THE FIGHT TO SAVE TO
TOP
P FIELD
VINCE TAYLOR REPORTS ON HITCHIN TOWN’S BATTLE TO SAVE THEIR GROUND
Above: The original Hitchin FC in 1909/10, posing in front of the earlier Top Field stand
Ever since Hitchin Town's first match at Top Field in 1928, the Hitchin Cow Commoners
Trust has hovered near, casting a shadow over the ground and the dealings of the club.
Quaintly parochial though the name may sound, having its origins in the Cow Commoners'
right to move their livestock down a lane near the ground, the Trust has retained a iron-like
grip on the Top Field since its formation in 1880. For most of their long existence, the Cow
Commoners have zealously guarded Top Field's status as an open space meant for the recreation of the citizens of Hitchin, sometimes inhibiting Hitchin Town's ambitions as a result.
Recent events, however, have taken a more sinister turn, imperilling the future of both Top
Field and Hitchin Town itself. Seeking to recoup losses incurred in previous litigation with
Hitchin Town, a deal has been brokered between the Cow Commoners Trust and a developer to swap Top Field for a green belt site in the village of St Ippolyts. If allowed to goahead, this would see Top Field bulldozed, most probably in favour of a supermarket, and
Hitchin Town forcibly relocated to a new stadium two miles out of town.
Hitchin Town have launched an energetic campaign to save Top Field, of which more later, but it is worth delving into the history of Top Field to discover what the fuss is all about.
In fact, Top Field outdates the present Hitchin Town by many years, having been used by
an earlier Hitchin club, who competed in the inaugural FA Cup competition in 1871/72.
Hitchin played a total of 17 FA Cup matches between 1871 and 1908, and embraced professionalism from 1891 to 1908 as members of the South Eastern League, before joining
the Spartan League in 1908. During this period, Top Field featured a grandstand on the
Bedford Road side of the ground, which was taller than the present structure. Its loss due
to a fire, was among the reasons the original Hitchin FC closed down in 1911.
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