not all of which were once part of Vic Wayling’s Hitchin Town FC Football Museum which was sited bang in the middle of what is now our front car park.

Anyway, the most talked about exhibits, on display now, are a pair of Sir Stanley Matthews boots and Bert Trautmann’s neck brace which was worn by Bert Man City keeper during the 1956 Cup Final. Plenty of other interesting memorabilia also on display going back to the early days of football when “shinning” the opposition (booting them on the shin) was perfectly acceptable behaviour.

In addition to the football display the museum has many other interesting exhibitions of appeal to all ages. Free admission as well. I would thoroughly recommend a visit.

Matt has kindly offered to pen the occasional article for this season’s programme, thereby bringing to life the stories behind some of the fascinating objects forming the collection held at the museum.

1871 ALE

I am still receiving suggestions for our special brew recording the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup. Get your suggestions in swiftly – at the end of the month a decision will be made. Our thanks to our great friends from IDNET who supply Internet services to the Top Field site and are sponsoring our brew. In typical understated fashion, IDNet CEO Tim Davies said:

“When Mick told us about his plans to mark the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup, we quickly realised that it would combine three of our favourite things: Hitchin + Football + Ale. How could we not be involved in such a noble initiative. Grass roots football and the true spirit of the FA Cup need to be celebrated now more than ever, so we hope the Football Association and other clubs make the most of the ‘150’ celebrations.”

I can’t wait to meet with Nick at Garden City Brewery very soon to discuss the recipe for the new brew and would welcome any suggestions provided they agree with my own (and of course our beer sponsors).

TOP FIELD

I shall say nothing other than that given the delivery of massive amounts of metal terracing at Top Field this morning, new covered accommodation is on its way at Fishponds Road – exciting times.

BY MICK DOCKING