Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
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| Full name | Kidderminster Harriers Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Harriers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1886 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Aggborough Kidderminster (Capacity 6,238) |
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| Chairman | Barry Norgrove | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Mark Yates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Conference National | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | Conference National, 13th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English association football team based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. They currently play in the Conference National.
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[edit] History
Kidderminster Harriers were formed in 1886 from an athletics and rugby union club that had existed for nine years. They were founder members of the Birmingham and District League in 1889, but did not win it until 1938. They moved to the Southern League the following year, but played just two games because of the onset of World War II.[1]
They rejoined the Southern League in 1948, but in 1960 dropped back down to the Birmingham League. They were back to the Southern League by 1970, and in 1983 were promoted to the Alliance Premier League (now the Conference) after finishing second to AP Leamington, who were refused entry. AP Leamington manager Graham Allner was appointed Manager, marking the start of a 16-year association with the club. Despite not playing in Wales, they were Welsh Cup finalists in 1986 and again in 1989.[2]
In 1989 Kidderminster Harries formed their first YTS training scheme and this was a first as they were still playing non-league football in the Vauxhall conference league. The first crop of players included Ian Clarke, Ryan Rankin, Will Bache, Alan Knott, Richard Congrave, Russel Dodds, Craig Gillett and Justin Taylor.
In 1994, Harriers were Conference champions, but were controversially refused promotion due to the Football League's tightened fire safety regulations for stadiums after the Bradford City fire disaster. Aggborough's main stand was of wooden construction, and despite assurances a new cantilever stand would be ready for the new season (which was completed on time) and considerable West Midlands media support the Football League rejected Harriers' promotion. Ironically the ground hosted an 8,000 crowd without any problems for the visit of West Ham United in that year's 5th round FA Cup (also the last time a non-league side has reached the last 16).
They finished second to Macclesfield Town in 1997, but then finished in the bottom half in each of the next two seasons.
Harriers received the biggest sell-on fee for a former non-league side with the £700,000 the club picked up when Lee Hughes joined Coventry City in August 2001. Kidderminster had sold Hughes to West Bromwich Albion in 1998 and under the sell-on clause negotiated by manager Allner at the time got 15% of any further transfer fee. This was activated when Hughes moved to Coventry for a reported £5 million.
Former Liverpool star Jan Mølby was appointed as manager for the 1999-2000 season, and led the club to the title at the first attempt, beating Rushden & Diamonds by nine points. Thereafter, low attendances (the town is close to several large Championship or Premiership sides) and lack of revenue following the ITV Digital collapse meant the club struggled to make a mark in the Football League, and after five seasons they were relegated back to the Conference National division.
A close-season boardroom takeover battle disrupted preparations for their first season back in the Conference; consequently the club struggled to maintain efforts towards a quick return to the Football League, ending up with a 15th-place finish in the Conference National. Ex-Harriers captain and former Doncaster Rovers, Cheltenham Town player and Burnley assistant coach Mark Yates took over as Manager from the sacked Stuart Watkiss during the season. He steered the club away from minor danger of relegation in the 2005-06 season and during his first full campaign, took the side to the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium for the first time in 12 years. They however lost 3-2 to Stevenage Borough in front of 53,262.
[edit] Cup success
Harriers reached the Welsh Cup final in 1986 and 1989, losing to Wrexham (2-1) and Swansea City (5-0) respectively. In 1987 Harriers went to Wembley Stadium for the FA Trophy final against Burton Albion. The game was a 0-0 draw after extra time, but Kidderminster won 2-1 in the replay at The Hawthorns. They have reached the final on three occasions since, losing 2-1 to Wycombe Wanderers in 1991 before a then competition record crowd of 34,842, 2-1 to Woking in 1995 and 2-3 to Stevenage Borough in 2007.
Kidderminster have also had some success in the FA Cup. Brighton & Hove Albion were entertained in the late 60's as were Blackburn Rovers & Millwall (First Round) in successive seasons 1981 & 1982. They reached the fifth round in 1994,(still the last non-league side to do so) shooting to national fame after defeating Birmingham City 2-1 away and Preston North End 1-0 at home in the previous two rounds. They then lost narrowly (0-1) at home in front of nearly 8,000 to West Ham United. In 2004 Kidderminster again reached the third round to face Premiership team and local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, drawing 1-1 at Aggborough but losing the replay 2-0.
[edit] Current Squad
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[edit] Honours
- Conference Champions: 1994, 2000
- Conference Runners-Up: 1997
- FA Trophy Winners: 1987, Runners-up: 1991, 1995, 2007
- Bob Lord Trophy Winners: 1997, Runners-up 1989
- Welsh Cup finalists: 1986, 1989
- Southern League Cup Winners: 1980
- Worcestershire Senior Cup Winners: 19 times
- Birmingham Senior Cup Winners: 7 times
- Staffordshire Senior Cup Winners: 4 times
- West Midland League Champions: 6 times; Runners-up: 3 times
- Southern League Premier Division Runners-up: 1 time
- West Midland League Cup Winners: 7 times
- Keys Cup Winners: 7 times
- Border Counties Floodlit League Champions: 3 times
- Camkin Floodlit Cup Winners: 3 times
- Bass County Vase Winners: 1 times
- Conference Fair Play Trophy: 3 times
[edit] Statistics
Record Attendance: 9,155 vs. Hereford United, FA Cup Round 1, 27/11/1948.
Record Attendance (Conference): 6,250 vs. Rushden & Diamonds, 8/4/2000
Record win: 25-0 v Hereford United (H), 12/10/1889, Birmingham Senior Cup Rnd 1.
Record defeat: 0-13 v Darwen (A), 24/01/1891, FA Cup Round 1.
Record transfer fee paid: £80,000, Andy Ducros (from Nuneaton Borough), 2000.
Record transfer fee received: £200,000, Lee Hughes (to West Bromwich Albion), 1997.
Club record goalscorer: Peter Wassall; 448 (all competitions), 1963-1974.
Record goalscorer in one season: Kim Casey; 73 goals in 68 games, 1985-86
Record appearances: Brendan Wassall; 686, 1962-1974.
[edit] Trivia
Harriers were the first team to host a floodlit FA Cup match, when on September 14 1955 they played Brierley Hill Alliance in a preliminary round replay, which Harriers won 4-2.
In September 1999 Harriers were hosts to the world's first ever senior football match to be presided over by three female officials. Nuneaton Borough won 2-1 in front of 3,125 fans, referee Wendy Toms booked four players. Lineswomen were Amy Rayner and Janie Frampton.
Harriers faced Stevenage Borough on 12th May 2007 in the FA Trophy final; the first competitive game to be played at the new Wembley Stadium. Harriers were also the first team to play at both the old and new Wembley stadiums.
[edit] Former managers
- John Chambers 1979-1983
- Graham Allner 1983-1999
- Phil Mullen 1999
- Jan Mølby 1999-2002 / 2003-2004
- Ian Britton 2002-2003
- Shaun Cunnington 2004
- Stuart Watkiss 2004-2005
[edit] Notable former players
In a survey published by the Professional Footballers' Association in December 2007, Kim Casey was listed as the all-time favourite player amongst Kidderminster Harriers fans.
- Jim Arnold
- Fred Barber
- David Barnett
- John Barton
- Chris Beardsley
- Marcus Bignot
- Andy Bishop
- Mark Blake
- Colin Brazier
- Stuart Brock
- Drewe Broughton
- Kim Casey
- John Chambers
- Mark Clyde
- Shaun Cooper
- Paul Davies
- Neil Doherty
- Daire Doyle
- John Durnin
- Richard Forsyth
- Ben Foster
- Ian Foster
- Ron Green
- Bo Henriksen
- Gil Heron
- Gerry Hitchens
- Barry Horne
- Lee Hughes
- Steve James
- Paul Jones
- Dean Keates
- Kevin Keelan
- James Keene
- Steve Lilwall
- Mike Marsh
- John Mullins
- Craig Nelthorpe
- Reuben Reid
- Adie Smith
- Scott Stamps
- Brendan Wassall
- Peter Wassall
- John Williams
- Bernie Wright
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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