Kidderminster Harriers v Darlington

Saturday 8th February 2020, 3pm
Vanarama National League North

 
Kidderminster Harriers FC:
Aggborough Stadium, Hoo Rd, Kidderminster, DY10 1NB Worcestershire
Tel: 01562 823 931. Twitter: @khfcofficial

History: Formed in 1886, most of their history has been spent between the Birmingham and Southern Leagues, until they joined what became the Conference in 1983. 1993/94 was a high point - winning the Conference title and reaching the FA Cup 5th Round (losing to West Ham 1-0) after wins over Birmingham City and Preston. Denied promotion due to their ground but eventually won it six years later with Jan Molby. Spent five seasons in the Football League, before relegation back to the Conference in 2005. After a dismal 2015/16, the club were relegated to the Conference North - their lowest level for more than 30 years. Kiddie - after two successive play-off places - finished in a relatively disappointing mid table last season.
Record Attendance: 9,155 v Hereford Utd, 1948
Capacity: 6,238
Last season: 10th
Honours: Conference champions 1993/1994, 1999/2000, FA Trophy winners 1987.
Record victory: 25-0 v Hereford, 1889, Birmingham Senior Cup.
Defeat: 0-13 v Darwen, 1891, FA Cup 1.
Nicknames: Kiddie, The Harriers.
Colours: Red/white
Manager: James O'Connor
Chairman: Colin Gordon

Random trivia: Despite being well within the boundaries of Worcestershire, Kiddie reached the final of the Welsh Cup twice in 1986 and 1989
Famous fans/players/connections: Jan Molby (manager), Mike Marsh, Lee Hughes (players); Peter Wassall (record goalscorer) 432 between 1963-74 and brother Brendan, who made a club record 686 appearences in the same period.

Click for Streetmap of ground

2018/19: The terrace was closed but we were charged the £15 standing price for seats in the East Stand. Standing (South Terrace) Adults: £15; Over 60s, students: £9; Young adults (16-18): £9 ; under-16s: £3; under 5's: free. Seats (Blocks L and M of the East Stand) Adults: £17, Over 60s, students: £12; Young Adults (16-18): £12; under-16's: £5; under 5's: free. More details

From the North (196 miles from Darlington): Exit M5 at junction (sign-posted A456) and head towards Kidderminster (c12 miles). At roundabout on Kidderminster ring-road, take first exit (signposted A451 Stourport). At next roundabout, take first exit (s-p A448 Bromsgrove), then take first turning on right (Hoo Rd). Aggborough Stadium is half a mile along on the left hand side.

Parking: Car Parking is available in the South Stand car park (£5 per car, £10 per minibus and £15 per coach), and in the Stadium Close Car Park (Free on a match day). No other parking around the area of the stadium is permitted. Read more at Visiting fans page

Darlo at Kiddie 2004

Darlington FC Supporters' Club
Coach 10am; fare: £20. Contact: Darlington FC Supporters Group, call 01325 250531 or 07951 434731 to book a seat. Details of the supporters' group travel can be found here.

Albany Taxis 01562 823333
Regency Radio Cars 01562 823354
Travel 2000 01562 827000

Aggborough

There are services from Birmingham New Street, which aren't direct but via Smethwick, but it's best to take direct services from Birmingham Moor Street (about 1/4 a mile away). It's then a really easy 10 minute walk to the ground from Kidderminster station, down Comberston Hill, turn left and past the new magistrates court building and along up Hoo Road for approximately half a mile (the old cattle market has been replaced by new flats and apartments) which takes you to the stadium carpark.

Train times (to be updated)

Birmingham Moor Street: 11.29 arr Kidderminster 12.12; rtn: 17.26 arr 18.09. Fares: Returns from £6.30.

For more details, go to National Rail Planner

The King and Castle, Severn Valley Railway station.
A two minute walk from the main railway station, this is a quaint recreation of a pre-War railway buffet and waiting room. Imagine Trevor Howard walking in for a quick snifter before heading onto the platform. Sadly, the prices aren't 1930s vintage, but they're still reasonable with a great choice of ales - eight on our last visit, all immaculately kept and priced between £2.90 and £3.50.

This bar is so good, it's quite tempting to forget the game altogether! Food served after 12pm, a reasonably priced menu and also rolls on offer. Follow the brown road signs for the Severn Valley Railway and there's a pay-and-display parking at the station next door. DAFTS recommended. Click for street map

The Station, 7 Farfield, Kidderminster DY10 1UG
Close to the station - the other side of the railway bridge from the ground, this does Wye Valley and two other real ales and food. Open from 12pm.

The Railway Bell, Comberston Hill
You can't miss it coming out of the station, a plain Banks's boozer, with a decent enough pint and handy for the ground.

Another option is the The Redman Inn 129 Blackwell Street - a town centre pub that has decent ales and food, off the main shopping street.

The Viaduct 619 Old Chester Road South Banks' pub with home-cooked food. Pool and darts and Sky.

Social Club, Kidderminster FC, 01562 67644
The social club at the far corner of the ground is good value. It costs £1 for daily membership, but then the beers are at club prices

The Boar's Head, 39 Worcester Street Town centre Banks' pub near the sports centre, which also serves Strongarm and Camerons.

Those staying around Birmingham, there are some good suggestions on the Birmingham CAMRA site. Can I strongly recommend, The Wellington on Bennett's Hill, off New Street for sheer choice, while a short walk away is The Post Office Vaults, 84 New Street is in a side-street off New Street really, a recently-opened basement bar which has a good choice of handpumps but a vast range of bottled beers - and is proving a hit with real ale drinkers locally.

If you're staying over, I'd recommend the Jewellery Quarter for some great pubs, including the Lord Clifden, Red Lion and Brown Lion.

If only time for a quick drink before the train, then there is The Woodman off Curzon Street (on its own opposite the university campus, 5 mins walk from Moor Street) or The Old Contemptibles(near Snow Hill station)

There's an excellent chippy on Comberston Hill between the station and the stadium, which does take-away and sit-down food; while there's also a KFC a few doors down from this.

The ground still has a decent catering outlet - the classic cottage pie in a tray was still very tasty and the £4.50 price was worth it last time and sells fast. Ian White (DAFTS E Midlands) also adds a mention of the soup. "It's homemade and has the kitchen sink in it. Second best food last year behind the shepherd's pie. Take an oven glove though! The foil tray left me with a blistered hand...." A good choice of other food too.

 

Probably the best and most comprehensive is Harriers Online. Also there's the Official site - it has a map to find the ground, if you get stuck and a guide for visiting fans. There is also the local newspaper's Harriers' pages This Is KHFC

Kidderminster Shuttle

© Photos: Ted Blair

Kiddie itself is known for one thing - and it's not football. It's carpets. The town's in Worcestershire, but "'ar kid" reckons it's close enough to the Black Country for them to be speaking in funny accents, loik.

Puffer-Buffers might wish to indulge in the Severn Valley railway, which runs alongside the ground, with steam trains running to Bewdley and up to Bridgenorth in Shropshire. There are a list of places to stay on the excellent Harriers Online site.