Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Tricky Billericay first away test for O'Keefe's men
Sunday, August 17 2003
FORMER TOTTENHAM defender Justin Edinburgh's Billericay Town provide the first test for Hitchin on the road on Tuesday night with Robbie O'Keefe hoping for a repeat of last season's victory at New Lodge.
The Canaries won 2-1 thanks to two late headers from Jon Bone, completing the double over the Essex club for the season. It was Hitchin's first victory at Billericay for a decade.
Billericay have been rebuilding under Edinburgh after a poor finish to last season. Beset by problems over a proposed new ground and financial restrictions, they lost momentum on and off the pitch.
Edinburgh has signed no less than 10 new players, mostly from neighbouring Essex clubs. He has placed his faith largely in youngsters, although his front men, Danny Hockton, Gary Ansell and Andy Jones, are experienced players. Jones, well known to Hitchin fans, was snapped up from Canvey Island. Hockton had a brief spell at Stevenage Borough.
Edinburgh, who spent 10 years at Tottenham and two at Portsmouth, admits that many people saw his appointment as a gamble. He took over at New Lodge after Gary Calder, manager for four years, departed the club. "Replacing an experienced non-league manager with someone who is relatively inexperienced might be seen as something of a risk, but I'm very excited about the challenge," he said.
