<strong>Hitchin</strong> V <strong>Biggleswade</strong>.qxp_Layout 1 11/04/2017 07:31 Page 22 FORTY–TWENTY-TEN Kevin Parrott takes a look back at 1976/77, 1996/97 and 2006/07. 40 years ago Manchester United fans provoke fights at Norwich. Manager, Tommy Docherty, says that the hooligans bring shame to the club and that the birch should be reintroduced to punish them sufficiently. Norwich end United’s long unbeaten run winning 2-1. Cardiff City plan to build a cage from the local railway station to the ground to keep visiting fans away from the local shopping area. On Good Friday, Fulham beat Chelsea 3-1 in the local derby (Warboys, Best, Mitchell; Wilkins, R) Aston Villa win the League Cup after a 2nd replay against Everton (0-0 at Wembley; 1-1 (Kenyon og – Latchford) at Hillsborough; and 3-2 (Little 2, Nicholl – Latchford, Lyons) at Old Trafford. Kevin Beattie (see picture) of Ipswich Town is out for the season. The defender is recovering from burns suffered in a bonfire accident. In the Isthmian League, <strong>Hitchin</strong> draw 2-2 at Tilbury (Baker, Giggle). Dagenham, a power at this level, are defeated 3-0 (Baker, Brimson, Hammond) here at Top Field. Next here are Leytonstone (who were later subsumed by Dagenham) and a 2-1 win for the Canaries (Watson 2, 1 pen). 20 years ago Stevenage Borough, last season’s Conference champions, are fined £25,000 for approaching Torquay United with a proposal to help the 3rd Division’s bottom club retain their League status. Stevenage could not get promoted as their ground was deemed unfit for promotion – their proposal to Torquay was NOT to sell their top scorer Barry Hayles in return for £30,000! The thinking being that this would stop 2nd placed Woking from overtaking Stevenage and getting promotion and taking Torquay’s place! In the FA Cup semi-finals, Chesterfield and Middlesbrough draw 3-3 – Chesterfield are deprived of a 3-1 lead when a Jonathan Howard shot rebounds over the line with the goal not given. Middlesbrough win the replay 3-0. Chelsea beat Wimbledon 3-0 in the other semi. <strong>Hitchin</strong> beat Yeading 3-1 (Burke, Parker, Williams C – all members of the Hall of Fame) at Top Field. This is followed by draws at Dulwich Karl Shreeve Hamlet 2-2 (Bates, Parker) and Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 (Dellar). 10 years ago Fulham sack Chris Coleman and assistant Steve Kean. Lawrie Sanchez takes over for the rest of the season. Manchester United win the 1st leg of the FA Youth Cup 2-1 in Liverpool with a crowd of 19,518 present. Liverpool: Hanssen; Darby, Burns, Spearing, Threlfall, Barnett, Ryan, Flynn, Lindfield, Woodward (Eccleston 68), Putterill Manchester United: Zieler; Eckersley, Evans, Strickland, Chester, Drinkwater (Bryan 75), Welbeck, Hewson, Brandy (James 90), Fagan, Galbraith Christiano Ronaldo wins the double of PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. A crowd of 189 witness <strong>Hitchin</strong>’s home loss to Rugby Town. Charles scores in the 2-1 defeat. A 1-0 loss at King’s Lynn is followed by a 4-2 home win over Yate Town. The scorers are Standen and Stevenson 3.Standen scores from the penalty spot in the 1-0 home victory over Northwood. 22
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