Hitchin have been regular visitors to the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium since 2004/05 when the non-league pyramid was restructured. The clubs have met for a total of 12 seasons in that time in Southern League Premier Division action, there only having been three seasons since then when the clubs did not meet as one or the other were playing for a short while at Division One level after relegation. Last season a Jack Self goal gave United a 1-0 win at Top Field in September but the Canaries got their revenge in Banbury on the last day of the season when coming back from going behind to an Amer Awadh goal to win 2-1, the Hitchin goals coming from Isaac Galliford and Ezra Forde.

Hitchin have not made the best of starts to this season, having failed to win any of their five league games and they currently sit one from bottom of the table with just the one point from a draw away to Needham Market. However, unlike United, they are still in the FA Cup having won 2-1 away to Northern Premier League Division One South East side Wisbech Town last Saturday. And though they will have been disappointed to then follow that very commendable result up with a 5-0 defeat away to Division One side Welwyn Garden City on Tuesday in the Preliminary Round of the League Cup, there were many changes in the Hitchin line up from the game against the Fenmen so one should not read too much into that result!

United currently sit on top of the Southern League Premier Central table, albeit they have played one game more than all the clubs around them. Manager Mike Ford will be looking for his charges to quickly put behind them the disappointment of their early FA Cup exit against Gainsborough Trinity, the Puritans going out 1-0 in a replay up in Lincolnshire on Tuesday after the first game had finished in a 2-2 draw last Saturday.

There is a potential personal milestone in the offering tomorrow for United goalkeeper Jack Harding (pictured) who if playing will be making his 200th appearance for the club.

Matchday Tickets (pay at turnstile):

£10 – Adult
£7 – Senior Citizens - 65+
£5 – Students (aged 19+, proof required).
£1 – 18 and under
Programme £2.

Saturday’s game is sponsored by Nicholls

Away supporters are advised to use OX16 5AB for their Sat-Nav as the club’s official postcode may well take you elsewhere!

It is free to sit in the stand

Hot Food available in the Clubhouse.

Free parking at the ground

The old Chiltern Railway car park on Tramway Industrial Estate is available for use, free of charge thanks to Chiltern Railways. It would be very helpful to the club if local supporters who know their way around were able to use this facility.

Why not have a go on the club’s 50/50 draw! One big prize and this has been around £200 at recent games – you have to be in it to win it!!