Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Canaries meet old rivals Harrow
Monday, September 10 2007
Hitchin Town travel to Harrow Borough for the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday, hoping it is the start of a lucrative run.
It is the first time the Canaries have met Harrow in the FA Cup, although the two sides have met many times.
Harrow have run into some form, having beaten AFC Wimbledon 2-1 away, Ashford 2-1 at home and Billericay 3-1, also at Earlsmead. They have climbed from bottom to near mid-table.
Similarly, Hitchin are unbeaten in three games following their 0-0 draw at Mangotsfield.
Earlsmead is not a happy hunting ground for the Canaries, although they won on their last visit in 2003-04 by 2-0. In 21 league and cup trips to Harrow, Hitchin have won six, drawn six and lost nine times. In 1980-81, the Canaries won 4-0 there and in 2000-01, Andy Melvin's side won 4-1.
Harrow have had some success in the FA Cup over the years, reaching the first round in 2000-01 and fourth qualifying round in 2003-04. But their league record in recent years has been dismal, they have failed to finish higher than 16th in the last seven years.
Hitchin's own FA Cup record has not been good in the past eight years. They have won just two away ties in the 21st century, at Deal in 2005-06 and Bognor in 2006-07.