Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
New opponents 5: King's Lynn
Thursday, July 1 2004
Hitchin can expect an influx of East Anglians when they meet Kings Lynn for the first time since the 1970s next season.
Kings Lynn's management caused an uproar last week when they released long-serving skipper Glen Fuff after he rejected a new 12-month deal with the Linnets. Joint managers Kevin Boon and Darren Bloodworth took the brave decision to let the popular Fuff go. "Glen has been a fantastic servant," said Bloodworth. "But in this game there is no room for sentiment and longer term we feel it's the right move for the football club."
Kings Lynn won the Dr Martens Eastern Division last season and only just missed out on a place in the Conference when they lost a play-off against Redditch. They are renowned for having a raucous following, which should mean a healthy Top Field crowd when the two sides meet.
Boon and Bloodworth were named managers of the year in their division and three players, midfielder Jack Defty, and strikers Dave Staff and Dale Watkins were named in the league's team of the year. Both Staff and Watkins have both since departed. The Kings Lynn management has already captured former Stevenage striker Tony Battersby and is currently tracking former Boston United players Mark Angel and Daryl Sutch.
With good support and a seemingly ambitious management team, Kings Lynn could be among the front-runners next season. Certainly, Darren Bloodworth is pleased with the club's close-season planning. "With roughly a month to go before training we are right where we want to be," he said.
