# Harry Hitchen

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hitchen
> Source revision: 1256939245
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{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name                = Harry Hitchen
|fullname            = Henry Hitchen
|birth_date          = {{birth date|1922|10|22|df=y}}<ref name="blades whos who">{{cite book|author=Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who|publisher=Hallamshire Press|year=2008|pages=160–161|isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref>
|birth_place         = [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool), England<ref name="blades whos who" />
|death_date          = {{death date and age|1993|4|9|1922|10|22|df=y}}<ref name="blades whos who" />
|death_place         = [Knowsley](/source/Metropolitan_Borough_of_Knowsley), England
|position            = [Central defender](/source/Defender_(association_football))
|height              = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="blades whos who" />
|years1              = 1946
|clubs1              = [Formby](/source/Formby_F.C.)
|caps1               = 
|goals1              = 
|years2              = 1946–48
|clubs2              = [New Brighton](/source/New_Brighton_A.F.C.)
|caps2               = 70
|goals2              = 2
|years3              = 1948–53
|clubs3              = [Sheffield United](/source/Sheffield_United_F.C.)
|caps3               = 154
|goals3              = 15
|years4              = 1953–54
|clubs4              = [Bury](/source/Bury_F.C.)
|caps4               = 2
|goals4              = 0
|years5              = 1954
|clubs5              = [Wigan Athletic](/source/Wigan_Athletic_F.C.)
|caps5               = 
|goals5              = 
|medaltemplates = {{medalTeam|[Sheffield United](/source/Sheffield_United_F.C.)}}
                  {{medalW|[Second Division](/source/Football_League_Second_Division)|[1953](/source/1952%E2%80%9353_Sheffield_United_F.C._season)}}
}}

'''Henry Hitchen''' (22 October 1922 – 9 April 1993) was a professional [footballer](/source/association_football) who played as a [central defender](/source/defender_(association_football)) in [the Football League](/source/the_Football_League). Born in [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool) he represented local side [Formby](/source/Formby_F.C.) as an amateur before joining [New Brighton](/source/New_Brighton_A.F.C.). After turning professional he joined [Sheffield United](/source/Sheffield_United_F.C.) before finishing his league career with [Bury](/source/Bury_F.C.).

==Early life==
Growing up in Catherine Street, in [Bootle](/source/Bootle), [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool), Hitchen played in local junior football for St Elizabeth's. His playing days were interrupted for service during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) as a [Royal Marine Commando](/source/Royal_Marine_Commando) in Burma, China and Egypt.<ref name="tommybarnes">{{cite book|title=The Bootle Connection|author=Tommy Barnes|publisher=Seymour Print|date=1991}}</ref>

==Playing career==
Following the end of the war, Hitchen was playing at centre-half for [Formby](/source/Formby_F.C.) as an amateur, when he crossed the [River Mersey](/source/River_Mersey) to join [Third Division](/source/Football_League_Third_Division) club [New Brighton](/source/New_Brighton_A.F.C.) in September 1946,<ref name="tommybarnes" /> and within weeks made his [Football League](/source/The_Football_League) debut.<ref name="blades whos who" /> Outstanding displays for the best part of two seasons persuaded [First Division](/source/Football_League_First_Division) side [Sheffield United](/source/Sheffield_United_F.C.) to part with £3,000 for Hitchen's services in the summer of 1948.<ref name="blades whos who" />

Despite being a natural [defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)), manager [Teddy Davison](/source/Teddy_Davison) opted to play Hitchen as a [centre forward](/source/Forward_(association_football)) for his debut against [Portsmouth](/source/Portsmouth_F.C.) in September 1948.<ref name="blades whos who" />  Hitchen struggled with his new role and it was not until February of the following year that he became a regular in defence.<ref name="blades whos who" />  Although United were relegated at the end of his first term, Hitchen retained his place for three seasons, and was eventually appointed team captain.<ref name="blades whos who" /> Hitchen won a [Second Division championship](/source/List_of_teams_promoted_from_the_English_Football_League_Championship_and_predecessors) medal in [1952–53](/source/1952%E2%80%9353_Sheffield_United_F.C._season),<ref name="blades whos who" /> but had fractured his leg in January 1953 and played in only sixteen games.<ref name="blades whos who" />

Following his injury problems, Hitchen moved to [Bury](/source/Bury_F.C.) in the summer of 1953, but made only two appearances before returning to [Non-League football](/source/Non-League_football), this time in the [Lancashire Combination](/source/Lancashire_Combination) with [Wigan Athletic](/source/Wigan_Athletic_F.C.).<ref name="neilbrown">{{cite web|url= http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/harryhitchen.html|title=SHEFFIELD UNITED : 1946/47 - 2012/13|publisher=Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database|last=Brown|first=Neil|accessdate=29 December 2013}}</ref>

==Death==
Hitchen died in [Knowsley](/source/Metropolitan_Borough_of_Knowsley), [Merseyside](/source/Merseyside) in April 1993, aged 70.<ref name="ancestry">{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=onsdeath93&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-d&gsfn=henry&gsfn_x=XO&gsln=hitchen&msddy=1993&msdpn__ftp=Knowsley%2c+Lancashire%2c+England&msdpn=84901&msdpn_PInfo=8-|title=Registration District: Knowsley, Register Number: B27, District and Subdistrict: 0231B, Entry number: 276|publisher=England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007|accessdate=29 December 2013}}
</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchen, Harry}}
Category:1922 births
Category:1993 deaths
Category:Footballers from Liverpool
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Formby F.C. players
Category:New Brighton A.F.C. players
Category:Sheffield United F.C. players
Category:Bury F.C. players
Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Royal Marines personnel of World War II
Category:British expatriates in Myanmar
Category:English expatriates in China
Category:English expatriates in Egypt
Category:20th-century English sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harry Hitchen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hitchen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hitchen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.