For March 12th I'm going back 27 years to 1994 and Hitchin Town's Isthmian League Premier Division game against Dorking at Top Field, Hitchin.
Hitchin Town have played at Top Field since their formation in 1928. A predecessor club known as Hitchin FC also played here from 1873 making this one of the world's oldest football grounds although it's not regarded as "continuously used". Maidenhead United lay claim to having the "Oldest senior football ground continuously used by the same club" title having played at York Road since 1871 but this could be lost in the near future with Maidenhead seeking to secure their future in a new stadium. Over the years Hitchin have had the odd scare regarding the use of the land on which their leased ground sits, most recently in 2014 when their landlord, the Cow Commoners Trust, sought to move the football club in order to build a supermarket. Thankfully thanks to a popular local campaign this threat was fought off and Hitchin Town are safely at Top Field until 2040 at least.
Today, the Isthmian League sits as one of the 3 Leagues directly below the National Leagues North and South in the English football pyramid. The 3 Leagues, together known as the Trident Leagues, comprise the Northern Premier League, the Southern League and the Isthmian League. Historically, the Isthmian League was devoutly amateur whereas the neighbouring Southern League permitted a degree of professionalism. These amateur versus professional distinctions have faded down the years and today the only real difference between the Isthmian and Southern Leagues is their geographical footprint. The Isthmian League covers the South-East of England and is surrounded by the Southern League which stretches West and North of the Isthmian footprint. Why Isthmian? Well apparently the name relates to the ancient Greek Isthmian Games and resonates with classical scholars who tended to eschew professionalism! So it's the class system dear boy!
After all this explanation, Hitchin have only gone and been transferred across the pyramid anyway! Today you will find them in the Southern League Premier Division Central. Dorking on the other hand no longer exist having been dissolved in 2017 following one financial crisis too many. The modern day Dorking Wanderers (National League South) may be seen as a successor club to Dorking FC but in fact Wanderers were formed in 1999, well before Dorking's demise. However, Wanderers do now use Dorking's old town-centre-located Meadowbank Stadium which is also headquarters to the Surrey FA and has been smartly refurbished.
So it was Canaries against the Chicks (don't you just love a good nickname?) in front of 582. One notable player appeared in goal for Dorking. Gareth Howells, younger brother of the former Spurs midfielder David, similarly began his career at Spurs (for whom he didn't make a single appearance) before a spell in the Football League at Torquay United. Despite Dorking's 3-2 win that day they were comfortably relegated back to Division 1 after one season in the Isthmian Premier. Hitchin Town finished eighth.
CRB Match No. 884
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