Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Gates up as the public get behind Canaries
Sunday, April 20 2008
Hitchin Town's home gates this season were up by 5% resulting in an average of 316 compared to last season's 300. Taking out the big local derby with Bedford, which attracted 673 at Easter, Hitchin's average was close to last season's average.
Hitchin's crowds increased as the season progressed. Prior to Christmas, the club had seen just one crowd of 300 - on the opening day - and the average had sunk to a 20-year low of less than 250.
The final run-in, during which the Canaries needed points to survive, captured the imagination of the Hitchin public and crowds against Kings Lynn, Banbury, Bashley and finally Merthyr Tydfil all exceeded expectations. "We cannot complain about the support we've had," says Treasurer Roy Izzard. "The public have started to realise that there is plenty of excitement at Top Field and we've got to capitalise on that next season."