Object Details

From:NHerts

Name/TitlePhotograph of award presentation

About this objectPhotograph showing the passing of a record from one footballing generation to another. The man holding the shield on the right of centre is Bill Westwood, Hitchin Town's record apperance holder. Bill played close to 400 games for Hitchin, with his final bow coming in 1951. He is summed up in Hitchin Town's Hall of Fame as: "A versatile player whose career spanned 17 years with the club. He joined the club in 1934 from Hitchin Wednesdays and made a cameo appearance in the Spartan League title-winning campaign in 1934-35. Known as “treacle”, he had tireless energy and was always willing to fill any position."

Bill is presenting the scroll and shield to the new record apperance holder Dennis Gibbs who holds the scroll. The Hall of Fame sums him up as "a reliable defender who always gave 100%. He first joined the club in 1955, making his debut against Cambridge City at Christmas of that year. Aside from a short spell with St.Albans, he was a fixture in the side until 1967-68, making a total of 549 appearances for the club. A member of the 1961 FA Amateur Cup semi-final side, Dennis skippered the Canaries on a number of occasions and was always considered a great clubman. After he hung his boots up, Dennis filled a key role at Watford, where his son Nigel played."

Type written text stuck onto the picture by Vic Wayling the founder and curator of the football museum of Hitchin reads "Billie Westwood who held record apperances with Dennis Gibbs new record holder with 440 games 1st XI- (Now 460) Presentation scroll and shield".

Date MadeAround 1960s

Period20th Century (1901-2000)

Medium and MaterialsPhotograph

Measurements210mmx155mm

Named CollectionHitchin Museum

Object TypePhotograph

Object number13800

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved