Kidderminster Harriers F.C.

Kidderminster Harriers Football Club are an English football team from Kidderminster, Worcestershire. They will play in the Conference National for the 2006-07 season.

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.

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.

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 FA Cup.

They finished second to Macclesfield Town in 1997, but then finished in the bottom half in each of the next two seasons.

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-Harrier and former Doncaster Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Burnley assistant coach Mark Yates took over as Manager from the sacked Stuart Watkiss during the season.

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 two occasions since, losing 2-1 on both occasions: to Wycombe Wanderers in 1991 before a competition record crowd of 34,842, and again to Woking in 1995.

Kidderminster have also had some success in the FA Cup. Brighton were entertained in the late 60's as were Blackburn & Millwall (First Round) in successive seasons 1981 & 1982. They reached the fifth round in 1994, 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 Stadium but losing the replay 2-0.

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 women officials. Nuneaton Borough won 2-1 in front of 3,125 fans, referee Wendy Toms booking four players. Lineswomen were Amy Rayner and Janie Frampton.

Current Squad

Honours

Conference Champions 1994 & 2000, runners-up 1997,

FA Trophy Winners 1987, Runners-up 1991, 1995 (2),

Bob Lord Trophy Winners 1997, Runners-up 1989,

Welsh FA Cup finalists 1986, 1989,

Southern League Cup Winners 1980,

Worcester Senior Cup (19),

Birmingham Senior Cup (7),

Staffordshire Senior Cup (4),

West Midland League Champions (6)Runners-up (3),

Southern Premier Runners-up (1),

West Midland League Cup winners (7),

Keys Cup winners (7),

Border Counties Floodlit League Champions (3),

Camkin Floodlit Cup Winners (3),

Bass County Vase Winners (1),

Conference Fair Play Trophy (3).

Statistics & Trivia

Record Attendance: 9,155, Hereford United FA Cup Round 1, 27/11/1948.

Record Attendance (Conference): 6,250 Rushden & Diamonds, 8/4/2000

Record win: 25-0 v Hereford (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 (Nuneaton Borough) 2000.

Record transfer fee received: £200,000, Lee Hughes (to WBA) 1997.

Club record goalscorer: Peter Wassall ; 448 (all competitions), 1963 to 1974.

Record goalscorer in one season: Kim Casey; 73 goals in 68 games, 1985-86

Record appearances: Brendan Wassall; 686, 1962 to 1974.

FA Trophy Final teams

Vs. Burton Albion (1987); J.Arnold, J.Barton, K.Collins, C.Boxall, C.Brazier, M.Woodall, G.MacKenzie(c), K.Casey, P.Davies, M.Tuohy, A.O’Dowd. Subs; J.Pearson, M.Hazelwood, C.Jones

Vs. Wycombe Wanderers (1991); P.Jones, A.Kurila, J.McGrath, D.Barnett, M.Weir, A.Joseph(c), R.Forsyth, S.Lilwall, P.Howell, D.Hadley, D.Humphries. Subs; M.Whitehouse, B.Wilcox.

Vs. Woking (1995); K.Rose, S.Hodson(c), P.Bancroft, C.Brindley, P.Webb, R.Forsyth, M.Yates, J.Deakin, P.Davies, D.Humphries, J.Purdie. Subs; N.Cartwright, M.Dearlove, L.Hughes.

Championship winning Squads

1993-4; K.Rose, S.Hodson(c), P.Bancroft, C.Brindley, M.Weir, R.Forsyth, P.Grainger, P.Davies, D.Humphries, J.Purdie, N.Cartwright, L.Palmer, J.Deakin, M.Woodall, D.Steadman.

1999-2000; S.Brock, T.Clarke, I.Clarkson(c), S.Stamps, L.Hines, C.Hinton, M.Weir, P.Webb, S.Pope, A.Smith, A.Brownrigg, S.Cunnington, S.Taylor, P.King, D.Bennett, M.Marsh, T.Skovjberg, S.Hadley, I.Foster, M.Druce, R.Petersen, G.Barnett.

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

Former players

External links

English football clubs | Football Conference | Kidderminster Harriers F.C. | Sport in Worcestershire

Kidderminster Harriers Football Club | Kidderminster Harriers F.C.

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