Historical Football Kits

 

Kidderminster Harriers

Formed 1886

Promoted to Division Three 2001. Relegated to the Nationwide Conference 2005.

Kit History

1886-1950

early 1950s a

1953-1954 d

1960s a

1970s

kidderminster harriers 1983-84 kit

1983-1984 f

Le Coq Sportif

1984-1985 k

1987-1988

1988-1989 c

1989-1990 f

circa 1990-1991 k

1992-1993 b

1993-1994 b k

1994-1995 e k

1997-1998 b

Patrick

1999-2001 b

Le Coq Sportif

2001-2003 b

Le Coq Sportif

2003-2004 b

Admiral

2004-2006 a b l

Nike

2006-2007 a l

Nike

2007-2008 a l

Nike
kidderminster harriers 2008-09

2008-2009 a

 

Background

Kidderminster Harriers was originally formed as a rugby and athletics club in 1878 but in 1886 it was decided to form an association football club. In 1889, The Harriers became founder members of the Birmingham & District League. Here they competed against strong reserve sides from the Football League and it was not until 1938 that they finally won the championship.

The following season the club stepped up to the Southern League but played only two matches before football was suspended for the duration of the Second World War. After struggling at the higher level in the post-war period, Kidderminster resigned in 1960 and rejoined the Birmingham League. In 1970, however, they returned to the Southern League.

In 1983, the Harriers finished as runners-up behind AP Leamington who thereby earned the right to be promoted to the Alliance Premier League. Leamington’s ground, however, was not up to standard and Kidderminster were awarded their place instead.

Having reached the highest level of non-league football rather fortuitously, the club now established themselves as one of the strongest in the country outside the Football League. They twice reached the Welsh Cup final and won the FA Trophy in 1987. They were also losing finalists in 1991 and 1995.

In 1994 they beat Birmingham City at St Andrews and Preston North End at home to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup where they were narrowly defeated, 0-1 by West Ham who were then in the Premiership. At the end of the season they were Conference champions but were denied promotion because their Aggborough stadium did not meet League standards.

Further improvements were made including a 1,100 all-seat stand and the installation of new floodlights. In 1999 their long serving manager, Graham Allner left the club and was eventually replaced by former Liverpool and Denmark star, Jan Molby. The Danes’ impact was immediate and in 2000, Kidderminster Harriers won the Conference championship for the second time. On this occasion there was no obstacle to their promotion to the (new) Third Division.

After finishing comfortably in mid-table between 2001 and 2004, Harriers slipped up in 2004-05, finishing six points adrift in 23rd position and they were relegated back to the Conference.

Sources