Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Hitchin travel to the "new Canvey"
Sunday, February 1 2004
Hitchin face one of the Ryman League’s teams of the season when they visit Hornchurch at Bridge Avenue next Saturday.
It’s been more than 40 years since the Canaries travelled to the Essex club and Hitchin’s final game in the Athenian League was against the Urchins.
Now managed by the high-profile and controversial George Borg, Hornchurch are riding high in the Ryman League and are still in the FA Trophy. They also enjoyed a good FA Cup run that ended in heated circumstances as Hornchurch’s players mobbed the referee.
The sudden rise of the club has drawn some comparisons with nearby Canvey Island. Only a fortnight ago, Borg signed striker Bernie Brayley from the Ryman leaders. Other familiar faces include Jon Keeling, Ollie Adedeji and Vinnie John.
There is an added edge to the game as earlier this season, Hornchurch poached striker Andy Douglas from Top Field after only a few weeks into the new campaign. Douglas has rarely started for the Urchins, however.
Hornchurch were due to meet Stevenage in the FA Trophy on Saturday, but the game was postponed.
